Watch Mistrial

Mistrial is a gripping legal thriller from 1996, directed by Heywood Gould and starring Bill Pullman, Robert Loggia, and Blair Underwood. The film follows the courtroom battle between defense attorney Steve Donohue (Bill Pullman) and prosecutor Tommy Vesey (Robert Loggia) as they seek to win a high-profile murder case in which an African American teenager is accused of killing a white cop.

The film opens with the shooting of a police officer, which leads to the arrest of 17-year-old Eddie Hale (Blair Underwood). Throughout the trial, Steve Donohue, Eddie's defense lawyer, tries to prove his client's innocence, arguing that the young man was mistreated by the police and forced into making a false confession. Meanwhile, Tommy Vesey, the prosecutor, builds a strong case against Eddie, claiming that he had means, motive, and opportunity to commit the murder.

As the trial unfolds, tensions rise in and out of the courtroom. Steve navigates his way through a web of lies and corruption involving the police, while Tommy deals with pressure from his boss to win the case at any cost. In addition, personal issues affect both attorneys - Steve's wife is pregnant and he's struggling to balance his family life with his work, while Tommy's son is involved in a car accident and he's forced to deal with family drama.

The two lawyers clash in the courtroom, each trying to gain the upper hand. Steve calls on witnesses who challenge the police's version of events and question the integrity of the investigation, while Tommy presents convincing evidence that suggests Eddie's guilt. The jurors are pulled back and forth, not sure whom they can trust.

Both Bill Pullman and Robert Loggia put in strong performances as the defense and prosecution lawyers respectively. Pullman portrays Steve Donohue as a man of integrity, who fights tirelessly for justice and defends his clients with passion and conviction. Loggia, in contrast, plays Tommy Vesey with a cold, calculating edge, a professional prosecutor who will stop at nothing to secure a conviction, even if it means bending the rules.

Blair Underwood also delivers a convincing performance as Eddie Hale, a young man caught up in a nightmare beyond his control. We see Eddie struggle to maintain his innocence while also coming to terms with the fact that the odds may be stacked against him.

The film's setting in a 1990s courtroom is captured beautifully, with the cramped and oppressive space creating a sense of claustrophobia and tension. The camera angles and lighting are used effectively to create mood and atmosphere, and the pace of the film is well-judged, building to a dramatic conclusion.

Overall, Mistrial is an engaging and suspenseful courtroom drama with standout performances from its lead actors. It raises important questions about the criminal justice system and the power dynamics at play in the courtroom. The film's themes of race, justice, and corruption resonate as much today as they did when the movie was released over 25 years ago. If you are a fan of legal thrillers, Mistrial is definitely worth a watch.

Mistrial is a 1996 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6.