Presumed Innocent – A sordid tale of murder, lies and betrayal

Presumed Innocence review

‘Presumed Innocent’ is an Apple+ series based on the eponymous book by Scott Turow. A movie starring Harrison Ford and Brianne Dennehy released in 1990. The 2024 series is also an adaptation which includes bits and pieces from the book as well as the movie. While the crux of the series is the same, a lot of changes have been made to the series with respect to the characters. For eg, in the film, Rusty’s wife Barbara does not have a job, we see in the series that she is an Arts curator working in an art gallery. Rusty has two kids as opposed to one son in the film and Carolyn is shown to be committed to Rusty and planning to raise his unborn child.

For the people who read the book and film, this series is still a revelation because it is a standalone project. The series offers a fresher and a contemporary perspective on infidelity and dysfunctional marriages. Where the original film showed Carolyn in the worst possible light, the series shows how Rusty is the only held accountable for ruining the lives of both his wife Barbara and Carolyn and his children. They are forced to face the scrutiny as he decides to pursue a woman in spite of being married. He is even shown seeking therapy. Even as it is a legal drama, it takes a deeper look at relationships and the infidelity in marriages. It is a gritty murder-thriller that never strays far away from its genre.

Acting

Jake Gyllenhal is present in every frame and he has pulled off an amazing job of playing the troubled, Rusty Sabich. There have been several moments where you feel exasperated with Rusty’s man childness, be it with dealing with the murder charges or accusing his wife of making him drift away from her. Ruth Negga as the stoic and gathered Barbara is brilliant and you can feel her angst and anguish of being the woman being cheated on. Bill Camp does not get too much of a screentime in the courtroom, but he has also done a fair job.

Direction

David E Kelley continues his tradition of churning one legal thriller after another. ‘Presumed Innocent’ has been this year’ quota of nail gripping and edge-of-your-seat legal thrillers for 2024. The courtroom scenes with Carolyn Polhemus prosecuting a rapist and a murderer have been written and shot with a lot of finesse. The entire series in spite of being an adaptation is proof how if made well can turn out to be better than the original work. ‘Presumed Innocent’ the series is miles ahead when it comes to sensitivity shown onscreen than its predecessor. It makes you think who do you really root for? The murdered woman? The philandering husband? Or the anguished wife?

Final Words

A lot of the series is the juxtaposition of the creator’s morals. We are supposed to look at the series with a fresher perspective on infidelity in relationships. The legal thriller turns to moral science lessons in couple of episodes. However, it is taut and gripping till the end.

Rating

4/5

Actors – Jake Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, Peter Sarsgaard

Production – Apple+ Tv

Showrunner And Creator- David E Kelley