Primal Fear (DVD)

** Summary ** Martin Vail (Richard Gere) is a high flying lawyer who is looking for the next big case. Having seen a news report of a horrific murder of a local Archbishop, he approaches alter boy Aaron (Edward Norton). He offers Aaron his help for free, whilst hoping the media attention will propel his career. All of the evidence points to Aaron, including the blood stained clothes he was wearing when he was picked up by the police. As Martin Vail delves deeper and deeper into the lives of Aaron and the Archbishop is everything as it seems? Vail is pulled into a world of corruption and lies, and just when you think things have been solved, ...  Read the complete review

note: also appears in part on Flixster and The Student Room Primal Fear is an utterly engrossing drama that helped propel its young star Edward Norton to fame in a superb debut role, and one that ensured he would become one of the very best actors of his generation. He's paired superbly with an older mentor in Richard Gere, who too often doesn't get enough credit for being the skilled actor that he is. Despite his reputation for being a heartthrob, here he stars in something a little more wholesome and complex. The film is also directed by Gregory Hoblit, who is known for his intense and skilful legal dramas such as Fracture. The film revolves ...  Read the complete review

I picked Primal Fear up as a part of a job lot sale of 10 DVDs for £5 + postage costs, which needless to say is a bargain in itself. I would have happily paid the £5 for this film alone. Plot ========== Richard Gere plays high flying lawyer Martin Vail who approaches penniless alter boy Aaron (Edward Norton), accused of murdering the local archbishop to offer free legal representation. By doing this he hopes that the free media attention will further his flourishing career. With all of the evidence pointing towards the young alter boy, Vail is dragged in to a world of lies, corruption and danger before he knows it. ...  Read the complete review