The Lincoln Lawyer

Vibrant but frequently seamy thriller about a slick Los Angeles attorney (Matthew McConaughey) used to defending petty criminals who gets more than he bargained for when he takes the high-profile case of a Beverly Hills playboy (Ryan Phillippe) accused of attempted murder. Driven by McConaughey's kinetic performance, director Brad Furman's adaptation of Michael Connelly's novel -- which also features Marisa Tomei as the advocate's ex-wife -- makes for a lively drama, both inside the courtroom and beyond. But its protagonist's ethical corner-cutting and eventual resort to borderline vigilantism, his client's libertine lifestyle and -- above all -- acrid flashbacks detailing violent sexual assaults narrowly circumscribe this whodunit's appropriate audience. Considerable explicit violence, including scenes of rape, vigilantism issues, brief nongraphic marital lovemaking, fleeting rear nudity, a half-dozen uses of profanity, a few rough terms, much crude and crass language. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2011

The Lincoln Lawyer (Full Review)

A generally engaging central character, convincingly brought to life by Matthew McConaughey, lends verve to "The Lincoln Lawyer" (Lionsgate). Yet, though vibrant, this thriller is also frequently seamy and includes numerous moral and visual elements that narrowly circumscribe its appropriate audience.

McConaughey plays the titular Los Angeles attorney, Michael "Mick" Haller, a peripatetic defender of petty criminals whose classic Lincoln Continental -- license plate: "NTGUILTY" -- serves as his traveling office. Though given to ethical corner-cutting, Mick is fundamentally decent, and usually has his clients' best interests at heart.

On the personal side, too, Mick longs to reconcile with his ex-wife, Maggie (Marisa Tomei), a prosecutor with whom he has a young daughter.

When Mick is offered the chance to represent Beverly Hills playboy Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), scion of a powerful real estate dynasty, it seems like an easy step up to the big time. All the more so, since the high-profile case against Louis -- he's charged with the attempted murder of a girl he picked up in a singles bar -- at first seems quite flimsy.

Clues uncovered by Mick's intrepid investigator -- and longtime friend -- Frank Levin (William H. Macy), however, soon suggest a murkier scenario.

Driven by McConaughey's kinetic performance, director Brad Furman's adaptation of Michael Connelly's novel makes for a lively drama, both inside the courtroom and beyond.

But its protagonist's occasional scams and eventual resort to borderline vigilantism, his client's libertine lifestyle and -- above all -- acrid flashbacks detailing violent sexual assaults all mark this whodunit as off-limits for young or casual viewers. Well-grounded adults disposed to take on challenging material, on the other hand, may discern at least a few glints amid the grit.

The film contains considerable explicit violence -- including scenes of rape -- vigilantism issues, brief nongraphic marital lovemaking, fleeting rear nudity, a half-dozen uses of profanity, a few rough terms and much crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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