Criminal Law (film)

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Criminal Law (film)

Criminal Law is a 1988 American legal thriller directed by Martin Campbell and starring Gary Oldman and Kevin Bacon. The movie follows Ben Chase, a brash defense attorney whose skill comes from bending the system for his clients, a talent that masks his growing alcoholism. After successfully defending Martin Thiel, a wealthy young man charged with murder, the game spirals as Thiel lures Ben to the scene of another murder and asks him to defend him before charges are filed. As Thiel’s plans unfold, Ben is forced to confront his ethics and decide how far he will go to win.

Plot summary (easy version)
Ben Chase uses manipulation and charm to win cases for powerful clients. He defends Martin Thiel, the son of a rich family, against murder charges. Thiel then involves Ben in a new, more treacherous scheme, testing Ben’s beliefs and putting both men on a dangerous path where truth and ambition collide.

Cast
- Gary Oldman as Ben Chase
- Kevin Bacon as Martin Thiel
- Tess Harper as Lt. Detective Jean Stillwell
- Karen Young as Ellen Falkner
- Joe Don Baker as Detective Carl Mesel
- Sean McCann as Jacob Fischer
- Ron Lea as Gary Hull
- Michael Sinelnikoff as Professor Clemens
- Elizabeth Shepherd as Dr. Sybil Thiel

Reception
- Critical response was mixed to negative. Roger Ebert called the film a misstep that wastes strong performances. Variety praised Oldman and Bacon but complained about an ill-defined premise and tiring pacing. The Los Angeles Times found the movie weak overall, though Oldman’s performance was electrifying. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone criticized the Boston-accented lead and the script. AllMovie was more favorable, praising Oldman and some scenes but concluding it’s not as strong as top legal thrillers like Primal Fear. Rotten Tomatoes lists about 30% approval from critics (based on reviews at the time of reporting).

Controversy
- Canadian serial killer Paul Bernardo, nicknamed “The Schoolgirl Killer,” reportedly wanted to change his surname to Thiel (the film’s antagonist) after the movie’s character, drawing media attention.

Release and facts
- Release: 1988 (theatrical release in the U.S. followed in 1989)
- Budget: about $5 million
- Box office: about $9.97 million
- Music by Jerry Goldsmith
- Distributed by Hemdale Film Corporation

Overall
- Criminal Law is a stylish but polarizing legal thriller that features strong performances, especially by Oldman and Bacon, but is often criticized for its overly gimmicky plotting and uneven storytelling.