"Find Me Guilty" (2006) - Movie Review

Coming as an extreme stunt junkie and also a quick witted guy in “XXX”, Vin Diesel brings in a stellar performance as Jackie DeNorscio in “Find Me Guilty”, directed by Sidney Lumet. The film is about the real life trial which indicted all the organized crime members is the longest trial in the US History.

Jackie DeNorscio (Vin Diesel) already been convicted for other charges, is doing his 30 years time in prison. In the process of nailing down the family of organized crimes, the US government brings all the members in it through RICO Act. Having been almost rejected by the boss of the family, Jackie wants to show his “love” as he says. He fires his lawyer and takes the responsibility on his own for defending him. There are rests of other lawyers who are defending other members and the main anchor of all, Ben Klandis (Peter Dinklage), who believes the unusual style of Jackie, may very well bring some good to their case. The film mainly projects on the court scene happenings.

The film is sensitive in bringing in an unusual sympathy for the defendants. While it may appear clear that everyone is guilty of what they did with “lot of Scorcese movies” as witness, the benefit of doubt clouds surfaces over the air. In the midst of thinking about it, it can be realized that director is not trying to take sides out here, but to give the character state of Jackie. His life is his family and friends. Jackie considers this trial as for him to reconnect with the missing element lying for so many years with the other members in his family. As he says, “I love you all guys”, he tries to bridge in with them. The story is about how regardless of all the elements of breaking the law, Jackie still respects the family and his will to not give them up. The film portrays on his character on defining loyalty beyond any reason of doubt. Even though he gets insulted and demeaned by his boss, he does not take it as a chance to play it against the case.

Sidney Lumet is good in bringing the best out of any actor. His intention of letting the actor take the center stage with scenes revolving around him to work the character as well as the story has once again not let him down. The narration style is straight forward and right to the point. Since the movie focuses essentially on the trial, there gets little time to know the “real” Jackie or the one who has been accused of breaking the law on many levels. In fact, they do not show it for the reason for not taking away the empathy of the audience. They place the camera in various unconventional positions to encompass the whole court room and make the audience to be present in the place. The utilization of Jazz music for the film adds up the mood of comic and old times.

Vin Diesel is the surprise package for sure. People who have witnessed him in all action films may have also noticed his touch of delivering the comic sarcasm with amazing timing. Jackie is filled with that and he moulds in the character with nice clarity and execution style. Before I sat for the movie, I had hard time believing Vin Diesel doing a performance of slightly older guy with no “action” sequences. He delivers one of his best performances and I am hoping to see him give a lot like this in future. There are two other performances which support Vin Diesel. Peter Dinklage as Ben Klandis and Linus Roache as Sean Kirney, the public prosecutor. Linus nails the sequence of enacting his frustration and agony in which, when his assistant informs that one juror thinks Jackie is cute, proves his presence in the movie. Peter as Ben continuously supporting Jackie in a under toned way and also toning him down when it is needed, also brings in the performance very much needed for the film.

The film may definitely bring in sympathy for Jackie. The question to be asked of course is this, is the movie anywhere trying to prove that he is not guilty? And the answer is No. The film never mentions about it and the verdict stands for itself. This film as said earlier is not about whether Jackie and rest of the others are guilty or not. Rather this movie is about Jackie’s last chance to show his fellow men and family that he deserves to be loved by them. This movie rides on the concept of “love”, as he says in the most unusual way at the unusual circumstances. It brings the subtle truth of humans, that who ever it maybe, they need to be loved. Rejection is not an easy thing to digest and the desperation of Jackie is what the movie is about. It is surprising that how come such a character of will and loyalty able to break the law. Humans are complicated as Jackie and his wits and “gagster” techniques definitely came handy for this trial.

“Find Me Guilty” as a movie is an interesting display of trial and gangster flicks. It gives the affection of man who lost almost everything, but not ready to lose his loyalty and the fact of being still accepted in a group he has spent his entire lives with. “Find Me Guilty” title meant as if Jackie is challenging the government of finding him guilty when I was about to watch the movie and came out with a totally different meaning at the end of it. Watch it to know it.