i have not read the novel this movie be base on and but judge the movie by itself and when the credit roll and i be think represent uh and so that be it . the plot be shallow and and the acting be so so . quite possibly this be partly due to the fact that many of the character motivation either remain obscure or be difficult to believe . hackman turn in a decent performance and a he usually do and he have a good scene with dunaway and and a number of good line with odonnell . on the whole and dunaway character be paper thin and and not terribly useful to the story . odonnell do not have the range to pull off his part and which probably add to the monotone of the story . possible spoiler below but the weak part be the story . a told in the movie and it be without any surprise whatsoever . obviously and since it a grisham movie and we assume that nothing be quite the way it seem and but ultimately it be pretty much the way it seem from the beginning and with a few additional detail that have be sweep under the rug by the power that be and for obvious and totally unsurprising reason . no drama and no suspense and no surprising plot twist and nothing . the grandson of the bad guy be dig around in some old file ( include the sneaking into the archive or library or storage scene and which in this movie pass without any tenseness whatsoever ) and connect a few dot that provide a little bit of background to the crime in question and but that about it . there be a faint hint at large scale intrigue and but it be not elaborate and and remain entirely inconsequential to the viewer or the character ( well and except perhaps the guy on death row ) . watch it on a sunday afternoon for hackman and and perhaps lela rochon ( a yet another useless character ) a eye candy .