before watch this movie i have some serious doubt about it . not only be this a courtroom drama ( and a you know the street of hollywood seem to be pave with this kind of script ) and it also feature cher a one of the main actress . i be not really a fan of her a a singer and but see her a a good actress be even a lot harder . a you know and almost all pop diva and young or old and seem to have that urge to appear in one or two movie and that almost always result in complete disaster . so why would cher be any different . when a judge commits suicide and his secretary be find murder in a river and a homeless and deaf mute man and name carl anderson and be arrest for her murder and because all indirect evidence point to him . because he can not afford a lawyer and public defender kathleen riley be assign by the court a his lawyer . even though she doesn not always believe in his innocence and she still go after the real killer . she get help from the congressional adviser eddie sanger and who be call to be on the jury panel and together they find some important evidence that the murder have something to do with corruption in some high rank . i must admit that cher have do a good job than i ever expect from her . she actually be very convincing and interesting to watch a the public defender . together with liam neeson she make this movie work . their nice performance and their difficult professional relationship in this movie be actually the best thing this movie have to offer . the story on itself certainly isn not that bad and but the plot be a bit far fetched and give this movie an end that be a bit too abrupt . in the end this be a reasonably well do courtroom drama or thriller that lack the required tension to be fully satisfying and but which offer some nice acting and some good direction . it not the best movie in the genre and but it be enjoyable enough to be worth a watch . i give it a 6 . 5/10 .