High Crimes

PG-13

Released Apr 5, 2002

1 hr. 55 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

30%

132 Reviews

Tomatometer

50%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A happily married, successful lawyer (Ashley Judd) is shocked to learn that her husband (Jim Caviezel) has a hidden past as a classified military operative, and is accused of committing a heinous war crime. As she prepares to defend her husband in a top-secret military court, where none of the rules she knows so well apply, she gets help from a wild card (Morgan Freeman) -- a former military attorney who doesn't play by anyone's rules.

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Critics Consensus

Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman make this predictable affair watchable.

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MLG P

I'm not gonna lie I'm giving it a higher rating than I would but it's so poorly rated I have to give it extra points. While it isn't too mysterious and a bit predictable at times and has some really frustrating moments. I thought it was really fun and that's all a movie really needs to be. I'm sorry it isn't a "Scorsese masterclass" but come on it's still really fun.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/22/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 55 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Morgan Freeman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/23

Full Review

Andrzej W

I didn't expect to be tricked so easily, but I enjoyed it nonetheless!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/17/23

Full Review

samuel l

Predictable, bland, and ridiculous. It's watchable but totally unconvincing and uninspired. The twists could be seen from miles off, the plot has been done before loads of times, the events and ending were implausible, the characters were stereotypical for the genre and mostly unlikeable, the pacing felt dragged out because the plot points were repetitive, there was little action and all of it was dull, some acting could have been better but the two leads gave decent performances, and the cinematography, visual effects, and soundtrack were average.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not sure what others didn't like about this movie. Were they expecting something life-changing? This is pure entertainment, part thriller, part who-dunnit, with commendable performances by Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, and Jim Cavaziel. It's not breaking any new ground, but so what? It's a fun ride!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Military legal thrillers dealing with the fog of war can be great (Courage Under Fire), mediocre (Rules of Engagement), or overly long drags like High Crimes. Sinister bad guys. Clichés left and right. Preposterous ending.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

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Carl Franklin

Director

Ashley Judd

Claire Kubik

Morgan Freeman

Grimes

Jim Caviezel

Tom Kubik

Amanda Peet

Jackie

Tom Bower

Mullins

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Mediocre thriller of the betrayed-woman genre.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 24, 2010

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Mar 30, 2003

Full Review

Kimberley Jones

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 3/5

Mar 10, 2003

Full Review

Mark Steyn

The Spectator

If Hollywood ever totally collapses, films like High Crimes will be the reason why.

Jan 29, 2018

Full Review

Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 2/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Hampered by a bad script, this is a middling political thriler that's not supsenseful or dramatic enough to generate any interest in the proceedings; the good Morgan Freeman is totally wasted.

Rated: C

Dec 5, 2006

Full Review

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Synopsis

A happily married, successful lawyer (Ashley Judd) is shocked to learn that her husband (Jim Caviezel) has a hidden past as a classified military operative, and is accused of committing a heinous war crime. As she prepares to defend her husband in a top-secret military court, where none of the rules she knows so well apply, she gets help from a wild card (Morgan Freeman) -- a former military attorney who doesn't play by anyone's rules.

Director: Carl Franklin
Executive Producer: Lisa Henson, Kevin Reidy
Screenwriter: Grace Cary Bickley, Joseph Finder, Susan Shilliday, Yuri Zeltser
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: New Regency Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Language|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 5, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $41.5M
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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