Just Cause

R

1995

1 hr. 42 min.

Drama

List

26%

31 Reviews

Tomatometer

46%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Paul Armstrong (Sean Connery), a law professor who staunchly fights the death penalty, is lured into defending a death row inmate, Bobby Earl Ferguson (Blair Underwood), convicted of rape and murder. Ferguson is there due to a coerced confession at the hands of a snarling local sheriff (Laurence Fishburne). Armstrong starts to suspect that a psychotic serial killer (Ed Harris) may be the real culprit. But the deeper Armstrong gets, the more he realizes he doesn't know who's innocent at all.

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Critics Consensus

Just Cause you round up a phenomenal cast, that doesn't mean you have everything you need for a solid legal thriller -- and this film is forgettable proof.

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Steve D

It keeps getting more ridiculous as it goes along.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/15/23

Full Review

Jack S

Not even a good effort from Connery plus an A-list supporting cast (including a very young Scarlett Johansson) can save this violent thriller that unfortunately becomes more disturbing and less plausible as it stumbles along—to a laughably absurd finale.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/04/23

Full Review

Jelisije J

This movie starts off very stereotypical, but took a nice twist with the story that ultimately left me satisfied.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

So-so legal thriller set in the Florida swamps that twists itself into pretzel. Too contrived to make the plot twists land with any authority.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Disappointing to see stars like Sean Connery in movies like this. Never ending cliches - the psychotic prisoner, unbelievable link to an earlier crime. There are hardly any legal issues for the legal expert to solve. No redeeming factors.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Just Cause is a great movie. The ending had me on the edge of my seat! Sean Connery was superb and the Bobby Earl actor could not have been more convincing!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

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Arne Glimcher

Director

Sean Connery

Paul Armstrong

Laurence Fishburne

Sheriff Tanny Brown

Kate Capshaw

Laurie Prentiss Armstrong

Blair Underwood

Bobby Earl

Ed Harris

Blair Sullivan

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

In Connery it has a hero who is inescapably appealing.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 18, 2002

Full Review

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Despite its merits, the script fails to escape the silly season that fouls up so many thrillers, that time when the twists merely seem like the narrative equivalents of those violin shrieks on a cheesy score.

Apr 12, 2002

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Paced like a courtroom drama, with a devious plot featuring an above-standard presentation of hunting for clues, uncovering conspiracies, and interrogating witnesses.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 14, 2020

Full Review

Ed Travis

Hollywood Jesus

It'd be easy to just pop Just Cause in and enjoy it as a brisk thriller. But there are so many better thrillers out there to engage your adrenaline and your brain.

Mar 31, 2020

Full Review

Quentin Curtis

Independent on Sunday

Connery is sadly lacking in vigour, and the script rarely sparkles. But the climax is cruelly effective.

Dec 13, 2017

Full Review

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Synopsis

Paul Armstrong (Sean Connery), a law professor who staunchly fights the death penalty, is lured into defending a death row inmate, Bobby Earl Ferguson (Blair Underwood), convicted of rape and murder. Ferguson is there due to a coerced confession at the hands of a snarling local sheriff (Laurence Fishburne). Armstrong starts to suspect that a psychotic serial killer (Ed Harris) may be the real culprit. But the deeper Armstrong gets, the more he realizes he doesn't know who's innocent at all.

Director: Arne Glimcher
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $35.7M
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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