ALAN J. PAKULA

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBB.5. 

USA, 1990.  Warner Bros., Mirage Enterprises.  Screenplay by Frank Pierson, Alan J. Pakula, based on the novel by Scott Turow.  Cinematography by Gordon Willis.  Produced by Sydney Pollack, Mark Rosenberg.  Music by John Williams.  Production Design by George Jenkins.  Costume Design by John Boxer.  Film Editing by Evan A. Lottman.  

Harrison Ford plays a well-respected prosecutor (with a geeky buzz cut) whose girlfriend (Greta Scacchi) is viciously murdered shortly after he has seen her. The fact that he already has a wife (Bonnie Bedelia) spells very bad trouble for him, and he immediately becomes the prime suspect in the case. Raul Julia is excellent as the lawyer who defends Ford, though our hero has no expectations of letting regular justice do the job of clearing his name. He instead goes on the hunt for the killer using what little information he has about her demise. The result isn’t too difficult to spot, but this film has enough distractions to keep you interested, and director Alan J. Pakula mixes Fatal Attraction with The Verdict for a mature, intelligent and totally trashy experience.