Customer Reviews
Tepid middle of the road thriller with nothing new to offer - By: Pete, 18 Feb 2008 
Before you've seen a frame of this film you've already seen it. It follows a set pattern/formula & doesn't even bother coming up with an interesting twist from out of left field to justify its existence.
If you're actively seeking out an average middle of the road thriller then you should like it. If you're wanting something good then don't waste your time on this. I expected it to be deeply unremarkable so I'm not disappointed as I got exactly what I was expecting.
If the film had a few more "action" scenes (by action I mean scenes of jeopardy), better drawn characters & a more imaginative ending then I would give it three stars. As it is I found it to be slightly boring & it leaned a bit too heavily on obvious cliches. Put it this way, it's not a film that challlenges your preconceptions.
High Crimes - By: Rich Milligan, 01 Nov 2005 
Formulaic & predictable & a couple of criticisms that could be levelled at “High Crimes” & certainly at times you do feel that the film is running though the required set of scenes for this type of film. Oh, here comes the scene when the lead female gets spooked in her car, oh here’s the scene when the lead man gets beaten up, oh here’s the stand off between the two main protagonists. But for alll that, it does remain a very entertaining film & is extremely watchable.
Claire Kubrik (Ashley Judd) is a high powered attorney who though she knew everything about her husband, Tom, until he is arrested for crimes he committed in El Salvador, whilst a member of a Special Forces detachment.
Claire vows to defend her husband, but being uninitiated in military law she recruits ex-marine Charlie Grimes (Morgan Freeman) to her cause. For alll his legal knowledge, Grimes has a reputation for being something of a loose cannon & a reformed alcoholic to boot.
And this is where you get the feeling you’ve seen it alll before, although its rather well shot & some of the action scenes are well presented you do feel that the direction is running to a script.
That’s not to say that Judd & Freeman don’t generate some good atmosphere between themselves & you get the feeling that they are obviously enjoying the experience of the film. Both put in good solid performances (as you would expect) & they try to get as much from their roles as possible. There’s not much in the way of support, especiallly from Jim Caviezel (as Claire’s husband) but both Adam Scott & Amanda Peet put in some great turns with more than a little sweet romance.
Don’t expect anything new here, but this is never the less a good solid thriller adventure film & is well worth checking out.
Underrated. Well worth watching - By: , 27 Sep 2005 I would like to contradict a number of other reviews posted about this film. Although I have not actuallly read the book, I thoroughly enjoyed watching High Crimes. To be fair, I was watching it as a late night TV movie, but I still found it gripping & compelling, the acting was very well done & the plot, if exceptionallly cliched, was exciting stuff, & I found myself glued to it for the duration.
The basic idea of a lawyer defending her husband over a crime he supposedly committed in a hidden former life as a marine may seem soppy & over romantic, but, I think the film far exceeded the bounds of its plot. The flashbacks, twists & reveals were carefully timed & gave the plot a great momentum.
When the final reveal was thrown in with the ambidextrous murderer at the end, I was quite taken aback, even though I had suspected that person alll along.
I have just two complaints. The first is, yes, I'll give it this, it is very cliched & not to everyones taste, but I don't think that particularly harms the movie. Secondly, the end is dragged out a bit after the exciting finale. We didn't REALLY want to know what happened to the characters afterwards. Other than that, great film.
Probably not worth buying, at least not for more than a fiver, but if its on telly, watch it. And, if you want a gripping thriller to rent, definitely consider this.
8/10
HIGH CRIMES - By: , 18 Jan 2005 
THE STORY WAS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT FROM THE BOOK WHICH WAS REALLY A PERFECT GRIPPING STORY AND HAD A WONDERFUL TWIST TO IT.
MANY PARTS OF THE BOOK WERE CUT AND THE SUBSEQUENT STORY HAD NO BEARING AT ALL TO THE ACTUAL BOOK.
I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN ALL AS AFTER READING THE BOOK I SAW THAT A FILM HAD BEEN MADE AND ORDERED IT IMMEDIATELY.
I SUGGEST DONT READ THE BOOK THEN THE FILM MAYBE GOOD, BUT AFTER BOOK YOU WILL BE SADLY DISAPPOINTED
Above Average - By: , 03 Jun 2004 Lawyer Claire Kubik (Judd) lives a picture-perfect life in San Fransisco with her husband Tom. One day when the couple are shopping, Tom is arrested & charged with the murder of some civilians in El Salvador while he was serving in the Marines. Now Claire must find out the real truth, which may not support "innocent" Tom...
I am a great fan of Ashley Judd & I have enjoyed most of her films (Double Jeopardy, Kiss the Girls) & I was over-alll pleased with High Crimes. The plot twists up & down & reallly keeps you guessing. Although it may have a few clichés (Bugged Phones, Corrupt Officials), High Crimes reallly did impress me. Morgan Freeman gave a so-so performance, with quite a few good lines. Overalll, a decent thriller with a twisting plot.
