Israel Valencia’s review published on Letterboxd:
The Lincoln Lawyer Review
"That I wouldn't recognize innocence. That it would be right there in front of me and I just wouldn't see it." - Mick Haller
The Lincoln Lawyer is a hard, tough, gritty, and sly film showing us a lawyer striving to survive not just on the streets but also in court. As the little known Lincoln Lawyer started McConaughssaince but it began with a pow as Matthew McConaughey delivered a knockout performance with some nice narrative flow. However as cool and calculating this film may be, it tries too hard to be an action thriller that at times it gets lost in its muddled plot and themes especially when the editing is choppy and off beat. Yet The Lincoln Lawyer is not guilty of any true crimes but rather is convicted of being a film that was truly amazing through its characters and diction.
Lawyers accept a case for what it is and based on what their clients say they'll turn it to their advantage, yet somehow the key hole missing in every case is trust. And in a job where trust and the truth are the most important assets to accomplish your job it becomes increasingly difficult to handle an unknown situation. But that's exactly what Mick Haller does in this situation as he goes in over his head in a case hoping it wins him the big bucks. However the tables are turned and it really questions the loyalty people have and whether innocence truly exists in the streets and especially the courtrooms.
Matthew McConaughey plays Mick Haller the witty, cunning lawyer. Although Mick Haller uses his street smarts to his advantage it helps him overcome his cases. For a lawyer it's much more than discovering the truth but also twisting it into a form that benefits your client because the best lies have a hint of the truth. Here McConaughey gives Haller the charisma, charm, and confidence that the character needs as he's not one to back down from anyone. It's like he is playing a game of chess against his opponents and ultimately beating them because the best lawyers aren't the ones that know how to defend but to also predict your opponent's arguments, strategies, or techniques.
The rest of the cast are admirable yet nothing worthy of much attention, except the flashbacks involving Michael Pena and Matthew McConaughey. However most of the characters are vital, at times to small degrees, to the film as they ultimately decide the outcome of some of the characters. But that's what makes it difficult for the actors to strive on their own as each character, besides Mick Haller, is one sided and simple we get their motives and actions so all we really have to focus on is McConaughey.
The Lincoln Lawyer is based on the book, which focuses on the lawyer that works in his Lincoln, yet that specific car is only seen a couple of times and almost never once do we see him work in it; yet it has the cute license plate that says "NTGUILTY" making it more of a joke than anything worth the title of the film. Yet we can't blame for a man following from the pages of the book.
What we can criticize here is the fact that the story tries to go through so many story lines all at the same time. As it tries to focus on the two intertwined cases, the biker gangs, his love life, his own personal life, an unwelcome death all while trying to show his character development. This leaves many of the stories without closure and others were sent to trial swiftly and inadequately.
In the end the director Brad Furman uses simple shots and quick cuts to increase the pace and intensity of the film as Mick Haller is man we know we shouldn't put much confidence in but when it comes to being a lawyer there seems to be no one better. Yet the truth is a question hovering over the entire film as we are left with doubts through our mind whether or not the truth is as simple as it sounds. However most of these themes get lost through the flimsy narrative and stacked set of plots. Although the film contains great acting, especially from McConaughey, fierce direction that alerted everyone of the start of McConaissance.
Grade: B+ , 3 1/2 stars