Just Cause (1995)

A Harvard law professor (Sean Connery) pushes to reopen a murder case based on a police detective (Laurence Fishburne) coercing a confession from the prisoner (Blair Underwood) by beating and threatening him. But what at first seems a simple case of miscarried justice soon turns into something more sinister. Based on the novel by John Katzenbach and directed by Arne Glimcher (THE MAMBO KINGS). It's an efficient but unsavory thriller with some good performances particularly Fishburne and Ed Harris as a psychopathic serial killer. As with many thrillers, there's a "surprise" twist at the end but it's so obvious to anyone who's seen these courtroom thrillers (although there's very little time spent in the courtroom) that it takes the shock value out of the movie. So what we're left with is an another overwrought movie  about brutal Southern law officers challenged by the smart Northerner for justice. Oh, I was entertained enough and I suppose that should be sufficient but its shortcomings were glaring even as I watched it. The large supporting cast includes Scarlett Johansson, Kate Capshaw, Ned Beatty, Chris Sarandon, Ruby Dee, Hope Lange, Kevin McCarthy, Lynne Thigpen and Christopher Murray.