Criminal Law (1988)

	Director: Martin Campbell	COUNTRY USA GENRE Thriller NORWEGIAN TITLE Frikjent RUNNING TIME 117 minutes
	Producer: Hilary Heath Robert MacLean
	Screenwriter: Mark Kasdan

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Ben Chase	Gary Oldman
Martin Thiel IV	Kevin Bacon	½
Det. Stillwell	Tess Harper
Ellen Faulkner	Karen Young
Det. Mesel	Joe Don Baker
Prof. Clemens	Michael Sinelnikoff

Review

A relatively formulaic thriller, Criminal Law is a film that in every aspect typifies late-1980s American filmmaking, with its exaggerations and stereotypes, twisting and turning in familiar ways, often more controlled by what the filmmakers would like to make work than what actually works. Still, the film holds interest, mainly thanks to a young and sexy Gary Oldman honing his craft, transforming the slick yuppie lawyer Ben Chase into a desperately obsessed man who is driven to challenge his own existence. Kevin Bacon plays Oldman's adversary like Andrew McCarthy on a high. He lacks the sting he would develop later in his career. Criminal Law may be satisfying to the uncritical eye, and Martin Campbell directs with steady progression and an immaculate sense of the artificial: Martin Sinelnikoff's character seems grateful to being allowed to die while exchanging quotes with Oldman. It's refreshing to see supporting characters who know that life isn't really about them. Extra points go to an engaging Karen Young and to a Freudian motivation that is far from the worst a thriller psycho has ever been given.