Reversal of Fortune
REVERSAL OF FORTUNE (15)
D: Barbet Schroeder
Warner Bros (Oliver Stone & Edward R.
Pressman)
US 1990
111 mins
Drama/Mystery/Thriller
W: Nicholas Kazan [based on the book by Alan
Derschowitz]
DP: Luciano Tovoli
Ed: Lee Percy
Mus: Mark Isham
Jeremy Irons (Claus Von Bülow), Glenn Close (Sunny
Von Bülow), Ron Silver (Professor Alan Derschowitz), Annabella Sciorra (Sarah), Uta Hagen (Maria)
Did Claus Von Bülow get away with murder? Though the case has
been well-documented in the Alan Derschowitz book upon which this film is based, director Barbet Schroeder leaves the ending mischieviously ambiguous.
Jeremy Irons is deliciously unpleasant with his performance of
the European aristocrat, convicted of the attempted murder of his wife, who never recovered from a coma. He hires Jewish-American lawyer, Deschowitz, to handle his appeal which provokes a moral
dilemma for the professor. Can he in good conscience represent a man when he's certain of his guilt? Or does everyone deserve a fair, unbiased courtroom trial?
The debate is left for another day. This film focuses on the
facts, and does a magnificent job in its delivery.
7/10
