Summary
A high-profile slaying becomes the case of an ambitious attorney's career in this legal thriller based on the novel by William Diehl. Richard Gere stars as Martin Vail, a famed defense lawyer who volunteers his services to Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton), a Kentucky teenager charged with the murder of a Chicago archbishop. Covered with blood, Aaron was captured after a foot chase broadcast live on TV, making a gleeful Vail certain that he could raise his profile by defending the obviously guilty suspect. Assigned to prosecute is Assistant District Attorney Janet Venable (Laura Linney), who is Vail's ex-girlfriend. Vail's case becomes more complicated than he expected when a psychologist, Dr. Molly Arrington (Frances McDormand) concludes that Stampler suffers from multiple personality disorder. Vail also uncovers evidence that the archbishop was involved in a corrupt land scheme and may have molested young parishioners. Now the cynical, opportunistic attorney is faced with a daunting prospect, a client who may actually deserve his best defense. Its shocking, twist ending made Primal Fear (1996) a big box office hit and earned Norton, in his screen debut, an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
Additional Information
| Series |
Martin Vail legal thriller #1 - Primal fear #2 - Show of evil #3 - Reign in hell |
| Subjects |
Lawyers
-- United States
-- Drama.
Acolytes -- United States -- Drama. Trials (Murder) -- United States -- Drama. Multiple personality -- United States -- Drama. Betrayal -- United States -- Drama. Legal films. Crime films. Video recordings for the hearing impaired. Feature films. |
| Publisher | Hollywood, Calif. :Paramount Home Entertainment,2009 |
| Edition | Hard evidence ed., widescreen. |
| Other Titles | Primal fear. |
| Contributors |
Lucchesi, Gary.
Shagan, Steve. Biderman, Ann. Hoblit, Gregory. Gere, Richard, 1949- Linney, Laura. Mahoney, John, 1940-2018 Woodard, Alfre, 1953- McDormand, Frances. Norton, Edward. Howard, James Newton. Diehl, William. Primal fear. Paramount Pictures Corporation. Rysher Entertainment. Paramount Home Entertainment (Firm) |
| Participants/Performers |
Richard Gere, Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton. |
| Other Contributors |
Director of photography, Michael Chapman ; editor, David Rosenbloom ; music, James Newton Howard. |
| Audience |
MPAA rating: R; for brief grisly violence, pervasive strong language and a sex scene. |
| Language |
English French Spanish English, dubbed French or dubbed Spanish dialogue, English, French or Spanish subtitles; closed-captioned. |
| Notes |
Title from container. Based on the novel by William Diehl. Originally released as a motion picture in 1996. Special features: Commentary by director Gregory Hoblit, writer Ann Biderman, producer Gary Lucchesi, executive producer Hawk Koch, and casting director Deborah Aquila; "Primal fear: the final verdict" featurette; "Primal fear: star witness-casting Edward Norton" featurette; "The psychology of guilt" featurette; theatrical trailer. |
| System Details |
DVD, region 1, widescreen (enhanced); Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, NTSC. |
| Description |
1 videodisc (130 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. |
| ISBN | 1415746575 9781415746578 |
| Other | Classic View |