Next to the 90s erotic thriller is the sexy courtroom thriller, all of which tends to be coated in references to Hitchcock. Guilty As Sin (1993) is scripted by genre stalwart Larry Cohen (The Stuff, Phone Booth) and directed by Sidney Lumet (Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon), and I remember commercials for it at the time, though it did seem like an also-ran to big hits of the era like Basic Instinct and The Firm. Inspired by Simon Barrett’s recommendation (on his 100 film twitter thread of little known gems; Barrett is the screenwriter of The Guest), I wanted to check it out. Rebecca De Mornay (riding off the success of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle) plays a canny defence attorney whose services are requested by a suave, slick playboy played by Don Johnson who is accused of murdering his wife by throwing her from their apartment building window. Even though De Mornay’s character is in a relationship (Stephen Lang with curly hair and a moustache to make him look less slick), there is a flirtation there with Johnson and she believes in his innocence. Yet, the games have already begun in the ways in which Johnson operates, bringing in some classic twists and turns as he starts to become the “client from hell”. Even though this might be more the type of thing Brian De Palma might make a meal out of, Lumet does ground things with the characterisation (supporting characters sticking to Chicago accents) and creates an involving sense of style in the framing (accompanied by a score from Howard Shore). It’s all classic 1990s aesthetics of suits and sweaters, big office windows overlooking the city, and an ornate marble courtroom. I had a good time, particularly Johnson firing on all cylinders as the sleazy son of a bitch, and De Mornay as the sympathetic, winsome heroine. Another key difference between De Palma and Lumet; where De Palma might cast Dennis Franz in a part, Lumet brings in Jack Warden as the kindly investigator on De Mornay’s payroll. Recommended.
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