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Just Cause

Play trailer Poster for Just Cause R 1995 1h 42m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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26% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Paul Armstrong (Sean Connery), a law professor who staunchly fights the death penalty, is lured into defending a death row inmate, Bobby Earl Ferguson (Blair Underwood), convicted of rape and murder. Ferguson is there due to a coerced confession at the hands of a snarling local sheriff (Laurence Fishburne). Armstrong starts to suspect that a psychotic serial killer (Ed Harris) may be the real culprit. But the deeper Armstrong gets, the more he realizes he doesn't know who's innocent at all.
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Just Cause

Just Cause

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Critics Consensus

Just Cause you round up a phenomenal cast, that doesn't mean you have everything you need for a solid legal thriller -- and this film is forgettable proof.

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Critics Reviews

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Mick LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle 06/18/2002
3/4
In Connery it has a hero who is inescapably appealing. Go to Full Review Rick Groen Globe and Mail 04/12/2002
Despite its merits, the script fails to escape the silly season that fouls up so many thrillers, that time when the twists merely seem like the narrative equivalents of those violin shrieks on a cheesy score. Go to Full Review Peter Rainer Los Angeles Times 02/13/2001
2/5
It doesn't bog down in the bogs, but it's slow-moving just about everyplace else. Go to Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Nov 12
2.5/5
This has one of cinema's most ridiculously overwrought car chase relative to its general plot and pacing. It also has Ed Harris extracting every nutrient from this 100-calorie snack pack, which is entertaining unto itself. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 09/14/2020
7/10
Paced like a courtroom drama, with a devious plot featuring an above-standard presentation of hunting for clues, uncovering conspiracies, and interrogating witnesses. Go to Full Review Ed Travis Hollywood Jesus 03/31/2020
It'd be easy to just pop Just Cause in and enjoy it as a brisk thriller. But there are so many better thrillers out there to engage your adrenaline and your brain. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tim W @RT72268042 3d Excellent cast and great acting. I didn't see the end being what it was, but when it happened it felt a little predictable. The acting made up for any shortcomings from the story itself for me though - hidden jewel here...great film.. I highly recommend it. See more Jerod S @jeroduptown Jan 27 It's supposed to be a legal thriller? Or a action thriller? Or all of em? The cast is superb, but the plot doesn't grab you in any of those ways. See more Christopher D @RT25021900 Nov 12 This is a good film. Wouldn't call it amazing or groundbreaking but it was compelling and I didn't predict the outcome. I had a couple of issues with the outcome in that it seems like it's validating certain characters' actions, but it still worked well. Typical Hollywood ending, one of the reasons why the critics hate it, but at the end of the day, those endings exist because viewers want them. See more Baxmeuste V @RT24933534 Oct 3 I think this is a very good movie. It would have been even better for its time. It’s also nice to see many of the actors play contrasting roles for a change. Great twists and drama. A must see for suspense drama enthusiasts. I would say more, but I wouldn’t want to spoil the plot. five stars. See more Daniel N @Hotchopeppa Aug 30 No bad. Kinda slow so had to watch in a couple sittings. Interesting twist at the end. See more Marie L @RT75264577 07/20/2025 WIth a cast like this one, this film should have been a knockout. It's not. Sean Connery is walking through his role, but even his worst is better than most actors' best. The rest of the cast do their best, but in this case, their best just wasn't good enough to overcome a tangled plot and thin production values. I kept feeling sorry for the actors, even Harris, who gives a high-octane performance akin to Hopkins' Hannibal Lector. They deserved a much better screenplay. It's worth a look, though, if just to see talented performers in a moss-dripping bayou struggle their way through a web of red herrings. See more Read all reviews
Just Cause

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Cast & Crew

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Arne Glimcher

Director

Sean Connery

Paul Armstrong

Laurence Fishburne

Sheriff Tanny Brown

Kate Capshaw

Laurie Prentiss Armstrong

Blair Underwood

Bobby Earl

Ed Harris

Blair Sullivan

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Just Cause

Just Cause (1995) Just Cause (1995) Just Cause (1995) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Paul Armstrong (Sean Connery), a law professor who staunchly fights the death penalty, is lured into defending a death row inmate, Bobby Earl Ferguson (Blair Underwood), convicted of rape and murder. Ferguson is there due to a coerced confession at the hands of a snarling local sheriff (Laurence Fishburne). Armstrong starts to suspect that a psychotic serial killer (Ed Harris) may be the real culprit. But the deeper Armstrong gets, the more he realizes he doesn't know who's innocent at all.
Director
Arne Glimcher
Producer
Lee Rich, Arne Glimcher, Steve Perry
Production Co
Warner Bros.
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$35.7M
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo