‘Presumed Innocent’ Review: An Intriguing Premise Falters in David Kelley’s Hands
The anticipation was high when David E. Kelley, known for his successful courtroom dramas like ‘Ally McBeal’ and ‘Boston Legal,’ was set to adapt Scott Turow’s acclaimed legal thriller ‘Presumed Innocent’ for Apple TV+. With Kelley at the helm and Jake Gyllenhaal starring, expectations soared. Unfortunately, the adaptation falls short of its promise, failing to capture the essence of Turow’s novel.
Kelley’s recent projects, including the Netflix series ‘A Man in Full,’ have been compared to the media frenzy surrounding figures like former president Donald Trump. This backdrop made ‘Presumed Innocent”s June 12 premiere seem perfectly timed to resonate with contemporary issues. The story revolves around Rusty Sabich, a high-profile prosecutor accused of murdering his mistress, Carolyn Polhemus, who also happens to be a colleague. The novel’s core themes of political intrigue and institutional corruption seemed a natural fit for Kelley’s storytelling style.
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However, while Kelley has shown his knack for blending courtroom drama with everyday life, this adaptation misses the mark. Instead of focusing on the legal battle and Rusty’s struggle to clear his name, the series shifts its attention towards Rusty’s troubled family dynamics and marital infidelity. This approach veers away from the novel’s intense, corruption-driven narrative and leans more towards Kelley’s family-centric dramas, such as ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘The Undoing.’ The result is a series that feels disjointed and lacks the gripping tension of its source material.
The treatment of female characters in the adaptation also feels dated. Although it’s commendable that the series attempts to modernise these roles, it often results in a tangled plot that prioritises Barbara Sabich’s (played by Ruth Negga) personal arc over the main courtroom drama. This focus dilutes the impact of the central legal conflict and turns the series into a meandering exploration of domestic strife.
Jake Gyllenhaal, who also serves as executive producer, delivers a performance that captures Rusty’s internal rage and bitterness. However, the lack of ambiguity in his portrayal undermines the character’s complexity. The series’ attempt to portray Rusty’s obsession with Carolyn through flashbacks is uncomfortable and unsettling, but it lacks the depth needed to make these scenes truly impactful. Gyllenhaal shines in moments of confrontation with his rival prosecutor, Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard), and in his interactions with his defence lawyer, Raymond Horgan (Bill Camp), but these highlights are overshadowed by the series’ broader failings.
The courtroom scenes, which should have been the series’ strong suit, only come into focus in the latter part of the series. Despite some compelling performances and dramatic exchanges, the show struggles with melodramatic elements and an overemphasis on personal drama. The cheap shock tactics, particularly a cliffhanger in episode 6, detract from the otherwise engaging courtroom proceedings.
