Blu-ray Review: High Crimes

“I want the truth.”
“You can’t handle the truth.”

Have you heard these words before? If so, then you’ve probably seen “A Few Good Men,” starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. And, if you liked “A Few Good Men,” you will probably enjoy “High Crimes,” starring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd, because “High Crimes” is almost a thematic carbon copy.

In “High Crimes,” Tom (James Caviezel) and Claire Kubik (Ashley Judd) are trying desperately to have a baby. When an explosion goes off in Union Square, Tom is taken into custody by military police. Claire, a top-notch lawyer, decides to sideline a potential promotion at her law firm to help her husband. Tom is accused of deserting the military, after he was accused of executing nine people on a mission. He claims that he didn’t commit the crime, and that he is being framed by an order that came down from higher up the military ranks. When Claire learns that her husband’s case has been handed over to the plucky young lawyer, Lt. Terrence Embry (Adam Scott), she decides to enlist the help of Charles W. Grimes (Morgan Freeman), a drunk who has bested military law before, to help clear her husband.

The story is one of deception and lies, as Claire and Charles travel around the nation and to Latin America to uncover the truth. Judd, Freeman and Caviezel play their roles brilliantly throughout this movie. The characters are believable, and urge you to follow the story. However, the few twists and turns in “High Crimes,” along with some light-hearted humor, doesn’t help it to escape from the shadow of “A Few Good Men.” Unfortunately, there isn’t enough nuance to this tale to make it different from its “film-forefather.” The predictable twist ending does present some nice moments, where the actor’s talents really shine. However, if you haven’t seen “A Few Good Men,” then this tale will have a much more profound impact on you.

The Blu-ray release has a few good, no pun intended, featurettes. There are six featurettes in all, including making of footage, like the explosion scene in Union Square and the Car Chase scene. Also, if you ever wanted to learn how to beat a polygraph, there’s a featurette for that.

“High Crimes” is filled with touching moments, great actor performances, and a touch of humor. If you haven’t seen “A Few Good Men,” then this movie is definitely one you’ll want to watch. But, unfortunately, “High Crimes” pales in comparison to its predecessor and twist ending just isn’t strong enough to make it stand out.

Special Features:
- Full-length Audio Commentary by Director Carl Franklin
- 6 Featurettes including “Liar Liar” (How to Beat a Polygraph), “A Different Kind of Justice” (Military vs. Civilian Law), “The Car Chase,” “FBI Takedown in Union Square”
- Original Theatrical Trailer