The People vs. Robert Wheeler

Author(s): Ryne (Portland)
The People vs. Robert Wheeler

Directed by Jim Sheridan
Written by Brian Koppelman

Cast:

Brad Pitt as Robert Wheeler
Jeff Goldblum as Will Emmerich
Jada Pinkett Smith as D.A. Carol Penn
Zooey Deschanel as Kate Larken
Michael Shannon as Det. Josh Parish
Albert Finney as Judge Stanley Wallace

Tagline:

"The People Prosecuted Him. He Knows the Truth"

Synopsis: Robert Wheeler (Pitt) has been charged with the first degree murder of police officer Stan Marx after Marx pulled him over for speeding. It is said that Wheeler pulled a gun and shot the officer, who was working alone that early Tuesday morning, twice; once in the stomach and the second in the chest. The only problem is Robert Wheeler did not kill the officer, he was not even pulled over by Marx early that morning, and his charismatic defense attorney Will Emmerich (Goldblum) hopes to prove that.

Wheeler, a working class high school teacher, says he remembers little about the night in question, but he knows that he did not kill Stan Marx. District Attorney Carol Penn (Pinkett Smith) believes all the evidence found points to Wheeler as the murderer of a local hero and she plans to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.

The principal witness Kate Larkin (Deschanel) says she was driving down Huntington Rd. at about 2:47 A.M when she saw a man in his mid-40s roughly 5' 10" with the same build as Wheeler step out of a silver Honda and point a gun at the officer approaching the vehicle. She pulled around the corner and called 911. Larkin admits it was still dark out when she witnessed the murder so she was never able to a good view of the murderer's face. Detective Josh Parish (Shannon) was the first to report to the crime scene and find Stan Marx dead. He testifies that later Tuesday afternoon, he found Robert Wheeler in a local park about a mile from the crime scene passed out in the bushes with a Bersa Thunder .380 automatic pistol in his coat pocket. It is interesting that no prints were found on the weapon, however, given Wheeler's condition at the time. The bullets were traced back the gun in Wheeler's pocket though.

Throughout the witness process, Robert Wheeler begins to remember. Flashes first, slowly becoming into real memories. Will Emmerich motions for a recess while his client searches his mind for these memories. Judge Stanley Wallace (Finney) grants the motion despite Carol Penn's objection. Court will resumes the next day at 10 A.M, but will there be any new witnesses to call to the stand in defense of Robert Wheeler.

It is a case that will go down in history. It will skyrocket the carrier of one lawyer and mark the end to an admirable carrier of a judge. It is a case that will affect many people and captivate a nation. Ultimately, everyone will always remember The People vs. Robert Wheeler.

What the Press would say:

Brilliant! The People vs. Robert Wheeler succeeds on every level from the smallest word in the gritty dialogue to the amazing performance of the ensemble cast. It is a modern-day masterpiece and the best film of the year. Set mainly in the courtroom with few other locations and incorporated with flashbacks the different characters interact with one another so well that the audience feels this story is real life and that is the essence of what a courtroom drama should be. It immerses the audience from start to finish and never lets go. Brad Pitt gives an outstanding performance as the accused Robert Wheeler. He throws himself into this role and portrays Wheeler's confusion and helplessness perfectly. As Wheeler's memory slowly begins to retrieve information, the audience is shocked by what he remembers. I will not spoil it for those yet to see it though. Playing Wheeler's defense attorney is Jeff Goldblum who gives the performance of his carrier. Goldblum once again steals every scene he is in and makes the audience fall in love with his character's drive to acquit Robert Wheeler. Will Emmerich is a fun-loving man at heart, but when it is time to get serious, he goes to work and does it superbly. Jada Pinkett Smith gives an Oscar worthy performance as District Attorney Carol Penn. Being a female in a dominantly male profession, Carol Penn is unsure of herself and her abilities, but hides it and only lets it out when she is alone. Pinkett Smith capitalizes on this vulnerability to give one hell of a performance. Zooey Deschanel, Michael Shannon, and Albert Finney take a back seat to give great complementing performances that allow the main actors to shine. These three truly help encompass the idea of an ensemble. Brian Koppelman's smart-as-a-whip screenplay is some the best dialogue seen in movies in the past decade. It keeps the audience of the edge of their seat craving for more and he writes a perfect ending for this film: not clichéd, yet not boring. Only the word "Excellent" can describe it. Overall, The People vs. Robert Wheeler is an intelligent courtroom drama that is sure to win many awards come awards season.

FYI:

Best Picture
Best Director (Jim Sheridan)
Best Actor (Brad Pitt)
Best Supporting Actor (Jeff Goldblum)
Best Supporting Actress (Jada Pinkett Smith)
Best Original Screenplay