Rusty Sabich seemed to have it all—a high-profile job as a prosecutor in Chicago, a loving family, and a promising political future. But when his colleague and secret lover, Carolyn, is found murdered, Rusty finds himself embroiled in a disturbing case that will change his life in ways he could never imagine.
Adapted from the classic 1987 novel by Scott Turow, the new Apple TV+ series Presumed Innocent follows Rusty as the investigation into Carolyn’s death begins, pointing right at him. Now fighting to prove his innocence against a system he used to manipulate, Rusty must unravel the mystery of who truly killed Carolyn before it’s too late.
Meanwhile, his wife, Barbara, and their children are left reeling in the eye of an intense media storm. Helming the adaptation is acclaimed writer David E. Kelley, known for gripping legal thrillers like The Undoing. But does his modern retelling live up to the suspense of Turow’s intricate original story? Tune in to see the complicated truth emerge.
The Intricate Lives at the Center of the Mystery
At first glance, Rusty Sabich has it all: a rewarding career, a loving family, and respect in his community. But beneath the surface, his life is more complicated. As a prosecutor in 1980s Chicago, Rusty carries the weight of the city’s problems on his shoulders each day. And in a moment of weakness, he engaged in a secret affair with his colleague Carolyn.
When Carolyn is found brutally murdered, Rusty’s world comes crashing down. As the investigation begins, his relationship with Carolyn is brought to light, making him an immediate suspect. Juggling his role as a potential witness and suspect presents countless obstacles. And with each new twist, Rusty seems to sink deeper into doubt and peril.
Playing Rusty, Jake Gyllenhaal captures the attorney’s inner turmoil perfectly. Early on, Rusty appears as a stable and committed family man. But Gyllenhaal hints at underlying cracks, conveying Rusty’s fraying composure through subtle changes in tone and body language. As the case builds, Gyllenhaal shows Rusty transforming from confident professional to desperate accused, struggling under the weight of his damning secrets. His vulnerable yet determined performance makes Rusty an engrossing character to unravel.
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Adding further layers are Rusty’s relationships with his wife Barbara and colleague Tommy Molto. Ruth Negga brings stern grace to Barbara as she stands by her husband, though doubts regarding his fidelity emerge. And Peter Sarsgaard steals many scenes as Molto, oozing smug charm and vendetta against Rusty. Their charged interactions are a highlight, with Molto capitalizing on Rusty’s misfortune at every turn.
Rusty’s children and boss provide further perspective. Bill Camp shines as Raymond Horgan, a gruff yet principled authority caught in the crossfire. And glimpses into Jaden and Kyle’s confusion show the profound effect on their developing lives. Through its rich ensemble, Presumed Innocent crafts a living, breathing world to get pulled deeper into with each new revelation about Rusty and Carolyn’s final days.
By layering intriguing characters around Rusty, the series infuses its legal mystery with relatable human drama. And thanks to standout performances like Gyllenhaal’s, Presumed Innocent keeps viewers guessing about where the truth truly lies among the complex lives at its core.
Behind the Scenes in a Classic Genre
Legal thrillers have their own distinct tone and pacing, keeping audiences on edge with every revelation. Presumed Innocent brings us into that world through solid direction and visual choices. Anne Sewitsky and Greg Yaitanes keep things moving at a steady clip, toggling between tense courtroom drama and moody flashbacks.
Some complaints have been made about overly dramatic downpours, but overall, the cinematography pulls us effectively into Rusty’s unraveling world. Sweeping shots show the institutions of power looming over the characters, while tight close-ups convey fragile emotions just beneath the surface. Subtle directorial touches, like lingering on objects or expressions, imply troubling subtexts without clubbing the audience over the head.
An especially noteworthy element is how the series portrays its setting in 1980s Chicago. Too often on screen, locations feel like mere backdrops rather than living, breathing environments integral to the story. Not so here; the windswept streets and imposing architecture give a true sense of place. You almost feel the bitter cold Rusty must brace against with each new twist in his troubled saga.
Authentic local nods like landmark buildings and ambient noise profiles also reinforce the perception that we’re experiencing the real world within this fictional narrative. It’s a rarity for productions to invest so heavily in locations rather than relying on backlots and studio sets. This grounded approach in turn anchors the complex human drama and insidious city politics playing out against its backdrop.
While some accuse the production of not fully capturing Chicago’s spirit, most would agree that Presumed Innocent brings its namesake metropolis to a visually compelling life. Solid direction and an eye for authentic environments sustain the genre thrills and character intrigue at the story’s core.
Differences and Deviations
Presumed Innocent faces an interesting challenge in adapting such a classic novel and film. Scott Turow’s book and the 1990 movie left an indelible mark, making changes risk costly mistakes. David Kelley’s series takes some bold divergences that both strengthen and weaken its portrayal of this layered story.
A notable difference sees Rusty defended not by famed attorney Sandy Stern but rather by his disgraced former boss, Raymond Horgan. While this sidelines an iconic character, it proves a masterstroke: Bill Camp owns every scene with his gruff yet shrewd performance. He breathes new life into a character reinvigorated by novel and film portrayals.
Other shifts don’t fare quite as well. Jake Gyllenhaal lacks the weary world-weariness that made Harrison Ford such a convincing Rusty Sabich. His stripped-down six-pack screams Hollywood hunk over a flawed protagonist. Even fine acting can’t fill those worn-in shoes.
The series also sanitizes questionable elements that add complexity. Horgan faces no intimations of hypocrisy through a secret affair. The justice system emerges far cleaner than in its predatory book and film iterations. These revisions lose provocative dimensions and distance the story from its source’s perceptiveness.
Of course, any adaptation requires changes large and small. Some, like fleshing out supporting roles, strengthen the narrative and characters. Ruth Negga shines in bringing Barbara Sabich to the fore in a way previous works didn’t.
Yet more deviations, like diverting the core mystery’s solution beyond recognition, feel unnecessary when standing on the shoulders of already compelling source material. Do these augmentations truly build or merely divert down new paths of diminishing returns?
Kelley takes bold strides but stumbles where he departs furthest from the source path. Horgan emerges as a rare exception that improves upon what came before. Overall, this Presumed Innocent travels some rewarding new roads but loses its way when it drives too far off the first successful grid laid out by Turow so long ago. A balanced approach may have better served both the original and the viewer.
Uneasy Transitions
Some transitions from page to screen prove rockier than others. Presumed Innocent’s reimagining disrupted expectations yet also brought gift performances that helped smooth rough patches. Jake Gyllenhaal took on a monumental role, though an imperfect fit. Rusty Sabich emerges darker, his charm receding behind desperation. But Gyllenhaal commits fully, imbuing each fluctuating emotion.
Where Gyllenhaal garnered mixed praise, Ruth Negga’s nuanced turn as Barbara. Skeins of betrayal, resilience, and sorrow lace her every look. Negga breathes vibrant empathy into a character who is sometimes marginalized. Her love for family and fight to protect them captivate.
As Rusty’s boss, Raymond Horgan, emerges as a as a standout, Authoritative yet bemused, he displays humor’s power even in tragedy’s gravest moments. The camp brought welcome humanity, offsetting legal proceedings’ sterile air. His warmth leavened tensions, while his keen legal mind stayed razor-sharp.
Pairing brought added delights, their easy comradery transferring off-screen. Together, Camp and wife Elizabeth Marvel crafted prescient relationships that were never forced. Subtle, skilled performances, embracing complexity over cliche.
O-T Fagbenle infused Nico Della Guardia with chilling intellect and poise, strategizing each word’s impact. Peter Sarsgaard imbued defense lawyer Tommy Molto with a slick menace, ensuring distrust remained ‘til the revelations’ end. Skilled supporting actors lifted this adaptation, fleshing characters beyond singular tropes or roles.
Not all transitions proved seamless. Renate Reinsve struggled to leave Mark as Carolyn Polhemus, her role’s potential diminishing against the pressures of the plot. But where scripts limited some, the talents of Gyllenhaal, Negga, Camp, and their equals found ways of engaging and surprising, navigating turbulence with grace. Theirs were portraits stirring empathy, driving this thriller’s heart.
Taking Its Time
Presumed Innocent’s slow-burn approach won’t please all. Stretching Turow’s twisty tale across eight episodes gives Kelley room to explore nuances. But legal machinations and character intrigue mean early outings move ponderously at times.
The first episodes set the scene superbly, immersing us in Rusty Sabich’s world. Gyllenhaal and Negga craft a couple seeming steady and close-knit. Then events cracked this facade. Yet clues to Carolyn’s killer remain scant; the case’s heart is slowly exposed.
Later episodes find a surer stride as the plot quickens. Telescoped timelines in books and films allow for a brisker pace. Here, spreading the story grants Kelley the luxury to flesh out figures merely sketched before. We grasp motives and understand flaws that drive fates.
But this approach courts danger too. Mid-season, tension wanes when revelations prove sparse, and the central riddle is no closer to solving. Sidestories, like Barbara’s attraction to another, feel tangents from the central murder mystery.
If the finale lives up to the hints, all is redeemed. But until then, doubts linger that lesser plots and protracted legal proceedings fill time better spent on the emotional core. True, nuanced characters deepen the mystery. But Presumed Innocent risks losing some in ever-twisting subplots and elongated runs.
For fans craving each clue immediately, less may have meant more. But wherever one stands, the actors’ excellences alone make this adaptation of Turow’s classic a voyage worth taking.
Presumed Successful
David Kelley’s Presumed Innocent largely accomplishes what it aimed for: an exciting legal thriller adapting a classic mystery for a new audience. Gyllenhaal anchors the show as an enigmatic Rusty, keeping viewers guessing his guilt or innocence till the end. Strong supporting turns also boost the drama.
The gradual unfolding of secrets and twists maintains tension across episodes. Though sometimes slowing pacing, unraveling clues at a measured pace builds atmosphere. Reworking some novel elements adds modern perspectives too. The result isn’t always perfectly smooth, but it makes for compelling viewing overall.
Where there are some slow moments, most will find this a stylish page-turner that does Turow’s tale justice. A few missteps aside, Kelley transfers the core intrigue skillfully to television. Fans familiar with earlier versions also find surprises.
While legal details color outside procedural lines at times, the main characters and their motivations remain believable. This helps suspend disbelief in high-stakes courtroom drama.
Presumed Innocent satisfies as an upscale version of a classic mystery with cinematic visuals to match. Despite some quibbles, the new adaptation proves a quality modern legal thriller that will keep viewers guessing until the conclusion.
The Review
Presumed Innocent
David E. Kelley's adaptation of Presumed Innocent for Apple TV+ is an engaging legal thriller that largely does justice to Turow's beloved novel, despite some missteps. Anchored by a magnetic performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, the slow-burning mystery succeeds at maintaining tension across its eight episodes as secrets are unveiled piece by piece. While the pacing lags at times, on the whole, Presumed Innocent satisfies as a stylish page-turner sure to captivate new audiences and offer surprises even to those familiar with its famous twists.
PROS
- A compelling central performance from Jake Gyllenhaal keeps viewers guessing.
- Strong supporting cast, including Ruth Negga and Bill Camp
- Adaptation maintains tension and the mystery of the source material.
- Modern perspectives and surprises added for new audiences
- Production values and cinematic visuals provide an upscale viewing experience.
CONS
- Pacing drags in parts, slowing momentum.
- Some plot elements diverge too much from the novel
- Gyllenhaal isn't perfectly suited for the role of Rusty Sabich.
- Reworking of characters like Horgan reduces intrigue.
