Jake Gyllenhaal is arguably one of the most under-rated actors of this generation. With his latest projects, the actor might finally be getting his due. Known for his movie roles, Gyllenhaal steps into the small screen sphere with Presumed Innocent, a gripping legal thriller that starts slowly but builds to an intensity that keeps you glued to the screen. With passion, desire, betrayal, and a deep look at a heavily dramatized legal system, Presumed Innocent hits all the right, albeit formulaic, notes for fans of the genre.
What Is Presumed Innocent About?
Hailing from David E. Kelley, the man behind hit shows like Doogie Howser, M.D., The Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, and Big Little Lies, the series is also co-produced by J.J. Abrams as well as Gyllenhaal himself. The story is based on the Scott Turow novel of the same name. If it sounds familiar to those who haven’t read the book, that’s because this isn’t its first adaptation. A movie released in 1990 starred Harrison Ford as Rusty Sabich, the role Gyllenhaal is trying to reinvent. He’s a revered prosecutor who becomes a suspect in a murder case as a web of lies and secrecy begins to unravel.
The story begins when Rusty learns of the gruesome murder of his colleague Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reisnve). Understandably shook, he’s even more so when evidence starts to point a finger in his direction. As it turns out, he and Carolyn were having a torrid, sexually charged affair behind the backs of their colleagues, not to mention Rusty’s wife and two kids. Rusty’s experience as a top prosecutor means he can predict the direction the investigation is going at every turn, knowing exactly what’s coming to him. But even recognizing all the right things to say or do can’t save him from the inevitable that awaits.
Rusty may have dug himself into a hole he can’t possibly get out of, especially when the newly appointed prosecutor Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard) has a clear personal vendetta against Rusty. He’s more focused on proving his rival’s guilt than finding out if he actually is guilty, and has tunnel vision because of it.
Presumed Innocent Review
Steamy, slick, and beautifully acted are the best words to describe Presumed Innocent. While the series begins slowly, with the first episode and-a-half leaving much to be desired, you’ll find yourself hooked from there. What seems like a cut and dry case peels back layers and layers as each episode nears its end. The episodic format allows for diving deeper into the story and characters in a way that the movie didn’t.
You’re taken on a wild ride with Rusty through flashbacks that show his clandestine, aggressively (though mutually so) sexual relationship with Carolyn, interspersed with violent visions of what happened the night she died, or perhaps what might have happened. Some are Rusty’s nightmares, some daydreams, some even from others playing out potential versions of the events in their heads. This along with several other red herrings and misdirects keep you guessing and wondering. You won’t feel any sympathy for Rusty – he made his own bed. But it’s difficult to shake the question: is this a Gone Girl situation where finger-pointing and spin can twist facts and realities to make anyone look like the guilty one? Or is Rusty capable of doing things no one thought he ever could? The story does get repetitive as you’re taken ‘round and ‘round in a whodunit circle, from one episode to the next. But once you’ve been through the first turnaround, you won’t want to jump off the ride just yet.
Rusty’s doting wife Barbara (Ruth Negga) gets the short end of the stick with story treatment, coming across as a relatively one-note, unlikeable and deeply loyal (to a fault) scorned woman. His former boss and closest friend Raymond Horgan (Bill Camp) is a stand-out, a man tortured by the devastating news of his friend’s predicament but determined to help him, much to his wife Lorraine’s (Elizabeth Marvel, Camp’s real-life wife) chagrin. The conversations between Raymond and Lorraine at home, in fact, offer a calming respite from the madness: these are among the most real moments of the show.
On the villainous side, Sarsgaard captures the essence of the deeply unlikable Tommy, a cookie cutter villain with a smarmy look and a lonely life, with unsettling ease. His personal hatred of Rusty is so palpable, it’s almost unbelievable that he would not have been recused from the case because of the inherent bias and what it might cause him to do. A story of good versus evil, you’ll find yourself unsure for whom you should root, though it’s clearly not Tommy.
The legal aspect of the series will satisfy fans of the genre. One striking statement within the dialogue suggests that cases based on circumstantial evidence come down to nothing more than storytelling and whose better at it. This is, after all, why some of the best courtroom scenes in legal dramas centre around revered lawyers with the gift of gab, an uncanny ability to relate to the jury, and the power to evoke emotion. It’s not innocent until proven guilty, it’s innocent unless a prosecutor has a compelling enough argument to convince a jury to turn a blind eye to this legal truth. It’s a reality the series will have you pondering as you follow Rusty through his harrowing journey.
Should You Watch Presumed Innocent?
Anyone who read the book or watched the movie knows how the story ends. The series may not follow that same trajectory: critics were given access to the first seven episodes in advance but haven’t yet seen the finale. If the show takes a different spin, it might be good thing. A refreshed version of a story allows this TV adaptation to stand on its own versus being dubbed an unnecessary remake. Gyllenhaal might interpret the character differently than Ford did, but he has made it his own and brought his signature intensity to the role.
By the third episode, you’ll find yourself gritting teeth, desperate to find out what happens next. The series is predictable at times, but it’s still a fascinating story with intrigue, mystery, salacious rendezvous, and egos and narcissism running amuck.
Presumed Innocent isn’t the best original show Apple TV+ has released, but it’s a worthwhile addition to the line-up. The eight-episode series is a more than decent legal thriller that delivers edge-of-your-seat tension. Just be warned that the cliffhanger endings might frustrate those who prefer to binge-watch. If you like the ability to decompress between episodes, however, the first two episodes are already streaming, and new episodes are out weekly through July 24, 2024.
Watch Presumed Innocent are on Apple TV+ in both Canada and the U.S.