VHS : Reversal Of Fortune [1991]

Rating: - Jeremy Iron's great role.
Five stars for his acting. Based upon facts dramma but still with some dose of sublime humour.

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Rating: - Were's the Asprin?
Glenn Close plays an extremely wealthy, not to mention sickly woman who mysteriously keels over and lies in a coma for the rest of the film.
However, worry not, the story is told in flashback's, so she does do a bit of acting as the unlikeably weiny Sunny Von Bulow.

But all is not what it seems, her cold but dutiful husband Claus Von Bulow, played by Jeremy Irons, is accused of wickedly dosing out too many pain killers. His motive: her large amounts of dosh. Accused of attempted murder Claus employs a top lawyer to defend himself. As the evidence and defence is produced and delivered your are constantly being forced to change your verdict as you see both sides of the situation.

I have to say I do like the Claus Von Bulow character as he's very detached, ordered and seemingly unruffled throughout, were as Sunny Von Bulow is upper-class horrible as only the super-rich can be. Can't say too much more, because It might ruin it, but it's a great story with great acting from Jeremy Irons.

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Rating: - Von Bulow; Victim or Criminal?
Claus von Bulow. Victim of a miscarriage of justice or a criminal who used his money to "beat the rap." The movie suggests the former, but who really knows? After all, he was duly convicted the first time. But this movie is not a mere crime story. Rather, it offers a character study of man who is as unlikeable as he is fascinating. He does not attract sympathy nor does he solicit it. He insists that he is innocent, and is determined to make his case. The story warrants attention. The downside of this movie is the legal team that represents Mr. Von Bulow. With the exception of Chuck, admirably played by that excellent character actor Alan Pottinger, Mr. Von Bulow's legal team are portrayed as a bunch of self-righteous dilettantes who treat this case like it's a game. Am I supposed to believe that this same legal team could convince a state court of appeals that a guilty verdict, duly arrived at, was wrong? What did the trial judge have to say about that? What I'm suggesting is that there is probably more to this story then what the movie portrayed. One is presumed innocent until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. However, in the case of Claus von Bulow, the defendant is found both guilty and not guilty. Watch the movie and make up your own mind.

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Rating: - Mesmerising
I first watched this film on television but was absolutely captivated by Jeremy Iron's acting and portrayl of Claus Von Bulow. Iron's is expertley cast as the enigmatic aristocrat
and I found myself enthralled by his acting style and performance.
Ron Silver takes an excellent part also.
The moral implications of the trial are explored and you never really know who or what Claus is as a person. Iron's captures
the aristocrats peculiar nature superbly.

I would highly recommend this film to anyone who is a fan of legal dramas/trial movies.