The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
82%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: NA
It doesn’t offer any twists on the predictable courtroom thriller formula, but with a charming Matthew McConaughey leading its solid cast, The Lincoln Lawyer offers briskly enjoyable entertainment
The Lincoln Lawyer is like a good bowl of chili – it’s not going to change your life, but it’s satisfying and hits the spot. Matthew McConaughey brings his signature swagger to the role of a slick lawyer who starts to question his own morality. The plot twists are predictable, but that doesn’t stop the movie from being an enjoyable ride. Plus, it’s nice to see McConaughey in something other than a rom-com where he’s shirtless half the time. Overall, The Lincoln Lawyer is a solid legal thriller that’s worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Ain’t Heard Nothin’ Yet Corp. Goodmovies Entertainment,
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
2011
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:16:9 HD
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Runtime:1h 59m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 18, 2011 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 12, 2011
Genre(s)
Crime/Mystery & thriller
Keyword(s)
starring Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, Josh Lucas, William H Macy, John Leguizamo, directed by Brad Furman, written by John Romano, crime, mystery, thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Scott Foundas, Nell Minow, James White, Leonard Maltin, Sandra Hall, Jim Schembri, Toussaint Egan, Richard Propes, Piers Marchant, Ed Travis, Sarah Knight Adamson, produced by Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Sidney Kimmel, Richard S Wright, Scott Steindorff, R MPAA rating, Lincoln Continental, defense attorney, Beverly Hills, attempted murder, courtroom thriller, Michael Connelly’s novel, Lionsgate Films, SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
Worldwide gross: $86,752,352
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $58,009,200
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Marisa Tomei – Maggie McPherson
Ryan Phillippe – Louis Roulet
Josh Lucas – Ted Minton
William H. Macy – Frank Levin
John Leguizamo – Val Valenzuela
Director(s)
Brad Furman
Writer(s)
John Romano
Producer(s)
Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Sidney Kimmel, Richard S. Wright, Scott Steindorff
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (177) | Top Critics (59) | Fresh (147) | Rotten (30)
A much better version of this movie may exist somewhere in the editing-room blender, to be excavated by cine-archeologists of the future.
June 20, 2013
Scott Foundas
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
February 18, 2012 | Rating: B
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
A solid thriller with McConaughey doing what he does best.
April 3, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
James White
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The Lincoln Lawyer is a well-crafted, well-cast adaptation of Michael Connelly’s best-selling novel, shot on interesting Los Angeles locations. It’s a crime thriller with…
April 1, 2011 | Rating: 2.1/2
Leonard Maltin
leonardmaltin.com
TOP CRITIC
It’s nice to see McConaughey getting relatively serious instead of coasting through yet another witless romcom, with or without Kate Hudson.
April 1, 2011 | Rating: 3.5/5
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
The film does take some predictable turns – even with its “surprise” twist – but it’s a perfectly enjoyable time killer.
March 31, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Jim Schembri
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
The Lincoln Lawyer marks the beginning of what many at the time characterized as the ‘McConaissance’.
October 22, 2021
Toussaint Egan
Polygon
The ultra-confidence swagger for which McConaughey is so well known works well here.
September 14, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
We don’t ask much of our legal thrillers beyond a twisty plot and a good villain to watch go down, and Brad Furman’s methodical thriller doesn’t bother offering much more than that.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 5.9/10
Piers Marchant
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Viewers are treated to a top notch “who done it,” mixed with a wonderful central character played by a never-better Matthew McConaughey, and sprinkled with dashes of street smarts and authenticity.
April 2, 2020
Ed Travis
Hollywood Jesus
Entertaining, holds your attention, a great performance by McConaughey. Very refreshing as his past rom/com, leading-man roles have been just so-so.
January 14, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Sarah Knight Adamson
Sarah’s Backstage Pass
The verdict is in. 12-0 in favor of The Lincoln Lawyer.
November 16, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens…
Plot
Mickey Haller, an iconoclastic idealist, runs his law practice out of the back seat of his Lincoln, as he takes on cases big and small across the expansive city of Los Angeles. Sidelined after an accident for almost a year, Haller is back in the courtroom, recovering from a drug habit. When Hollywood lawyer Jerry Vincent is murdered, Haller inherits his practice, including the defense of Trevor Elliott, a tech billionaire accused of murdering his wife and her lover. But as Haller prepares for the case that could launch him into the big time, he learns that Vincent’s killer may be coming for him next.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
“The Lincoln Lawyer” features a solid cast including Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, Josh Lucas, and William H. Macy.
Brad-Furman.jpg
