The original Presumed Innocent (1990) is one of those taut mystery thrillers that demands to be rediscovered. Shockingly, you cannot stream the movie on any platform. Of course, a film like that is star-driven, and you could not get more wattage at the time than Harrison Ford. That’s why, after watching the first seven episodes of the new Apple TV+ series Presumed Innocent, it’s so shocking to find Jake Gyllenhaal miscast in the role.
It’s hard to critique a series when the producers refuse to screen the final episode. It’s like reviewing a mystery novel without the last few chapters containing the climax and twist. All you can do is be honest. That means reviewing Presumed Innocent is incomplete. The first seven episodes center around Gyllenhaal, who fails to convey believable anxiety or disbelief regarding his situation.
Gyllenhaal is over the top in his role as Rusty Sabich. He comes across as immature as if whining is a way to present real depth of character nuance. His turn is neither positive nor negative because it comes across as the character having no regard for what he has done to his family, particularly his wife and children. This contrasts sharply with the book and film adaptation, which hinders engagement and believability.
The story follows Rusty Sabich, played by Gyllenhaal, who learns at home that someone has brutally murdered his colleague Carolyn (The Worst Person in the World‘s Renate Reinsve). Rusty’s boss, Ray (the incomparable Bill Camp), assigns him the case. Later, we find out that Rusty had an affair with Carolyn a year prior. Of course, he now shows an unusual amount of determination, coming across as personal.
Rusty’s wife, Barbara (Ruth Negga), was told about the torrid tryst by her husband. They seemingly have moved past it, but now Carolyn’s name has opened up old wounds, particularly seeing how devastated Rusty is by the loss. However, Rusty does not tell his boss or colleagues, including the coroner (Barry’s James Hiroyuki Liao) and his legal rival, Tommy Molta (a slimy and considerably creepy Peter Sarsgaard).
When they discover the affair, Rusty becomes the prime suspect and fights to prove his innocence. This unfolds within the first two episodes and is shown in the trailer, so there are no spoilers here. Presumed Innocent is from David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams, two writers who know something about highly compulsively watchable television, particularly Kelley, who is an expert in legal courtroom mysteries.
The creators are significantly more loyal to the book than the film version. However, when they deviate from the source material, it costs them. For instance, we hardly experience the heat between Rusty and Carolyn, with the latter’s character being a significant part of the plot. The series has limited flashbacks, resulting in the very underused Renate Reinsve, a phenomenal performer. The series lacks the depth to flesh out Gyllenhaal’s and Reinsve’s one-note characters.
Presumed Innocent is engaging enough, keeping the viewer’s interest purely based on the plot and some compelling supporting performances. One standout is the gruff and glib moral compass provided by the great Bill Camp. Additionally, Sarsgaard toes the line between a train wreck and eloquence. His character, Tommy Molta, is obsessively resentful of Rusty. Sarsgaard easily delivers nuanced turns, even manifesting physical reactions that are truly remarkable. (You can compare him and Gyllenhaal, and notice the difference.)
The thing about Presumed Innocent is that you can probably narrow it down to two prime suspects. One character, outside of Rusty, is acting irrationally. Also, there is another character the writers are ignoring who has the most motive. There is also a recognizable actor with a small role who I think will be part of a key plot reveal in the finale. However, sadly, with Apple TV+ not releasing the final episode, all we can do is speculate and make the series an incomplete experience when it comes to a review.
Presumed Innocent will debut on Apple TV+ on June 12, 2024.
How can anyone review the courtroom mystery series Presumed Innocent without watching the final episode? That's like ripping out the last chapter of an Agatha Christie novel. However, that's beside the point. Jake Gyllenhaal is woefully miscast in the role of Rusty Sabich, and it becomes increasingly evident as the series progresses.
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I am a film and television critic and a proud member of the Las Vegas Film Critic Society, Critics Choice Association, and a 🍅 Rotten Tomatoes/Tomato meter approved. However, I still put on my pants one leg at a time, and that’s when I often stumble over. When I’m not writing about movies, I patiently wait for the next Pearl Jam album and pass the time by scratching my wife’s back on Sunday afternoons while she watches endless reruns of California Dreams. I was proclaimed the smartest reviewer alive by actor Jason Isaacs, but I chose to ignore his obvious sarcasm. You can also find my work on InSession Film, Ready Steady Cut, Hidden Remote, Music City Drive-In, Nerd Alert, and Film Focus Online.
