Streaming on: Apple TV+
Episodes viewed: 7 of 8
Fresh from routinely beating up dozens of violent idiots in the riotously entertaining Prime Video remake of Road House, Jake Gyllenhaal now dips his toe into the world of long-form prestige TV drama for the first time in what is ostensibly a more cerebral role as public prosecutor Rusty Sabich (rhymes with “savage”) in this new adaptation of Scott Turow’s 1987 bestseller.
The book was previously turned into a hit movie with Harrison Ford in the lead role in 1990, but while Ford’s performance was suitably enigmatic, never giving much away, Gyllenhaal depicts Sabich as a charming family man and principled public servant who also has major anger and honesty issues beneath his slickly handsome exterior. The more we get to know him, there’s an increasing sense that Gyllenhaal’s version of the character is desperately trying to keep a lid on his emotions. When the full extent of Sabich’s illicit relationship with the murdered Polhemus becomes clear, Gyllenhaal does just enough to make us believe Sabich is capable of such a horrendous act of brutality. Yet at the same time, his meticulously calibrated performance is so skilful, so persuasive, he also convinces us at key moments that despite having a clearly broken moral compass, he’s surely not that bad a guy, deep down.
It all adds up to a legal thriller so engrossing and addictive it’s mildly infuriating Apple TV+ isn’t making the whole thing available in one go
Gyllenhaal’s masterful turn is backed by equally richly detailed work from the rest of the magnificent cast. In particular, the female roles are significantly and expertly fleshed out compared to those in the film version. Ruth Negga, as Barbara Sabich, turns what could have been a thankless and clichéd supporting role in the classic Wife Stands By Her Man mode into a fully complex, three-dimensional human being grappling with the realisation she’s married to the world’s worst husband, and that the lives of her and her family are about to be turned into 24/7 TV infotainment. There’s a lovely moment of levity in an otherwise tonally intense show, when the Sabich teens are watching coverage of their dad’s case on TV one morning, and Rusty tells them, “No murder trials at breakfast. Especially mine.”
While the likes of Bill Camp, O-T Fagbenle and Noma Dumezweni (as the joyously haughty judge) do absolutely stellar work, perhaps the juiciest role in the whole superb ensemble goes to Gyllenhaal’s brother-in-law, Peter Sarsgaard, as the super-smug, obnoxiously oily prosecutor who has a sorry history of professional and personal rivalry with Sabich. Sarsgaard embodies this weaselly bellend with slimy conviction, and the courtroom scenes between him and Gyllenhaal are incendiary.
All these characters are beautifully drawn in the typically ingenious script by lead writer David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies), who’s a master at knowing when to deploy gasp-inducing narrative twists and rug-pulls. And if the direction by Greg Yaitanes (House Of The Dragon) and Anne Sewitsky (A Very British Scandal) is wisely unflashy, the series does feature the most impressive depiction of a relentlessly rainy cityscape since David Fincher’s Seven. It all adds up to a legal thriller so engrossing and addictive it’s mildly infuriating Apple TV+ isn’t making the whole thing available in one go as a binge watch. As it is, you’ll just have to wait to find out if Rusty did it.