The Gingerbread Man (1998)


THE GINGERBREAD MAN isn't particularly tasty.  Robert Altman (SHORT 
CUTS) adapts John Grisham's first original screen story, about-- 
what else?-- a hotshot defense attorney (Kenneth Branagh) drawn in-
to an increasingly dangerous situation after agreeing to help a 
young woman (Embeth Davidtz) whose father (Robert Duvall) is stalk-
ing her.  Though the individual scenes have their merits-- some 
good humor here, some strong suspense there-- the film, as a whole, 
is curiously unaffecting.  In particular, the main characters are 
tough to get a read on.  They never feel fully fleshed-out, nor are 
their actions always entirely believable.  (Hell, I couldn't even 
buy the one-night stand that gets the ball rolling!)  Still, it 
*is* kinda fun to hear Branagh et al speaking their best Southern.
With Robert Downey Jr., Daryl Hannah, Tom Berenger, and former Bond 
girl Famke Janssen, y'all.  (Rated "R"/122 min.)

Grade: C+

Copyright 1998 Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros


Originally posted to triangle.movies in MOVIE HELL: In Brief


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