Simply Perfect

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

"Citizen Verdict" is an interesting movie. The plot is about airing criminal trials on television and the audience acting as the jury.Jerry Springer plays Marty Rockman, the TV producer who thinks up this idea. Armand Assante is Sam Patterson, the defense lawyer. Assante And Springer put in fun performances. They both go over the top. If you loved Springer's performance in "The Defender" as the President, you'll definitely like this one. He has more screen time. He has a great speech near the end of the movie.One of the problems with the film is that some of the other actors are pretty lousy. (the actress who plays Patterson's wife and the Citizen Verdict TV Commentators). Another problem is that there are too many cutaways to the "man\woman on the street" interviews. It hurts the film a little. Besides that, the movie is worth watching to satisfy your longing for the Armand\Springer team up you always knew was coming.For more insanity, check out: comeuppancereviews.com

With the writers strike continuing, we might just be in for some schlock like this to fill the air until it is settled. I am not, of course, referring to the movie, although it is pretty bad, but to the concept that has a real murder trial on TV for three hours and then, for only $19.95, you can actually watch the execution. Of course, there will be an execution, as TV cannot resist the $250 that they will bring in.It is interesting that they picked Jerry Springer to lead this show, and that it is set in Florida, second only to Texas for their blood-lust. They gladly spend $1.99 to vote to execute. After all, that saves them money that would be spent on wasteful things like health care and education.Amand Assante just seemed to drift through the film until he is called upon to make a rousing speech at the end. It is wasted breath, as this would be an easy sell these days.I won't recommend it, but you might want to watch it to see where we could end up if things keep going like they are. bring back the writers!

I am trying to think of a quality that this movie has that I admire. The concept was weak to start with, the plot abysmally developed, the acting shocking (can't you give a long rant in one take Jerry?), production, even sound far below par.I am glad that I was watching on DVD so could easily skip straight to the predictable verdict, which I did only out of a morbid curiosity rather than actual interest. We were taking bets on what how the movie would pan out after that, and while technically I feel bound to say that it wasn't predictable, because none of us predicted it quite right, it was nonetheless, very lame.We really didn't have the stomach for the self-congratulatory epilogue and switched off.

Overall not too bad, but could have been so much better. It leaves the viewer pondering just how out of control reality television has become. Raffaello Degruttola did a fine job as Ricky Carr. Lengthy & boring at best, some of the Armand Assante scenes could have been edited. When I first picked up the movie, I noticed that Jerry Springer was in the cast. After seeing his name, my first thought was that it must be some king of black comedy. Much to my surprise it wasn't and the man can actually act! The DVD has the usual extras. Check out the comments from the cast and crew. They were almost more interesting than the movie. Not worth premium ticket prices but just fine for a rental fee. Worth a look.