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Deliberate Intent

2000, Movie, PG-13, 93 mins

Deliberate Intent: Review

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This made-for-cable docudrama offers an intelligent lesson about constitutional law, along with insight into the ways lawyers embellish their legal tactics. In order to jumpstart his career, cold-hearted musician Lawrence Horn (James McDaniel) plots to collect on his family's life insurance policy. Horn hires amateur killer James Perry (Clark Johnson) to execute his Rockville, MD-based ex-wife and brain-damaged son, as well as the boy's nurse. Relying on "Hit Man," a how-to manual from Paladin Press, Perry carries out the crime. Originally a work of fiction, "Hit Man" was reformatted as an instructional guide by the owner of Paladin Press, Peder Lund (Bill MacDonald). On behalf of the victims, Attorney Howard Siegal (Ron Rifkin) seeks justice on two fronts. First, he indicts both Horn and Perry and prosecutes them at a sensational murder trial. For his next legal skirmish, Siegal believes he needs First Amendment expert Rod Smolla (Timothy Hutton) by his side and though he's made a career out of defending the rights of some dubious characters, Smolla agrees to sue Paladin Press for civil-rights violations. By joining Siegal's crusade, Smolla also finds himself opposite his friend and long-time crony, Tom Kelley (Cliff De Young), who represents Paladin Press. To emerge victorious, Smolla and Siegal must do more than garner convictions for Horn and Perry; they must accomplish a successful challenge to the Constitution. Lund smugly assumes that legal precedents will get him off the hook. But Siegal and Smolley hope to craft an argument that will withstand appellate court decisions and conclusively prove that "Hit Man" incited Horn and Perry's violence. Though it's unquestionably talky, this courtroom melodrama's verbosity is justified by the fact that its legal discussions are fascinating. The combination of Perry Mason-style theatrics and complex strategy sessions compels attention, as does the initial police work. leave a comment --Robert Pardi
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