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Richard Gere, Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand ... see more see more... , Alfre Woodard , Stanley Anderson , Mike Bacarella , Steven Bauer , Andre Braugher , Tony Fitzpatrick , Terry O'Quinn , Tony Plana , Brian Reddy , Joseph R. Ryan , Jon Seda , Joe Spano , Maura Tierney , Kenneth Tigar , Clarence Williams III , Wendy Cutler , Robert "R.J." Jordan , Peter Schreiner , Reg Rogers , Christopher Carroll

A high-profile slaying becomes the case of an ambitious attorney's career in this legal thriller based on the novel by William Diehl. Richard Gere stars as Martin Vail, a famed defense lawyer who volu... read more read more...nteers his services to Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton), a Kentucky teenager charged with the murder of a Chicago archbishop. Covered with blood, Aaron was captured after a foot chase broadcast live on TV, making a gleeful Vail certain that he could raise his profile by defending the obviously guilty suspect. Assigned to prosecute is Assistant District Attorney Janet Venable (Laura Linney), who is Vail's ex-girlfriend. Vail's case becomes more complicated than he expected when a psychologist, Dr. Molly Arrington (Frances McDormand) concludes that Stampler suffers from multiple personality disorder. Vail also uncovers evidence that the archbishop was involved in a corrupt land scheme and may have molested young parishioners. Now the cynical, opportunistic attorney is faced with a daunting prospect, a client who may actually deserve his best defense. Its shocking, twist ending made Primal Fear (1996) a big box office hit and earned Norton, in his screen debut, an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

85% liked it

60,538 ratings

Critics

74% liked it

43 critics

R, 2 hr. 9 min.

Directed by: Gregory Hoblit

Release Date: April 5, 1996

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DVD Release Date: October 20, 1998

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Stats: 3,975 reviews

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Edward Norton in Primal Fear Edward Norton Primal Fear Primal Fear Terry O'Quinn and Laura Linney Primal Fear Primal Fear Primal Fear Primal Fear Primal Fear Primal Fear Edward Norton in Primal Fear
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Flixster Reviews (3,975)

  • Callahan441
    May 12, 2012
    Callahan441
    One detriment of the film is its mainstream formula. It needlessly adds the romance of Gere and Linney, which is both frivolous and unrealistic. I'm not sure which audience was being catered for with their wholly unlikely association with each other. Though hampered by Hollywood'... read mores depiction of a courtroom, Primal Fear is a twisting, engaging thriller with Edward Norton's performance being the key to its success.
  • jjnxn
    January 13, 2012
    jjnxn
    If you want to see excellent acting in the service of an involving well told story this is a good place to start. Across the board there is not one weak performance. Gere has one of his very best roles as a fame loving attorney who chases a headline case that is more than he barg... read moreained for. He and the Laura Linney spar and parry both in and out of court with wonderful brio, she is his equal even if he is loath to admit it and the actress's personal strong persona fits the role perfectly. In a star making performance Edward Norton grabs his part by the throat and runs with it, a brilliant job and one that marked him as a true talent to watch. Each secondary roles is filled with top drawer character actors-Frances McDormand as an understanding therapist, Maura Tierney and Andre Braugher as Gere's assistants and on and on all deliver quality work. Alfre Woodard deserves special mention as the no nonsense slightly cantankerous judge who tipples a little on the side. She takes what could have been a throwaway part and makes her both memorable and humorous. A little overlong you won't notice so good is the acting and once it gets going the story keeps the interest level high.
  • DreamExtractor
    August 15, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    Primal Fear is a movie that you will forever love Edward Norton, he is so amaing, if your going to love the movie at least love it for him.
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    June 19, 2011
    LoughnerWasLucid
    i mean, i guess Richard Gere is a good actor, sure. obviously there are a few scenes where you can tell he removed the gerbil from his ass, clipped its whiskers a little and shoved it back very high up his ass to make sure he was able to realistically bring out those lawyer emoti... read moreons. i also like the laid back Jackie Brown-ish judge who sounds like she's fresh after half a joint even when putting Gerbil Ass in contempt for the fourth time. Gere is all like, "JUDGE!? What the fuck judge, i am DOING. MY. JOBB!" and shes just all, "psshh, you needs to stopz representin' yo self and starts represizzlin' yo client.. shoot..."
  • fb1463751009
    February 22, 2011
    fb1463751009
    An entertaining movie. Nothing more, nothing less.
  • 76Majikat
    January 5, 2011
    76Majikat
    Still one of my favourite film endings ever! The film itself is starting to date a little, but a great performance by a younger Ed Norton here, clever plot, enjoyable Thriller.
  • Tomassgringo
    December 23, 2010
    Tomassgringo
    Edward Norton sharpened his teeth with this role!! Really great movie just for seeing his performance!
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    August 10, 2010
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "I don't have to believe you. I don't care if you are innocent. I'm your mother, your father, your priest."

    An altar boy is accused of murdering a priest, and the truth is buried several layers deep.

    REVIEW
    ... read moreont>
    A big-time attorney defends a choir boy who has been accused of murdering a priest. Playing the attention-seeking and arrogant yet sincere lawyer, Gere gives arguably the best performance of his career, making his character slimy yet likable. Linney is terrific as the DA prosecuting the case. In an audacious film debut, Norton is fabulous playing the accused murderer. Although the script may prove to be flawed under close scrutiny, this is a clever and absorbing courtroom drama. It does go on a bit too long; the secondary plot thread concerning Bauer detracts from the main story and could easily have been trimmed.
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    July 14, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    B+
  • ceWEBrity
    April 7, 2010
    ceWEBrity
    90% of this is a typical courtroom drama, but the subversive tenth makes it completely worth watching. The social issue it gets at - corruption and abuse in the Catholic church - lacks punch these days, but I'm sure it was a lot more relevant 15 years ago, so it receives a tentat... read moreive pass from me. The investigative legwork is unilaterally uninteresting regardless of what year you're approaching it from. This is little more than a high-budget Law and Order Episode, with sexy justice antics that wouldn't in a million years be allowed in a real life court. The acting is passable, perfectly within what's expected from a movie of this caliber, but most of the players here had and have done better. Laura Linney is stunning during her prosecutions, but she feels oddly canned during her interactions with Richard Gere. As an actress who takes painstaking care to craft realistic characters, seeing this caricature of a jaded workaholic feels either like a bad directorial decision or just a really unpleasant surprise. Edward Norton's performance here was the first brick paved in a long road of mysterious characters, all waiting to explode with volcanic violence. Ultimately, his product here owes an awful lot to Seven and Silence of the Lambs for a pretty specific reason. His portrayal of Aaron Stampler is lively, and probably the best anyone could have done, but the character itself is not really realistic. Richard Gere sucks and I hate him but he's not too bad here, honestly. The role was basically written for him, but if you've got a niche, stick with it.

    To discuss Primal Fear's claim to fame, the ending is initially a little bit of a sideswipe, but eventually unfolds after the movie's over as more positive than negative. The movie reaches it, it has to be said, on some unfair terms; a moral gray area is completely obliterated to keep the audience's biases appeased, and for everyone to go home feeling at least a little happy the two "good guys" have to kind of be douchebags. Really, everyone in this movie is sort of a douchebag, but I guess that's why the ending works.

View All Primal Fear Reviews

Critic Reviews

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

As a forum for its actors and for the big-screen directorial debut of multi-Emmy winner Gregory Hoblit, the film is up to the job.

David Nusair
May 7, 2011
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...a solid drama that's elevated on an all-too-consistent basis by Norton's impressively hypnotic work. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
May 1, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Edward Norton became an instant star after making a splashy, Oscar-nominated performance in this well-executed horror thriller. Full Review

Peter Canavese
June 19, 2009
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews

An unfolding mystery in which truth is elusive, and twists are the order of the day...gives Norton a career-making opportunity to strut his stuff. [Blu-ray] Full Review

Walter Chaw
April 1, 2009
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

its heroes only heroes because they believe in order and not because they're capable of order's championing or restoration. Full Review

Ryan Cracknell
March 26, 2009
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views

Helped greatly by excellent performances from both of the film's leads, as well as the rounded supporting cast. Full Review

John J. Puccio
March 5, 2009
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

The plot is engaging, the cast is exceptional, and Hoblit moves things along in commendably straightforward fashion. Very entertaining. Full Review

Brian Webster
February 25, 2009
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide

Exhibits many of the genre's common weaknesses, but the fine acting of Edward Norton, Laura Linney and Richard Gere enables us to forgive them. Full Review

Gabe Leibowitz
December 29, 2007
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt

Unfortunately, Primal Fear hasn't aged well; there are wrinkles and pockmarks all over its face. Full Review

Cole Smithey
January 25, 2006
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Ed Norton is out of this world in his break-out performance.

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  • For which 2 films has Edward Norton been nominated for Oscars?  Answer »
  • Leonardo DeCaprio was offered a role in the film Primal Fear ?  Answer »
  • Ed Norton recieved an Oscar nomination for his role in Primal Fear ?  Answer »
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