Glenn Close,
Jeremy Irons,
Ron Silver,
Annabella Sciorra,
Uta Hagen
... see more 
This film is a darkly humorous, determinedly ambiguous adaptation of Alan Dershowitz's book about his successful legal appeal of Claus von Bulow's conviction for the attempted murder of his wife, Mart... read more
DVD Release Date: March 13, 2001
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Stats: 228 reviews
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Flixster Reviews (228)
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September 21, 2010To spite the fact that this is a film based on real information regarding real events and people...this film comes across like one of those ridiculous, late night soap / dramas from the 80's. (Think Dynasty or Dallas).
Everyone comes across as over-the-top caricatures. But w... read more -
March 28, 2010After Fisher Stevens' first scene, Jim said, "This movie is off the hook," and we couldn't even figure out what "off the hook" meant in this case, but it certainly is. From the campy yet seemingly true portrayal of moneyed debauchery, to Glenn Close's beyond-the-coma narration, ... read more
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August 18, 2009"This is the most dangerous case I have ever worked on. --- I am breaking every rule." 
Film adaptation of the book "Reversal of Fortune: Ins... read more -
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April 15, 2009I'm glad I watched this shortly after Witness for the Prosecution because they make good companion pieces. There are enough differences to make this an enjoyable movie on its own, but also some themes that are similar. Witness for the Prosecution, the play, was written in the e... read more
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May 11, 2011Ambiguous, fascinating, and riveting, Reversal of Fortune is not your average legal thriller. It portrays facts and speculation raised by both sides of the case, and treats the viewer as the jury, rather than spoon feeding you an answer. A remarkable true story. Jeremy Irons took... read more
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November 5, 2011fb20312798It views 'truth' as an organic, evolving phenomenon. Perhaps, even if we have all the relevant facts and witnesses to an event, we can never truly know what occurred because we didn't see it, or if we did whatever occurred is subject to our own prejudices and perceptions. It turn... read more
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October 23, 2009This has to be one of the most intriguing and interesting stories in real life crime drama. Jeremy Irons deserved every bit of that Oscar gold for this unbelievable performance. He shines as this ice cold convicted murderer trying to appeal his case and hiring an outstanding Ron ... read more
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April 12, 2008A great true mystery and human drama. This is a film with a very interesting structure, not a simple flashback narrative or a straightforward story, but something original altogether. Ron Silver is great as a defense lawyer with a lot of personality and the way he conducts his ... read more
Critic Reviews
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety
February 11, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
What it all adds up to is something the film never quite seems prepared to address, but this is a fascinating look at all the secondary questions. Full Review
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times
There is a high degree of sometimes shocking intelligence running through Reversal of Fortune. Full Review
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Reversal of Fortune is an often chilly movie, but the chill cuts to the bone.
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
What happened? Who knows? The movie's strength is its ability to tantalize, to turn the case this way and that, so that the light of evidence falls in one way and then another. You tell me. Full Review
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Irons founds his adroit performance, from cadaverous countenance to crooked pinky, on strangled passion and noblesse oblige. And astonishingly, he manages to make old Claus oddly pathetic, even sympat... Full Review
February 11, 2008
Film4
Director Schroeder takes the 'did-he didn't-he' conundrum surrounding Claus von Bülow and makes it the film's greatest virtue, with Irons mesmerising. Full Review
February 11, 2008
Robyn Karney, Empire Magazine
This is a movie rich in moral ambiguities and one which should thoroughly please voyeurs and detective story enthusiasts alike. Full Review
December 11, 2007
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
In his black satire, Kazan and Schroeder go beyond issues of guilt and morality, exposing and contesting the stereotypes of an Odd Couple: Von Bulow as rich, arrogant Eurotrash who needs thw work of a... Full Review
February 9, 2006
Time Out
This is a strange, unsatisfactory mixture of satire and docudrama which engages the mind and leaves the emotions intact. Full Review
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Reversal of Fortune
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