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poster of Jagged Edge
Rating: 6.3/10 by 250 users

Jagged Edge (1985)

After a wealthy heiress is murdered in her beach house, her devastated husband becomes the prime suspect. He hires a lawyer who hasn’t taken a criminal case in years, and as they work together, a complicated romance develops amidst the trial.

Directing:
  • Richard Marquand
Writing:
  • Joe Eszterhas
Stars:
Release Date: Fri, Oct 04, 1985

Rating: 6.3/10 by 250 users

Alternative Title:
血網邊緣 - HK
Hearts of Fire - US
Messer, Das - DE
Zębate Ostrze - PL

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 48 minutes
Budget: $15,000,000
Revenue: $40,500,000

Plot Keyword: court, proof, client, sociopath, lawyer, courtroom, beach house, heiress, psycho killer, neo-noir, female attorney
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Glenn Close
Teddy Barnes
Jeff Bridges
Jack Forrester
Peter Coyote
Thomas Krasny
Lance Henriksen
Frank Martin
Michael Dorn
Dan Hislan
Maria Mayenzet
Page Forrester
Ben Hammer
Dr. Goldman
James Karen
Andrew Hardesty
Al Ruscio
Carl Siegal
Bruce French
Richard Duffin
Brandon Call
David Barnes
Guy Boyd
Matthew Barnes
Sanford Jensen
Scott Talbot
Woody Eney
Austin Lofton
James Winkler
Ted Fitzpatrick
John Clark
Dr. Holloway
Louis Giambalvo
Anthony Fabrizi
John Dehner
Judge Carrigan
Leigh Taylor-Young
Virginia Howell
Diane Erickson
Eileen Avery
Marshall Colt
Bobby Slade
Walter Brooke
Duane Bendix
Ann Walker
Ms. Barne's Secretary
Sharon Madden
City Editor
David Wiley
Court Clerk
Bill Gratton
Jury Foreman

John Chard

Sharp film, serrated ending. Teddy Barnes is a conflicted lawyer, still reeling from the dubious methods of a colleague, she takes on the defence of Jack Forrester, who is accused of murdering his wife with a jagged edged knife. Gradually falling for Jack's seductive powers, Teddy falls in love with the man she now has to defend, her problems it seems, are about to become far far worse. Jagged Edge, directed by Richard Marquand, starring Glenn Close (Teddy), Jeff Bridges (Jack), Robert Loggia (Sam Ransom) and Peter Coyote (Thomas Krasny), is bringing nothing new to the table of a much replicated genre. It does however boast brilliant acting, a tremendous screenplay (Joe Eszterhas) and a production value that demands it be viewed with less than cynical eyes. That it is written by Eszterhas is obvious when looking at the structure of the picture, death, sex, troubled romance, greed and that old devil called obsession (Basic Instinct anyone?), yet aided by a competent director and an exemplary cast, Jagged Edge shines brighter than most other films of its ilk. It looks a little frayed (not jagged) around the edges now, but that is purely because of the advent of time and the ream of thrillers using this format that have followed this piece. If one (such as I) can transport oneself back to the 80s and view Jagged Edge on its original terms, then its easy to recognise just what a well put together picture it is. Close and Bridges are superb, whilst Robert Loggia steals the picture from under their noses, his interplay with Close is a particular highlight. In spite of some less than great twists and unsubtle scapegoat placings, Jagged Edge succeeds because you are there at the finale, and because its held you in its grip all along, you (hopefully) have invested yourself with these characters, you simply just have to know, for better or worse! The ending was cause for much discussion back in the day, and viewing it now it still feels like a moment of cheek mixed in with some form of clarity, but rest assured it works well, as does, funnily enough, the whole film. No world beater here, but highly accomplished and worth the time of any thriller obsessed movie fan. 7/10


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