The Gist
Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal), a Chicago deputy chief prosecutor, is accused of the murder of colleague Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve). When it is revealed that Rusty and Carolyn were having an affair, all the evidence begins to point to him.
Review
Based on the 1987 Scott Turow novel of the same name, Presumed Innocent is best known for its 1990 adaptation starring Harrison Ford and Greta Scacchi. Here, we have a much darker, layered telling of the story.
Last seen beating up troublemakers in Prime’s remake of Road House, Gyllenhaal looks right at home in this Apple TV+ drama, which like all original content on the platform, is dripping with high production values.
Jake Gyllenhaal delivers a nuanced portrayal of Sabich, a seemingly upstanding man with a dark secret. Gyllenhaal has always been a master at creating a feeling of unease in his characters and this is on full display here. Was he capable of such a brutal crime? He certainly makes you believe he could be. Did he do it? Well, that is the question the series will eventually answer.
Ruth Negga shines as his wife, Barbara, is forced to confront a devastating truth. Worst case scenario, she’s married to a killer. In the best case, her husband is just awful. The luxury of the TV format gives us plenty of time to flesh out her role as she grapples with her shattered reality and the media frenzy surrounding her husband.
The supporting cast is solid, including Peter Sarsgaard (Gyllenhaal’s real-life brother-in-law) as the rival prosecutor, who has been overshadowed in the department by Rusty for so long, and is relishing the opportunity to put him away.
David E. Kelley’s script is short on typical legal drama grandstanding and will genuinely keep viewers guessing until the end. A limited series is the perfect format for Presumed Innocent, adding layers of complexity and character development without ever resorting to unnecessary filler.
The Verdict
Presumed Innocent is a welcome addition to prestige TV drama, with Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance cementing his status as one of the best actors around right now.
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