User reviews

My wife and I binge watched the series and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. A stellar line up, led amazingly well by Jake Gyllenhal. All the actors played their roles tremendously. From the loathsome Tommy Molto to the amiable Ray, and the wife (Ruth Negga just brilliant) and kids were fabulous. The storyline was gripping and for once neither I or my detective wife did not see the twist coming. We were glad to see a conclusion, albeit unexpected. But it was so well done that it gave the perfect end to the series. I would go as far to say this is a must see series. Certainly one that I cannot recommend highly enough.

It begins like a typical thriller or detective series, but it quickly distinguishes itself with each successive episode. Initially, it seems straightforward, but the intrigue deepens, and the complexity of the main character unravels in fascinating ways. Just when you think the protagonist couldn't be any more suspicious, the plot introduces more layers of doubt and mistrust.

This series expertly keeps you on edge, making you question the main character's innocence repeatedly. The storyline is crafted to push boundaries, making you believe that the character has hit rock bottom, only to reveal yet another twist that makes you reconsider everything. While it shares some similarities with other films and series in its genre, It has a unique quality that sets it apart, making it a must-watch.

Presumed Innocent was as good as I expected it to be. I knew it would be good just based off the casting of Jake Gyllenhaal and add Peter Sarsgaard, Ruth Negga and a bunch of other good actors and you have the makings of a good show. Gyllenhaal delivers evert time he's in a movie or show and this is no different. On top of that it was created by David E. Kelley who had a pretty good reputation when it comes to crime dramas. This is an edge of your seat whodunit series that will keep you guessing who the killer is throughout the series. I've never seen the original film or read the book but I've read this version is distinctive fr'om those. While it may not be the best whodunit courtroom drama I've seen, it's definitely worth watching.

Jake Gyllenhaal's performance is so powerful, I feel as if it is happening to me. He is just unraveling in this world and absolutely getting shredded apart. I absolutely do not agree with half of his actions but I still am wanting him to fight for his life.

And let's not forget his counter part Peter Saarsgard's Monroe. He is just the perfect villain just oozing vileness. Everything he says just shoves pain and vitriole right in Jakes face without letting up, making it hard to even breathe.

Everyone seems genuine and the dialogue is unrelenting. Just an amazing show. My heart is still pumping.

I tried hard but I found it difficult to block out my old memories of the previously successful 1990 film adaptation of Scott Turow's novel of the same name. I kept anticipating the big twist I knew was bound to emerge in the final episode but was actually caught on the hop, no bad thing, by the different ending contrived this time.

Stretched out to eight 42-minute episodes there was naturally a lot more time to develop situations and introduce more characters and their motivations although whether this made for a better viewing experience is another matter. Jake Gyllenhaal, who always looks as if he's on the verge of bursting into tears, gets lots to work with here in the Rusty Sabich role played earlier by Harrison Ford. He's the deputy prosecuting district attorney of Chicago and is favoured to succeed his older boss when the latter steps down on the grounds of both age and general health. That all changes however at the next election which deposes both the DA and his deputy with the new DA quickly installing his own man, Sabich's rival, the generally disliked Tommy Molto, as the new no. 2. The two men are presented as opposites, Sabich the immaculously dressed, successful and popular family man with his pretty wife and two kids, living in luxury with the swimming pool in the back garden. Molto, by contrast is dishevelled, single, living alone with just his cats for company and is largely disliked by almost everyone around him. Importantly it's Rusty who makes it with their co-worker, the attractive and intelligent Caroline while Tommy, who clearly has feelings for her too, is met only with her derision.

The action then centres on Caroline's brutal murder in her own home, her battered body inhumanely trussed up in the style of another recent murder victim, although that perpetrator is now in jail. We learn that she was carrying Rusty's child and wanted out of the relationship but that an obsessed Sabich wasn't prepared to let her go and not only bombarded her with text messages but visited her on the night of her death. This obviously makes him the prime suspect and when he's later charged, his subsequent trial becomes the hottest thing in town, especially when the new DA puts Molto onto the case as lead prosecutor.

From there, the narrative takes on numerous turns and twists as we see close-up the effect of the trauma on Sabiich's family, comprising his wife and late-teen daughter and son. Meanwhile as internal politics rage in the DA's office, various other potential suspects are paraded before us, everything leading up to the climactic extended murder trial which contains some shocks and surprises of its own. The trial verdict is delivered only about halfway through the final episode leaving time for the big reveal which while it caught me on the hop, probably only did so because it was so improbable.

Be that as it may, there was much to commend in the production. I personally wasn't taken with the acting of Gylenhaal and particularly Ruth Negga as his troubled wife, being much more impressed by the actors playing the old and new DA, the trial judge and especially Peter Sarsgaard as Molto. My main criticisms would be the overuse of dream sequences and flashbacks plus that old bugbear of mine, especially in US-made dramas, of unrealistic unnatural-sounding dialogue (just what does "the there, there" mean?) and especially young teenagers talking as if they're mature adults.

I will go back and rewatch the movie in the near future but even if this drawn-out remake seemed in some ways unnecessary and irrelevant, it was at least mostly watchable and entertaining.

Great show. Kept me wondering who did it. Jake was amazing. I love the wife and her constant conflict between support and frustration. The new prosecutor is a holy hot angry mess. But what ticked me off the most was O-T's nasally voice was a complete distraction and turn off. I've watched him in the Handmaids Tale and loved his character, this nasally depiction of him is not cute. Who thought that that would be appealing? He is a Black or perhaps half Black man sounding like he's trying NOT to sound like a Black man. I definitely don't regret investing in Season One because it is very good. Just a few tweaks that I would have made to make it less annoying at times.

What stands out about Presumed Innocent is its remarkable ability to capture the essence of those long, tense, and exceptionally gripping Hollywood thrillers from over three decades ago.

It delivered a delightfully grim experience, with brooding and evocative scenes of Chicago. Everything appeared to be shot voyeuristically, as if through a window, a screen, or from behind foliage.

Gyllenhaal's talent for balancing between charm and eeriness is crucial to the success of this series.

At its core, this series delves into the profound impact of a shocking accusation. It skillfully navigates this rich narrative terrain, effectively expanding Presumed Innocent far beyond its foundational courtroom drama - it's more than just a courtroom drama!

Reboots are free to go in different creative directions and this effort needed more fodder to make an 8 episode series but I was disappointed in this attempt. I did think the actors playing Nico & Tommy were outstanding but the earlier book/movie was overall better. Harrison Ford played the buttoned down prosecutor overwhelmed by a murder indictment really well and the story had a courtroom star turn by the late Raul Julia that unleashed a series of twists and surprises. This David E. Kelly production would have played better if the original had not existed as a predecessor. I'm really liking the recent work of Jake Gyllenhaal but the ending seemed weary at the finish line.

You should watch this show on Apple TV+ with Jake Gyllenhaal I never saw the 1990 movie with Harrison Ford, nor read the book, so it was all new to me. I was definitely entertained, wondering where it was all going to go week-by-week and I was (mostly) satisfied by the end. Jake has come a long way since "Donnie Darko" (an excellent movie, btw) and he does a great job here alternating between slimy and sincere, leaving us questioning his innocence. The supporting cast is terrific, especially Ruth Negga, great in everything she does ("Loving", "Passing", "Preacher") and an always excellent Peter Sarsgaard as the villain-y character.

Presumed Innocent is going to keep you entertained till the end with the suspense of who is the killer and with what unfolds next in the episode. In the middle of this series I felt it was lagging but once the court episode starts it will make you binge watch the series till end for sure. It was really amazing how you sometimes feel the chaos in the series is actually happening to you. It keeps you second guessing who is the killer till the end. Definitely recommend for anyone looking for short and suspense drama. This series easily deserves above 8.5 rating, this is heavily underrated. Glad I gave this a shot and as expected Gyllenhaal delivers every time.

This is an enjoyable season about a murder and the process gone through from start to finish to achieve "justice."

Jake Gyllenhaal plays prosecutor turned accused Rusty Sanich and does a stellar job of it. The series.focusses mainly on him and his family and other district attorneys.working out of the same office.

The story is compelling, though at times can be slow. I think an episode could have been cut out of the season as a lot of non-pertinent dialogue was used as a filler.

Overall though, I couldnt help but keep watching and saw the whole season in one sitting.

Has some interesting twists and turns - definitely recommend to any fans of crime and courtroom dramas.

Great directing and plenty of suspense. Jake Gyllenhaal was terrific in the lead. The supporting staff were well cast and excellent acting by them, all apart from the wife who, I felt, was miscast. She was a strange choice for the wife and was a bit of a "non person." By that I mean I felt she was not compelling in her part. She was just wallpaper. Having watched, and enjoyed this series, I hired Presumed Innocent film, 1990, with Harrison Ford in the lead. In my view this has well withstood the test of time and was more real. The wife was well cast and, I understand, the film followed the book, whereas there were things in the series that did not follow the book. In my view the film is better, even after over 30 years time lapsing since it was made.

Adaptations are not the book, that is a given. But when a decision is made by David Kelley to delete the Sandy Stern character from the film and replace him with Raymond Horgan, you kinda lost me. Also, Jake's wife and kids are totally miscast, no spark or chemistry between them and the kids are too old looking and entitled to gain my empathy. Jake is definitely doing his very best to act beyond his capabilities because I think he knows he's carrying the film and he's getting very little from his colleagues. I'm watching episode 3 now, and the use of flashbacks is so weak.

That said, I'm seeing from other reviews that many are quite engaged with the film, which obviously is as it should be. But I am definitely not blown away by the acting as others are. Anyway, a bit of a sclerotic reaction and certainly in the minority, but I will continue on and try to be open to what unfolds.

I don't really understand the rave reviews for Jake Gyllenhaal in this role. There is no chemistry between him and the other actors who play his family members, particularly those who played his children - I felt like I was watching acting throughout (it didn't feel authentic) Additionally, there's no compelling argument for why this two hour movie needed to be turned into a mini series. Very little value added, just drawn out plot line. Other reviewers laid out the plot holes (prosecutors are not detectives, etc). I watched until the end hoping there would be an exciting finale but this series simply didn't deliver.

Presumed Innocent starring Jake Gyllenhaal is a deft remake of an earlier version starring Harrison Ford. While I liked the Ford version, the extra complications built into the Gyllenhaal version delivers layers upon layers of intrigue. I'm confident the ending will supply the sort of twist we all enjoy.

I would have chosen Presumed Innocent to watch based solely on the fact that Jake Gyllenhaal is in the cast. I have never been disappointed in a movie in which he has starred. I have Gyllenhaal on my list of best actors and would argue that accolade extends beyond this current generation. Good script or bad, Jake knows his stuff.

Characters well developed, memorable lines. The many possibilities to who was the murderer get us into the story, playing as prosecutors ourselves.

It comes to a great ending: There is no such thing as JUSTICE in a imperfect humanity.

Every case on TV, every crime, every story of those around you, you just don't know the truth. No matter how much you think you know. No matter how beautifully portraited the narrative is: You just don't know. I wish we could see it clearly, we are just arrogant and deceived when we think we know.

Shout out to the closure song by Ray Charles 'You think you know me well But you don't know me, no'.

Politics are a cancer. Impartiality is utopia.