If you’ve been looking for your next crime drama obsession, Emmy-winning writer-creator David E. Kelley (Love & Death, Big Little Lies) and executive producer J.J. Abrams (Westworld) have you covered with their latest limited series.
Presumed Innocent, an eight-episode Apple Original, is based on Scott Turow’s 1987 novel of the same name, which was previously adapted into the 1990 film starring Harrison Ford. However, don’t expect the series to unfold in the same way. In a 2022 interview with Amazon Book Review, Turow shared, “I will tell you, and I said this to David in all sincerity, that even I was shocked by the ending of the pilot — he’s got some very, very clever tricks up his sleeve.”
Set in Chicago, the series follows Rusty Sabich, played to perfection by star and executive producer Jake Gyllenhaal, a Chief Deputy Prosecutor who seemingly has it all, including a beautiful biracial family — his wife, Barbara (a wonderful Ruth Negga), an artist, and their teenage kids, Jaden (Chase Infiniti) and Kyle (Kingston Rumi Southwick).
But Rusty risks losing his happy life when he finds himself a prime suspect in the brutal murder of his colleague and former mistress, Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve). The shocking news comes at a time when there’s a power shift in the prosecuting attorney’s office, and her death almost gets overshadowed by politics.
With Rusty’s close friend/boss, Raymond Horgan (Bill Camp), exiting from his position as district attorney, the new men in charge can lead a clearly biased investigation. The scenes between Rusty and Raymond and their successors, Nico Della Guardia (O-T Fagbenle) and Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard), are unrelentingly tense. They communicate through smug looks, passive-aggressive exchanges, and outright insults. Sarsgaard, who happens to be Gyllenhaal’s brother-in-law, is a compelling antagonist. Every smirk and side-eye he throws Rusty’s way holds so much history, envy, and maybe even a little admiration.
Due to his indiscretions, Rusty’s marriage is barely intact. Despite a (repeatedly) broken heart, Barbara fights to keep her family together, even when there’s the possibility her husband will be locked up for murder. Honestly, it’s a miracle she’s stayed with him this long.
As someone who hasn’t read Turow’s book or watched the 1990 adaptation, I’m grateful we get to see Barbara’s point of view. After all, she’s the woman who’s been cheated on and now has to sit in court, hearing the intimate details of the affair. Kelley described Barbara as the “emotional prism” of the series who “allows us to forgive Rusty’s transgressions, or at least make room for the possibility that he too is a casualty, albeit one of his own making.” Each episode reveals another damning lie of omission by Rusty, and it’s darkly comical when someone pulls back yet another layer of deception.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Kelley explained, “Rusty is a deeply flawed and contradictory character, at times sympathetic, other times contemptible and sometimes both simultaneously.” Kelley and Gyllenhaal succeeded in that respect because even though Rusty is narcissistic and frustrating, it wasn’t difficult for me to root for him, especially when he’s going up against equally maddening adversaries.
Though he’s had guest parts on a few shows (Homicide: Life on the Street), often appearing as himself (Man vs. Wild), or a version of himself (Inside Amy Schumer), this is Gyllenhaal’s first major TV role. From indies to the MCU, the actor always delivers a fantastic performance. Many have pointed out that he’s perfectly cast because he’s someone we can see as a truly innocent man and as a cold-blooded killer. The riveting narrative already keeps you guessing. Gyllenhaal’s nuanced portrayal makes it all the more difficult to determine if he’s guilty or not.
The entire cast turns in strong performances — Gabby Beans as second chair defense attorney Mya Winslow, Nana Mensah as Detective Alana Rodriguez, Lily Rabe as the Sabichs’ therapist Dr. Liz Rush, Noma Dumezweni as Judge Lyttle, and Elizabeth Marvel as Raymond’s wife Lorraine Horgan (who are married in real life).
Between the powerhouse acting and the dynamic camera work, Presumed Innocent stays visually engaging. We spend a good amount of time with characters as they wordlessly process the nightmare they’re living. Whether sitting in their car while it’s raining or relishing in courtroom theatrics, extreme close-ups, and voyeuristic angles put us in their emotional headspace.
Rusty tends to obsess over everything, and when he’s starting to spiral, cinematographers Doug Emmett (Angelyne, Sorry to Bother You) and Daniel Voldheim (Kuppel 16) seamlessly transition into surrealist territory with disorienting Dutch angles and out-of-focus shots.
Presumed Innocent has everything we crave in a crime drama — an enticing murder mystery, messy relationships, and suspenseful courtroom scenes. With its excellent ensemble cast and gripping narrative, this character-driven legal thriller will have you hooked within the first 10 minutes.
Presumed Innocent premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival June 9th. The first two episodes premiere June 12, 2024, on Apple TV+, followed by weekly episodes through July 24.
