Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Legal thriller entertains but is too dark, heavy for kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Lincoln Lawyer
What's the Story?
In THE LINCOLN LAWYER, Mick Haller (Matthew McConaughey) is a slick L.A. criminal-defense attorney who, lacking a proper office, conducts most of his business from the safety of his chauffeured Lincoln Town Car. His clients are usually those shunned by polite society -- bikers with drug charges, sex workers, and alleged murderers -- so he's surprised when his bail bondsman pal Val (John Leguizamo) tells him to meet with Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), the wealthy son of a real-estate mogul. Louis has been arrested for a violent sexual assault and, for some unknown reason, wants Haller to represent him even though he has enough money to hire a top-tier attorney. As Mick and his colleague, private investigator Frank Levin (William H. Macy), begin to dig around, they realize that Louis is hiding something -- and Haller's former client roster holds the key to the secret.
Is It Any Good?
McConaughey's performance as a defense attorney is well-ranged and engaging. In The Lincoln Lawyer, his character is smart and very good at what he does; but he's also lonely and troubled -- the cost of defending the indefensible for so many years. McConaughey looks appropriately awful at times -- he's grieving, haunted, and drunk for the second half of The Lincoln Lawyer -- and it works, strangely enough.
The movie also benefits from a host of veteran supporting actors, from Oscar winner Marisa Tomei as Mick's prosecutor and ex-wife, to Phillippe as the rich boy with an attitude, to the excellent Macy as Mick's PI/best friend. Leguizamo's over-caffeinated delivery is always good for a laugh, and underrated actor Michael Peña gives a scene-stealing performance as Mick's former client who's serving a life sentence for a crime he may not have committed. The twists aren't exactly Presumed Innocent-sized, but they're compelling enough to keep you interested, and with so many good actors walking around, this is one McConaughey movie worth checking out.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way The Lincoln Lawyer depicts drinking. Are there consequences for characters who drink too much? Do those consequences seem realistic?
How do wealth and race affect the justice system? Is Louis treated differently than the other suspected criminals depicted in the movie?
Why are legal thrillers often so captivating? Are real-life court cases ever this twisty and full of spectacle? And how does the perspective change depending on what role a person is in -- for example, a defense attorney's compared to a juror's?
Are the sex workers in this film empowered? Are their thoughts, perspectives, emotions, or free will depicted? Or are they treated as props in someone else's story?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 18, 2011
- On DVD or streaming : July 12, 2011
- Cast : Marisa Tomei , Matthew McConaughey , Ryan Phillippe , William H. Macy
- Director : Brad Furman
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters
- Run time : 119 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some violence, sexual content, and language
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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