88 of 91 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The British do it again! A great mini-series!, April 20, 2003
This review is from: The Jury (DVD)
What a powerful piece of drama! Incredible, powerhouse acting and brilliant writing--loaded with subtext. It's impossible to speak too highly of this 6-episode dramatic mini-series.
This story focuses on seven of the jurors chosen to serve on an especially grisly murder trial (a Sikh teenager is accused of slaying a classmate with a ceremonial sword). These jurors are a mix of people, some are eager to serve (a woman in an emotionally stifling marriage; a single mom who is estranged from her mother, but who must ask her mother to care for her daughter while she serves on the jury; a lonely older woman with inoperable cancer; a married man whose powerful sense of civic duty is more than matched by a nagging sense of underachievement); some are reluctant (a seminary student who is unsure whether he wants to continue on his path to the priesthood; a recovering alcoholic just out of rehab; a married man who lost all his family's savings due to a bad business venture he was talked). The story, like the trial it revolves around, is a study of mixed motives, changes of heart, and living with fear. In the process of revealing each characters personal daily struggles we discover just how much of the human experience is comprised of learning to endure and deal with violence. In this drama we see the defendant and witnesses badgered by clever lawyers, friends manipulated by friends, and boundary-violating in-laws prying confidential information out of their son-in-law who is serving as a juror. Even the alcoholic's AA sponsor has a touch of the autocrat about him. And the young woman who has fled to jury duty as a way of creating an adventure for herself ends up using her womanly charms to manipulate a man into falling in love with her (even though she is fully aware that she is not free or capable of taking on a romantic relationship with him). I defy anyone to watch this compelling drama without questioning their own propensity to abuse power. We are all capable of being bullies. It's just a matter of circumstances and opportunity.
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54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The music score also stars-----, April 8, 2005
This review is from: The Jury (DVD)
Has anyone mentioned the music score for this? From the first shot of
the courthouse dome, melancholy music perfectly sets the mood for what
will come.
The Eastern (or Indian) theme and the drum at the beginning credits is
haunting. During the seminary scenes, the mens choral is lovely.
Throughout a woman hums a beautiful, sad melody, through certain
transition scenes and always at the opening of a new chapter. Whenever
juror, Johnny Donne, is alone this theme emphasizes his loneliness and
breaks your heart. A number of times we see Johnny arriving home and
walking down a long corridor and opening his door, with this lonely
theme playing. His AA prayer also has the music softly in the
background.
During the Rose characters arrival back home each time, we see her
getting off the elevator and walking into a blinding white light - to
give us a jolt of the searing effort to walk back into that house of
pain. The orchestra with an oboe(?) featured makes one want to cry.
During the foreman of the juries final scenes of frenzy in the tunnel
the Indian song is just perfect - the wail and lament of a man driven
to distraction.
And as the jurors all walk down the hill after the burial, the same
woman humming the theme music makes for a melancholy finale.
For the performances, the great cinematography, and wonderful music
themes, this a rare series from television that is as great as a movie.
Gerald Butler as Johnny is a standout - so intense at times you quit
breathing. I've forgotten the name of the actor who plays the Foreman
of the jury, but he is also outstanding. The whole cast is superb.
A real jewel for anyones collection. 9/10
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"The Jury"--Brief Commentary, April 24, 2006
This review is from: The Jury (DVD)
I purchased "The Jury" because I was totally captivated with Gerard Butler's stellar performance in "The Phantom of the Opera" and I wanted to see more of his work. "The Jury" is an excellent story and the actors are outstanding! Throughout, the suspense kept me at the edge of my seat. You literally take an "emotional roller-coaster" with the introspection of the lives of the various jurists. You can identify with their life situations as they face their hopes and fears, problems and disappointments, expectations, joys, and anger. All the while, a young boy's life hangs in the balance as they struggle amongst themselves to determine his fate. "The Jury" is thoroughly entertaining and I highly recommend it. Those of you who are Gerard Butler fans will not be disappointed because he delivers a superb performance in his portrayal of recovering alcoholic, Johnnie Donne.
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