Primal Fear | |
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Release date | April 3, 1996 |
Running time | 130 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Primal Fear is a 1996 American legal thriller film directed by Gregory Hoblit, based on William Diehl's 1993 novel of the same name.It stars Richard Gere as a Chicago defense attorney who believes that his altar boy client (played by Edward Norton in his film debut) is not guilty of murdering an influential Catholic archbishop.. Primal Fear was a box office success despite …
An American attorney on business in China is wrongfully arrested and put on trial for murder, with a female defense lawyer from the country the only key to proving his innocence. Director: Jon Avnet | Stars: Richard Gere, Bai Ling, Bradley Whitford, Byron Mann. Votes: 17,099 | …
Martin Vail (Richard Gere) is a sleazy publicity-hound Chicago defense lawyer. Naomi Chance (Maura Tierney) is his assistant. Tommy Goodman (Andre Braugher) is his associate. He's eager to take on the case of altar boy Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton) …
An American attorney on business in China is wrongfully arrested and put on trial for murder, with a female defense lawyer from the country the only key to proving his innocence. Director: Jon Avnet | Stars: Richard Gere , Bai Ling , Bradley Whitford , Byron Mann
“Primal Fear,” based on a novel by William Diehl, stars Richard Gere as a flamboyant Chicago defense attorney who chases defendants instead of ambulances and volunteers his services when a teenager from Kentucky is charged with murdering an archbishop.Apr 5, 1996
Defense attorney Martin Vail takes on jobs for money and prestige rather than any sense of the greater good. His latest case involves an altar boy, accused of brutally murdering the archbishop of Chicago. Vail finds himself up against his ex-pupil and ex-lover, but as the case progresses and the Church's dark secrets are revealed, Vail finds that what appeared a simple case takes on a darker, more dangerous aspect.Primal Fear / Film synopsis
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Laura LinneyWho is Laura Linney? You'll know after you see her in the courtroom thriller, "Primal Fear." Linney plays Janet Venable, prosecuting attorney to lawyer Martin Vail (Richard Gere), who's defending a naive altar boy Aaron Stampler (newcomer Edward Norton), accused of murdering a Chicago archbishop.Apr 4, 1996
Richard Gere Net WorthNet Worth:$120 MillionDate of Birth:1949-08-31Gender:MaleHeight:5 ft 10 in (1.8 m)Profession:Actor, Film Producer, Pianist, Musician, Composer1 more row
5′ 11″Richard Gere / Height
Aaron Stampler, also known as Roy, is the main antagonist of the 1993 novel Primal Fear by William Diehl and it's 1996 film adaptation with the same name.
So as not to spoil the fun if you've never seen it, I'll just say that “Primal Fear” has much in common with “True Story.” Edward Norton is Aaron, a slightly superannuated altar boy accused of murdering a Chicago archbishop, and “losing time” is how Aaron describes his mental lapses.Apr 16, 2015
But while he can't land roles in blockbuster movies, Gere has still been able to take on smaller independent projects. ... In 2017, the Pretty Woman star appeared in two small-budget films Norman and The Dinner and in 2019 he landed his first major TV role on the BBC show MotherFatherSon.Jun 4, 2020
Aaron StamplerOne day he sees a news report about the arrest of Aaron Stampler, a 19-year-old altar boy from Kentucky with a severe stutter, who is accused of brutally murdering the beloved Archbishop Rushman.
Edward Norton made his directorial debut with Keeping the Faith (2000), a romantic comedy in which two longtime friends, one a priest (played by Norton) and the other a rabbi (Ben Stiller), fall in love with the same woman.Feb 1, 2022
Second Presbyterian ChurchFilm buffs will note that the house served as the setting for the 1996 film “Primal Fear” featuring Richard Gere, Edward Norton, and Laura Linney. Second Presbyterian Church at 1936 S. Michigan Avenue was originally built in 1874 from designs by architect James Renwick Jr.Jun 16, 2013
Following a tip from a former altar boy about a videotape involving Stampler, Vail makes a search of the Archbishop's apartment and finds a VHS tape shot by Rushman that shows Stampler being sexually abused with another teenage altar boy and a teenage girl named Linda Forbes.
When Vail confronts him, Stampler reveals that he had faked the personality disorder. No longer stuttering, he brags about having murdered Rushman, as well as Linda, his girlfriend. When Vail asks if there ever was a "Roy", Stampler replies that "there never was an 'Aaron.'".
However, as Vail is leaving, Stampler asks him to "tell Miss Venable I hope her neck is okay", which he could not have been able to remember if he had "lost time.".
Venable is fired for losing the case, and for allowing Rushman’s crimes to be publicly exposed. Vail visits Stampler in his cell to tell him of the dismissal.
Vail does not want to hear this, because he knows that he cannot enter an insanity plea during an ongoing trial.
Box office. $102.6 million. Primal Fear is a 1996 American legal thriller film directed by Gregory Hoblit, based on William Diehl 's 1993 novel of the same name. It stars Richard Gere as a Chicago defense attorney who believes that his altar boy client (played by Edward Norton in his film debut) is not guilty of murdering an influential Catholic ...
Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 76% positive rating based on reviews from 45 critics, with an average score of 6.70/10. The site's consensus states " Primal Fear is a straightforward, yet entertaining thriller elevated by a crackerjack performance from Edward Norton". Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave it a score of 58 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "B+" on scale of A to F.