The Gingerbread Man

Based on an original story by John Grisham and written by one "Al Hayes" (reportedly director Robert Altman himself), this lawyer-in-trouble picture is pretty much indistinguishable from such rot as The Firm and The Client in terms of plot (functional) and characterization (sketchy), but Altman's peculiar, inimitable sense of style--his stubborn refusal to foreground characters or objects, or in any other way direct your eye; his penchant for rapid-fire, overlapping dialogue; his herky-jerk sense of narrative rhythm--gives the whole thing an urgency and a sense of genuine mystery that other, more conventional Grisham adaptations have sorely lacked. Examined in retrospect, the story is predictable and derivative (the plot involves Kenneth Branagh, sounding like Clinton, as an attorney who helps a lady in distress and is drawn into the standard web o' intrigue), but it doesn't feel predictable or derivative as it's unfolding, because Altman deftly keeps the viewer off-guard for almost the entire picture. There should be a special Oscar for this kind of thing: Most Inspired Direction of Material That Should've Gone Direct to Video or Cable. Recommended. (M. D'Angelo) [Blu-ray Review—Nov. 27, 2018—Kino Lorber, 114 min., R, Blu-ray: $29.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1998’s The Gingerbread Man features a decent transfer with DTS-HD 5.1 audio. Extras include audio commentary by director Robert Altman. Bottom line: this offbeat Altman adaptation of a John Grisham story makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]