Reversal of Fortune

Summary

“You have no idea.”

Based on the book by prominent defense lawyer Alan Dershowitz, Reversal of Fortune is a true crime story told from the vantage points of the defense attorney and the presumed victim of the crime. The film was directed by Barbet Schroeder who is probably best known for directing Barfly starring Mickey Rourke. When Reversal of Fortune was released in theaters in 1990 it was met with critical acclaim for the exceptional performance by Jeremy Irons and the strong script by Nicholas Kazan. Irons won the Academy Award that year for Best Actor for his role and the film was also nominated for best direction and best screenwriting that same year. Warner Archive have given the film a Blu-ray release.

The film relays the story of millionaire Claus Von Bulow (Jeremy Irons) who was convicted of the attempted murder of his wife Sunny (Glenn Close) in 1982. As the film begins, Sunny narrates the known events that led to Sunny being hospitalized in a coma that left her body alive and her brain dead. Claus had been suspected of giving her an injection of insulin to cause her to fall into a coma. He was portrayed as having refused her medical attention for hours once she had fallen into the coma. His step children and one of his own daughters believed he was guilty of the crime. Defense lawyer and professor Alan Dershowitz (Ron Silver) is contacted at his home by Claus to handle his appeal. Alan at the time had two innocent young black clients that faced execution that he had worked with on a pro bono basis. He debates the merit of taking a case from a person so widely disliked in the public, but with the $300 per hour fee he can charge Claus, he can continue his pro bono work. There is one remaining issue: he thinks that Claus is guilty. As Dershowitz grapples with the case and how to prove the innocence of Von Bulow, his legal team uncovers several clues that discredit key evidence that was admitted in the prior case against their client. 

Reversal of Fortune is a well made true crime film. Alan Dershowitz has remained a polarizing figure since the appeal of Von Bulow by taking on clients that include O.J. Simpson, Jeffrey Epstein, and Donald Trump. The opinion of him morally is certainly up for debate, but (as the film argues) if we as a people believe that every person should be entitled to a fair trial in this country (as stated in the constitution) than there is a need for lawyers like him that take on cases where the public have already found the defendant guilty in the court of public opinion. As one might expect, the film paints Dershowitz in the best possible light which I find a little bit suspect given some of the clients he has taken on over the years. 

The film sheds an interesting light on the rare air of the ultra wealthy elite in the late Seventies and Eighties. In this film, the socialites seem totally disconnected from the rest of the world. The character of Sunny played by Glenn Close is portrayed as addicted to numerous drugs and as someone who would typically spend more than half of their day in bed. Her relationship with Claus was complicated to say the least. She allowed him to pursue outside sexual partners due to her lack of sexual desire (or their lack of sexual desire for each other?) They live very cold lives despite all their extravagances. The film serves as a good reminder of the old axiom that money doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness.

The script by Nicholas Kazan is well written. It starts by showing how it was surmised that he was guilty and then allows the story to unfold naturally while casting doubt on the guilt of Claus with every new revelation. The story is multi-layered and the script capably reveals key facts from the case. The weakest aspect of the film’s script is the narration by Sunny which is occasionally employed, but I do understand that this was probably the only way in which they could introduce the key elements in the case against Claus from the first trial. I admired that the film does not in any way exonerate Von Bulow. It is certainly possible that this was a premeditated murder attempt, but it also shows that it is certainly possible that things occurred otherwise. 

The acting in the film is all top notch. Ron Silver is perfectly cast as Dershowitz and brings the attorney to life in a likable way. Glenn Close is good in the role of Sunny and helps the audience to better understand the troubled life that she was living at the time of her trauma. The best performance in the film belongs to Jeremy Irons. Irons knows perfectly well how to play a role with icy precision. This was shown two years earlier in David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers. With this role, Irons makes it very clear why so many were convinced that Von Bulow had tried to kill his wife. If he was in fact as portrayed, he was certainly an odd man who was not very good at relating to other people. His sense of humor was off-putting. He was as awkward as he was effete. Irons makes the role feel lived in and true to life. His Oscar win confirmed the choices he made in the film. The film was directed with a good eye for detail by Barbet Schroeder. 

Overall – fans of true crime will find a lot to enjoy in Reversal of Fortune. It is a good legal thriller with a core mystery that allows the audience to form its own opinions.

Video

Warner did a pretty good job on the transfer of the film using an MPEG-4 AVC codec. The cinematography by Luciano Tovoli is understated and serves the story well. The transfer itself does not look like it came from a new master and the cinematography itself is not of the kind that tries to show off. Filmed in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the movie looks good while not necessarily demonstrating the full capabilities of the format. My guess would be that the fans of the film will still be happy to have a significant upgrade from the dated DVD presentation.

Audio

Warner has provided a very capable DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo track that sounds good. This film is almost completely dialogue based, so there is not much to expect as far as immersion goes. The dialogue is crisp and clear and I did not notice much hiss. The score by Mark Isham gets a nice boost on the track and fits the film well. Like other Warner releases, fidelity is very strong to the original elements.

Supplements:

Trailer

Commentary by Barbet Schroeder and screenwriter Nicholas Kazan – this is a pretty well done track between the two collaborators as they discuss the numerous methods employed to adapt the book by Alan Dershowitz into an engaging film. 

Overall Scores:

Video – 4/5

Audio – 4/5

Supplements – 2.5/5

Overall – 4/5

Reversal of Fortune is an engaging mystery film based on the true crime book by defense attorney Alan Dershowitz. The film does a good job with the material. It manages to tell the basis for the original trial and give key facts about the appeal while leaving the innocence or guilt of Von Burlow ambiguous. Jeremy Irons is exceptional in the film with a reserved and icily precise performance. Ron Silver and Glenn Close are both good in their respective roles. Overall, I found the film really interesting and enjoyable. The Warner Archive Blu-ray features good technical specs and a solid commentary track featuring director Barbet Schroeder and screenwriter Nicholas Kazan.