Entertainment · Film · 6 hrs ago
The Good Lawyer review: Laurent Lafitte leads a familiar legal thriller
French lawyer Léonard Landry, played by Laurent Lafitte, collapses in court after his addictions disrupt his work.
Three weeks later, he is physically clean but faces a trial that could end his legal career.
He takes on the defence of a key witness in a high-profile case involving a non-governmental group’s accusations against fictional energy company Varenne over its practices in Congo.
Landry also works with Noé, a struggling intern, as he tries to make one last major case succeed.
Director Tristan Séguéla’s film centres on Landry’s self-destructive choices and moral dilemmas, rather than the details of the legal case.
The review says the courtroom story is light on narrative and familiar, though Lafitte’s performance gives Landry depth.
Laurent Lafitte stars as a troubled lawyer in The Good Lawyer, a thriller directed by Tristan Séguéla.
Léonard Landry is addicted to alcohol and cocaine and collapses in court, where cocaine is found under his robe.
Three weeks later, physically clean but facing a trial, Landry takes on the defense of a key witness in a high-profile case.
The case involves a non-governmental organization accusing fictional energy group Varenne of practices in Congo.
The review says the film focuses more on Landry’s character study and moral dilemmas than on its legal-drama plot.
- Who
- Lawyer Léonard Landry, played by Laurent Lafitte, takes on the defense of a key witness.
- What
- The Good Lawyer is a thriller about Landry’s efforts to return to court and defend the witness while facing a trial of his own.
- When
- The story takes place over a week, three weeks after Landry collapses in court.
- Where
- The case concerns a fictional energy group’s practices in Congo; the film also includes a courtroom session in Senegal.
- Why
- Landry takes the case as a chance to make one last major effort while his own legal troubles threaten his career.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Landry is physically clean and tries to return to the courtroom while awaiting his trial.
Landry takes on the defense of a key witness in a high-profile case.
The Good Lawyer had its world premiere in Venice.
- Lead actor
- Laurent Lafitte
- Director
- Tristan Séguéla
- Main character
- Léonard Landry, a lawyer addicted to alcohol and cocaine
- Key case
- NGO accuses fictional energy group Varenne over its practices in Congo
- Story duration
- One week
- World premiere
- Venice, in September