A Murder of Crows (1999)

Writer-director Rowdy Herrington takes innocence, guilt, ambition, and morality, and twists them into a suspenseful, seductive spiral that can't help but suck you in. When defense attorney Russell Lawson (Cuba Gooding Jr.) realizes his client (Eric Stoltz) is guilty, he turns on him mid-trial--a move that costs him both the case and his career. Disbarred and disheartened, he retreats to Key West, where he meets a peculiar retired teacher named Christopher Marlowe and the film's roller coaster ride begins. In a quick reversal of fortune, Lawson makes an ethical compromise and becomes wildly successful--and then just as suddenly becomes a fugitive from the law, trying to track down a murderer before being tracked down himself. Gooding's constant voice-overs tend to distract from the story rather than add to it; however, his down-home earnestness makes him a good foil for a cranky cop (Tom Berenger) who appears to be more interested in making an arrest than in finding the truth. But then nothing here is what it first appears to be, and although Herrington leaves just enough clues for the astute viewer to pick up on the film's central metaphor, the conclusion still manages to surprise. With such a talented cast and tight writing, it's hard to fathom why A Murder of Crows didn't do better in theaters. At least on video the film, like Lawson, is given a second chance. --Larisa Lomacky Moore Amazon.com

A Great Mystery!

One of my favorite unknowns! Before mystery movies became a dime a dozen, there was "A Murder of Crows"! Cuba Gooding Jr., Tom Berenger, how could you not watch this movie. I own it and have let many friends borrow it, not one bad review yet! Watch this great movie!! February 24, 2008

Exciting from Beginning to End

A friend of mine had this movie and we watched it one night. I had to have a copy of my own. This is the type of movie you can watch again and again and still enjoy and possibly find things you did not notice the first time. Very entertaining and incredibly interesting. Great plot, fantastic actors! January 14, 2008

I've watched this over and over

Even though not highly rated by the critics, I love this movie. The story is unique, mixing mystery with great characters in a wonderful setting... I've watched this movie several times over a few years.. I still watch it...Acting is great. December 1, 2007

Not easy to figure out

Dark and scary, not easy to figure out...just the way I like my murder mystery stories. This is a good one, that had me puzzled and challenged my "deducing" skills right up to nearly the end. Cuba Gooding is one of my favorites, and his performance is terrific in this one. November 15, 2007

This is not a movie murder, it is a murder of a movie.

I only gave it one star because I couldn't give it zero stars. If this is not the absolute worst movie I have ever seen in my life, bar none - it is definitely one of the top two. It was agonizingly terrible. I picked it up because heretofore, I loved Cuba Gooding. And, Tom Berenger is Tom Berenger. Believe me, this movie could not be worse if they paid them to make it so. To say it was mediocre would be high praise.

The only reason I watched the whole movie was because I was in such disbelief. I was astonished at the gawdawful story line, script and acting. Sincerely, it was as if both of the lead characters were acting as though they were supposed to be bad actors in a bad movie.

Even the narration by Cuba is wicked bad. He sounds like he's falling asleep. I need a nexium just thinking about it. I'm getting light-headed. Truly. I cannot exaggerate how horrible this movie was. Hopefully, I've eluded to the fact that it was waste of time and money and that I would not recommend it. October 4, 2007

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