Jagged Edge Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A lawyer falls for a client accused of murder, but twist: He probably did it, or did he?

🍿 Jagged Edge: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Murder and Suspicion

San Francisco heiress Page Forrester is brutally murdered in her beach house, shocking the community. Her husband, Jack Forrester, is seemingly injured during the attack, but suspicion quickly falls on him as the prime suspect. Jack, a newspaper editor, finds himself facing accusations of murdering his wife for financial gain.

Teddy Barnes Takes the Case

Jack hires Teddy Barnes, an experienced but reluctant lawyer who hasn’t handled a criminal case in years. Teddy, haunted by a past case where she unknowingly contributed to a wrongful conviction, sees this as an opportunity for redemption. Despite her reservations, she takes on Jack’s defense, leading to a complex and intimate lawyer-client relationship.

The Trial and Growing Doubts

As the trial progresses, Teddy becomes increasingly entangled with Jack, both professionally and personally. Their relationship deepens, blurring the lines of professional ethics and raising questions about her objectivity. Meanwhile, Teddy battles against Thomas Krasny, the ambitious District Attorney and her former colleague, who is determined to prove Jack’s guilt.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jack Forrester (Jeff Bridges): The charming and wealthy newspaper editor who is accused of murdering his wife.
• Teddy Barnes (Glenn Close): A former prosecutor who returns to criminal law to defend Jack and finds herself falling for him.
• Thomas Krasny (Peter Coyote): The ambitious district attorney who prosecutes Jack and has a history with Teddy.
• Sam Ransom (Robert Loggia): Teddy’s foul-mouthed and experienced private investigator who assists her in the case.
• Page Forrester (Maria Mayenzet): The brutally murdered heiress whose death sets the plot in motion.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Sam Ransom: “I can smell a prick a mile away, and Forrester, he reeks of it.” – Sam expresses his strong dislike and suspicion of Jack Forrester early in the investigation.
• Teddy Barnes: “I don’t want him to be innocent. I want to *know* he’s innocent.” – Teddy articulates her need for certainty about Jack’s innocence as her feelings for him grow.
• Thomas Krasny: “Sometimes, justice isn’t blind. Sometimes, it knows exactly what it’s doing.” – Krasny delivers this line during his closing arguments, emphasizing his conviction of Forrester’s guilt and suggesting justice is deliberate.
• Sam Ransom: “Fuck him. He was trash.” – Sam’s final words in the movie after learning the truth about Forrester.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $15,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $40,491,165
• Worldwide Gross: $40,491,165

💥 Jagged Edge Reviews

Personal Review

I really enjoyed Jagged Edge! Glenn Close is fantastic, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, trying to figure out if Jeff Bridges’ character was guilty or not. The courtroom scenes were intense, and I loved the twists and turns. It’s a classic thriller, and I highly recommend it!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of courtroom dramas”
  • “Viewers interested in psychological thrillers”
  • “Those who enjoy films with plot twists”
  • “Fans of Glenn Close and Jeff Bridges”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Sexual content”
  • “Murder”
  • “Disturbing themes”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “Jagged Edge keeps you guessing, but the script is illogic. The story is a tease and exists to manipulate and captivate the audience, there are plot holes galore. However, the film works very well on a visceral level, providing twists and shocks along the way.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “Entertaining but predictable, Jagged Edge, boasts strong performances from Glenn Close and Jeff Bridges, the neo-noir thriller offers a suspenseful whodunnit narrative that may not hold up to modern scrutiny due to its reliance on genre conventions and contrived plot twists.

Audience Reactions

Viewers love Glenn Close’s performance.: Thrilling courtroom drama, suspenseful plot.

Overall Consensus: A suspenseful and entertaining, though somewhat predictable, courtroom thriller with strong performances from the lead actors.

Awards

1. Saturn Award (Best Actress)- 1986

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “An urban folklore exists that suggests that there was an alternate ending that alters the identity of the killer. An alternate ending does not exist, but the original ending was indeed re-filmed, when the initial release audience complained that the face of the killer was not clearly shown. In the original release, the unmasked killer’s face was shown for eighteen frames (less than a second). Another nine seconds was later spliced into the corrected version, clearly resolving the mystery and showing the killer.”
• “During the final court day scene, Teddy Barnes’ clothes change. This is because this scene was originally shot as two separate days, but were later edited into one final court day.”

🖥️ How to Watch Jagged Edge?

Jagged Edge is available for streaming and purchase on various platforms. You can find it for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. Check your local listings for availability on other streaming services.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Jagged Edge, you might like these similar films:

• Presumed Innocent (1990): A compelling legal thriller with a central mystery surrounding a high-profile murder and a protagonist lawyer who may be more involved than they appear.
• Fatal Attraction (1987): Shares themes of dangerous obsession and the blurring of personal and professional boundaries, creating a suspenseful and psychologically thrilling narrative.
• Body Heat (1981): Features a seductive femme fatale and a twisty plot full of double-crosses and hidden motives, emblematic of neo-noir thrillers from the same era.
• The Lincoln Lawyer (2011): A modern legal thriller where the lawyer’s personal feelings can impact the outcome of the trial and the pursuit of truth.
• Basic Instinct (1992): Written by the same screenwriter, Joe Eszterhas. Another erotic thriller with courtroom elements, lots of twists and turns and a femme fatale character at the center.

🛒 Jagged Edge Related Products

• Jagged Edge [Blu-ray]: High-definition Blu-ray of Jagged Edge, perfect for collectors. Get the ultimate viewing experience for this classic legal thriller.
• Glenn Close: A Life: An unauthorized Glenn Close biography offers deeper insights into her life and illustrious career
• Law & Order: The Complete Series: For those who enjoyed Jagged Edge’s courtroom drama, the complete Law & Order series provides endless hours of legal intrigue.
• Collectible Typewriter Replica: A vintage typewriter replica, a symbol of the mystery in the movie.

🎧 Soundtrack

Jagged Edge features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title” – performed by John Barry
• “Teddy and Jack” – performed by John Barry

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

John Barry – JAGGED EDGE Soundtrack – Finale/End Credits

Ever notice how the music in thrillers amps up the suspense? This video spotlights the ‘Jagged Edge’ finale soundtrack by John Barry—it’s surprisingly beautiful and really elevates the ending. Give it a listen, you might be surprised!

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