THE LINCOLN LAWYER

Surprisingly, Matthew McConaughey doesn't need to bare his chest to solve this mystery, but appearing in a tank top whenever possible doesn't hurt.

Matthew McConaughey plays Los Angeles defense attorney Mick Haller, a guy who looks good in a suit, and has an ever-present vague air of sleaze. He has a driver and a car. But there is something kind of ghetto about this pretty white boy. His clientele are, for the most part, in the hood. He only has a driver because of a DUI, now he gets shuttled around in an old Lincoln town car, that would be more than a little pimpy if it weren't for the sharp-dressed lawyer in the back. Mick wheels and deals with the very people he represents, and he is given the biggest compliment when a black man says that Mick would do well on the street.

Mick is a little surprised when a fancy-pants spoiled rich white kid named Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe) asks for Mick to represent him. Louis has been accused of beating  up a hooker, and he adamantly declares that he's innocent. It is more than a little curious that this "kid" is actually a 32-year-old man that is referred to by his family as "the boy"... shoot, talk about a silver spoon. The audience can see that Louis is more than a little shifty himself, and suddenly Mick is in the position of being paid big bucks to defend a man he doesn't believe is innocent.

The Lincoln Lawyer, despite fitting cleanly into a law-thriller formula, is surprisingly enjoyable, due in no small part to the surprisingly good supporting cast. Marisa Tomei, whose presence is always a delight, plays Mick's ex, also a lawyer (with a bit more morals), and she and McConaughey actually have a nice chemistry. So, for that matter, do McConaughey and William H. Macy, who plays a sort of working-man detective, which his long shaggy hair and un-ironic bushy moustache. Josh Lucas, John Leguizamo, and Michael Peña also make impressions in small roles.

When the twisty climax threatens to wind down, The Lincoln Lawyer does one of those silly twist endings that lost its impact after only the millionth time it was used. Just when you think the mystery is wrapped up, just wait! There is one more hanging chad! Despite the fact that this last bit made me roll my eyes, I have to admit that up until that point, I was completely enjoying the movie. Maybe McConaughey should take note that he does better work when he keeps his shirt on!