Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- tense
- paranoid
- serious
- thriller night
- courtroom movie marathon
What critics said
Critics found the film watchable and suspenseful largely because of Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman, but broadly viewed its plotting as predictable and muddled.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Claire must defend her husband through a military justice system while investigating the alleged massacre.
Claire learns that the man she knows as Tom Kubik is actually the accused former Marine Ron Chapman.
Flashbacks and differing camera angles make the massacre appear to support two contradictory versions of what happened.
The investigation centers on an alleged killing of Latin American villagers, conveniently dead witnesses, and a military cover-up.
Films like High Crimes, and why
A Few Good Men
Shared legal thriller framework, military misconduct investigation, and determined defense attorney confronting institutional secrecy.
The Firm
Shared courtroom suspense, concealed identity, moral ambiguity, and escalating conspiracy surrounding an accused defendant.
Presumed Innocent
Shared crime mystery structure, conflicting evidence, and a protagonist uncovering a powerful cover-up.
Rules of Engagement
Shared military justice setting, war-crimes allegations, and tension between official narratives and buried evidence.
Movie Details
- Director
- Carl Franklin
- Release Date
- 2002-04-05
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (917)
Cast
- Ashley Judd
- Morgan Freeman
- Jim Caviezel
- Adam Scott
- Amanda Peet
- Bruce Davison
- Tom Bower
- Juan Carlos Hernández
- Michael Gaston
- Jude Ciccolella
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is High Crimes about?
- A powerful defense lawyer risks her career and marriage to uncover the truth behind her husband's hidden military identity and a buried massacre.
- What is High Crimes like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of High Crimes as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is High Crimes violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in High Crimes as mild.
- What did critics think of High Crimes?
- Critics found the film watchable and suspenseful largely because of Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman, but broadly viewed its plotting as predictable and muddled.
- Which films are like High Crimes?
- Films with a similar feel include A Few Good Men, The Firm, Presumed Innocent, and Rules of Engagement.
- How long is High Crimes?
- High Crimes runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch High Crimes?
- In United States, High Crimes streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
