The Lincoln Lawyer

The Lincoln Lawyer is currently streaming in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Stan, and in the US on YouTube TV and Fawesome, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 3,679 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Matthew McConaughey sets the tone, and the ensemble matches it scene for scene. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The Lincoln Lawyer earns its spot. The Lincoln Lawyer treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. Mick Haller is a charismatic defense attorney who does business out of his Lincoln Continental sedan. Mick spends most of his time defending petty crooks and other bottom-feeders, so it comes as quite a surprise when he lands the case of a lifetime: defending a Beverly Hills playboy who is accused of attempted murder. However, what Mick initially thinks is an open-and-shut case with a big monetary reward develops into something more sinister. The writing gets a boost from Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Phillippe, who sell every scene they're in. It hit screens in 2011. What makes The Lincoln Lawyer hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, The Lincoln Lawyer delivers. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Matthew McConaughey anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.