In deciding to do this British TV miniseries as a movie, there was an opportunity to take maybe just one of the coincidences that ruin this story out of the script, but instead, it's practically verbatim.Bill Pullman plays Callum Crane, an excellent attorney who is totally self-involved, arrogant, and amoral. He lives with his wife and her children, whom he doesn't like.Crane becomes interested in a young secretary, the petite, leggy Sophie (Gabrielle Anwar). One night, they are both at the office late, have drinks together and go to her apartment. He wants to have sex with her, but Sophie realizes it's a mistake. After all, he's her boss and he's married and drunk. Crane doesn't take no for an answer and rapes her.Sophie is too traumatized to report it or do anything about it, but Crane is bothered by her presence and has her fired. Then he is made a Judge. Sophie sees an opportunity to threaten him with going public if he doesn't resign.A subplot concerns a young man who, learning he is adopted, goes searching for his father.The British version, due to the young thugs, is grittier, and let's face an important fact - Bill Pullman is no Michael Kitchen and doesn't come close to realizing this character. He comes off as a bland guy, although an egotistical attorney, who decides to take a desperate action, but we don't see his growing desperation, and we don't see him as someone capable of making the decision he makes or any of the follow-up.What I found mildly interesting is that Joanna Whalley plays Pullman's wife, and like the character of Sophie, she too is petite and brunette, so you can see the interest -- he's at this point not very involved with his wife.I've always thought Gabrielle Anwar was a very good actress, and she is excellent here, sexy and more street smart than in the British version where the character was much more naive and fragile.The ending is different, making it a tiny bit more palatable. The ending of the original was disappointing.If you're going to see a version of "The Guilty," see the British 1992 version.

Callum Crane is in line for appointment to the federal bench during the same week he forces himself, while drunk, on a new secretary at his office who has firmly said no to him. It's also the same week Nathan Corrigan (a young, callow ex-con) goes to the city to meet his biological father, the same Callum Crane. They meet and before Nathan can tell Crane who he is, Crane offers him money to kill the secretary, who has threatened to go to the police.Nathan takes an envelop of cash and the woman's photo, tells friends about it, and throws away the envelop. One of the friends, who needs money, retrieves the envelop and sets out to kill the woman. Can Nathan stop the crime? Firstly, Bill Pullman is not a good rapist and the scene is directed like a romance. And why does he always look like he's gonna cry? The movie is very slow, and the giant chink in the armor? The plot is absurdly unbelievable. Why doesn't the girl just go to the cops? Why doesn't the friend just take the envelope with the money and run for the hills? It's a film that makes no sense.

Callum Crane, a powerful lawyer, is seen in his summation on a case being tried for defamation of character. He has even orchestrated the right moment in which a ray of sun will shine on the defendant's face to dramatize the occasion, while fumbling on a Shakespeare quote. He is too theatrical to lose the case. His own take on the two million dollars awarded the offended party is probably half of it. Crane believes he can have Sophie Lennon, an attractive young woman who works in his office, just after he had been toasted by the partners. It was the wrong move because Sophie did not have any intentions to have sex with the powerful head of the lawyers' firm. Callum has no idea the humiliation he provokes in the young woman he decided to rape against her wish. Nathan Corrigan just recently out of jail for a car theft, returns to town hoping to go straight. His pals have another thing in mind. He receives a blow when he learns Callum is his father. Going to meet him, he runs into Sophie, with whom he likes from the start. Callum, who is not aware of the relationship, sees in the young man a powerful ally for what he wants to do when Sophie becomes his bitter enemy. Nathan becomes the instrument of Callum's wish to get Sophie out of the picture, something that backfires."The Guilty" a 2001 film directed by Anthony Waller is a film that seems to have gone to video, or did not get a commercial distribution. Written by Simon Burke for a television movie, it was adapted by William Davies for this new production shot entirely around Vancouver. The film has good moments, but the plot does not hold its momentum because its so many twists and turns. There are too many things that do not completely make sense, especially between Callum and Nathan, or for that matter, the nomination of Callum to a Supreme Court seat (state, that is, not federal) is too much to be believed, when as a star lawyer, Crane can name his price for any case he would decide to take.There are other plot holes that leave the viewer scratching his head, but one gives it the benefit of the doubt. There are other aspects that work. The sinister character of Callum is one of the creepiest characters Bill Pullman, a good actor, has been asked to bring to life. Gabrielle Anwar shows up as Sophie, the violated young woman who vows revenge on the powerful Callum. Davon Sawa appears as Nathan. The wonderful Joanne Whalley has nothing to do as the two-timing wife of Callum.

Bill Pullman enjoys himself as the bad guy in this excellent, traditionally styled neo-noir thriller. Lawyer, Callum Crane in is line for appointment for a position as a federal judge, but just after his appointment he is accused of rape by a female colleague that he forced himself upon while drunk. Meanwhile, the lawyer's son, Nathan has found out the identity of his biological father, also Callum Crane, and sets off to the city in order to find him. Before he is able to tell his father who is he is, he is given an envelope and is offered money to take care of the problem; by killing the girl that has accused Callum Crane of murder.The story, despite it's relative complexity, unfolds in a manner that is easy and interesting to follow as a result of the excellent storytelling. The plot unfolds bit by bit, which serves in building suspense and also makes the film interesting as the audience is fed just enough to keep them interested, but not enough so that the film is able to become predictable; which makes for a very thrilling thriller.The acting in The Guilty varies from mediocre, to great; with Bill Pullman at the top end of the spectrum, and Gabrielle Anwar at the other end. That's not to say that she's particularly bad though; a lot of her rather insignificant performance can be put down to a lack of depth for her character. None of the characters in The Guilty are particularly well done, but the majority of them don't need to be, and the film is efficient in that it doesn't waste lots of time building up characters that are not central to the plot. Also worthy of note acting wise is Jaimz Woolvett, the man that plays Leo; who is undoubtedly one of the main players of the piece. Jaimz portrays his character with a great deal of strength and rawness and is absolutely perfect in his role. Jaimz Woolvett is best known for his role as The Schofield Kid in Unforgiven, and the fact that he hasn't made anything else of note since is a real shame as he has proved with this movie and Unforgiven that he is capable of a powerful and emotional performance.The Guilty, like many thrillers, features plenty of twists and turns to keep the audience hooked, but none are as amusing, well done or satisfying as the end one. The movie saves its best trick to last and the end of this movie is bound to put a smile on any viewer's face. One of my favourite twist endings without a doubt.Overall, The Guilty is a very good thriller. Unlike a lot of it's modern day counterparts, this film doesn't rely on violence or loud music to make itself worth watching, but rather on the more old-fashioned methods such as strength of storytelling and interesting performances from everyone involved. The Guilty is not a great movie, but as far as modern day thrillers go; this is not a bad example.