Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
On Quartile, Murder in the First scores 7.5/10 across five categories — strongest on Plot (Above Average).
A young, inexperienced public defender is assigned to defend an inmate accused of committing murder while behind bars.
Murder in the First is carried primarily by powerhouse performances from Kevin Bacon and Christian Slater, with Bacon's depiction of brutal solitary confinement trauma being the film's standout element. The courtroom drama is competent but follows fairly familiar beats of the idealistic underdog lawyer fighting institutional injustice. The Alcatraz setting and prisoner abuse angle lend some distinctiveness, but the narrative arc is fairly predictable. Cinematography is serviceable without being remarkable. The ending is emotionally affecting but not particularly surprising given the setup.