Jake Gyllenhaal is Leading a TV Miniseries for the First Time, and the Reviews are Encouraging

Summary

• Jake Gyllenhaal shines in Apple TV+’s
  Presumed Innocent
  , with critics praising his powerful performance.
• The series boasts a talented cast, including Ruth Negga and Peter Sarsgaard, receiving positive reviews.
• Show creator David E. Kelley’s fine work is highlighted, with high expectations for a satisfying finale twist.

Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent debuted the first two of its eight total episodes on June 12th, and it looks to be one of their most critically-praised series thus far. It also marks yet another win in Jake Gyllenhaal‘s corner, who has led interesting project after interesting project over the past few years.

Presumed Innocent (2024)

4.5/5

It tells the story of a horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office when one of its own is suspected of the crime. The show stars Jake Gyllenhaal and is from legendary TV writer David E. Kelley.

Release Date June 14, 2024

Cast Jake Gyllenhaal , Ruth Negga , Bill Camp , Elizabeth Marvel , Renate Reinsve , Peter Sarsgaard , O-T Fagbenle , Chase Infiniti , Lily Rabe , Nana Mensah , Matthew Alan , Kingston Rumi Southwick

It’s also not the first time the actor has shown himself a natural for remakes, as Amazon Prime Video’s excellent recent Road House proved. And, like that modern take on an old favorite, it carries a positive score on Rotten Tomatoes (77% as of now, 85% for audiences). Compared to the Harrison Ford movie of the same name, this surprisingly has shown that audiences have been more positive about Gyllenhaal’s take on the material than the 1990 movie version.

Time will tell if it holds that positive reception over the course of six more episodes, but it looks likely. Gyllenhaal’s powerhouse performance is bound to only get better as the intensity is upped and, if one is even remotely familiar with Scott Turow’s 1987 novel or the popular 1990 film starring Harrison Ford and Bonnie Bedelia, they know that’s inevitable.

What are the Reviews of Presumed Innocent Saying?

It’s important to note that critics have seen just seven of the eight total episodes. And, while that sounds like they should have a full gist of whether the series is truly effective, that last episode is going to be an extremely important deciding factor.

Without going into detail, Presumed Innocent is a narrative that benefits from an outstanding twist, and it’s something the movie sells quite well. Will the series? And, for that matter, will the series adhere rigidly to the source material (be it the novel or film)?

But, for now, suffice it to say that critics are fairly unified on several aspects of the miniseries. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority are loving Gyllenhaal’s work. And, given the excellent performances Ruth Negga has delivered in past projects, it’s equally unsurprising that her work is being praised just as much.

Related Presumed Innocent Review: Jake Gyllenhaal Sizzles in Binge-Worthy Apple TV+ Drama

Showrunner David E. Kelley’s fine update on the Harrison Ford thriller adds new twists and deeper character development.

Much of the rest of the cast, including The Queen’s Gambit’s Bill Camp, Black Widow’s O-T Fagbenle, and The Batman’s Peter Sarsgaard, are also receiving their fair share of positive marks. But, a solid cast alone is not enough.

Show creator David E. Kelley is receiving the lion’s share of the behind-the-scenes credit. And, considering he’s made a name for himself via writing for L.A. Law and subsequently creating fellow legal dramas such as The Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Legal, and The Lincoln Lawyer, it’s safe to say Kelley is in familiar waters with Presumed Innocent. So let’s presume that the finale is going to wrap things up in a way that’s both creatively altered and equally satisfying to what was seen in the 1990 Ford film.

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