Reversal of Fortune (1990)

	Directed by: Barbet Schroeder	COUNTRY USA GENRE Drama NORWEGIAN TITLE Von Bülow-mysteriet RUNNING TIME 120 minutes
	Produced by: Edward R. Pressman Oliver Stone
	Written by (based on the book by: Alan Dershowitz): Nicholas Kazan

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Sunny von Bülow	Glenn Close	½
Claus von Bülow	Jeremy Irons
Alan Dershowitz	Ron Silver	½
Sarah	Annabella Sciorra
David Marriot	Fisher Stevens	½
Maria	Uta Hagen	-
Peter MacIntosh	Jack Gilpin	½
Andrea Reynolds	Christine Baranski	½
Elon Dershowitz	Stephen Mailer	½
Minnie	Felicity Huffman	-
Nancy	Johann Carlo	-
Dobbs	Keith Reddin	-
Curly	Mitchell Whitfield	-
Jack	Tom Wright	-
Mary	Lisa Gay Hamilton	-
Alexandra Isles	Julie Hagerty	-
Bill	Bill Camp	-
Raj	Mano Singh	-

Review

Crime stories based on real-life events are always difficult to translate to the big screen, because it is almost impossible for the director not to let his views colour the narrative too much. Centering on the highly publicised case involving the socialite von Bülow couple, Reversal of Fortune is one of the greatest films of this kind, directed with an almost teasing sense of balance by Frenchman Barbet Schroeder. He structures the narrative with chilling precision, making this not only a highly suspenseful film but also one of the most interesting criminal dramas of all time. Jeremy Irons' performance is a standout – his ostentatious arrogance forms the basis for an abundance of insinuations, yet he leaves the conclusion to the viewer. There are also excellent performances from Ron Silver as Claus von Bülow's appellate defence attorney, Alan Dershowitz, and a perfectly cast Glenn Close as Sunny von Bülow, despite limited screen time.