In the humid, rain-slicked mystery The Gingerbread Man (released in theaters on Jan, 23, 1998), Rick Magruder (Kenneth Branagh) is a fast-talking, arrogant Savannah trial lawyer who prides himself on winning at any cost.
After a party celebrating his latest courtroom victory, Rick meets a mysterious, waifish woman named Mallory Doss (Embeth Davidtz) and offers her a ride home.
His chivalry quickly pulls him into a dangerous obsession as he learns Mallory is being stalked by her father, Dixon Doss (Robert Duvall), a derelict cult leader living in the swamps.
Driven by a mix of genuine concern and professional vanity, Rick manages to have Dixon committed to a psychiatric institution, but the victory is short-lived when the old man escapes.
As a massive hurricane begins to bear down on the Georgia coast, Rick’s life systematically unravels.
He enlists his weary investigator, Clyde Pell (Robert Downey Jr.), to help protect Mallory, but finds himself increasingly isolated from his ex-wife, Leeanne (Famke Janssen), and his concerned colleagues, including Lois Harlan (Daryl Hannah).
The plot, based on an original story by John Grisham, spirals into a classic noir trap where Rick is manipulated by forces he failed to anticipate, including the calculating Pete Randle (Tom Berenger).
Directed by the legendary Robert Altman, the film eschews the standard courtroom tropes of Grisham’s usual work, opting instead for a claustrophobic, weather-beaten atmosphere where the impending storm serves as a metaphor for the protagonist’s collapsing world.
Robert Downey Jr. in The Gingerbread Man (Photo/Polygram Filmed Entertainment)
Reception for The Gingerbread Man
The Gingerbread Man grossed $118,278 on its opening weekend, in limited release on eight screens.
The film would gross $1.7 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave The Gingerbread Man three out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
The Gingerbread Man‘s legacy lies in its status as a unique collision between the commercial sensibilities of Grisham and the idiosyncratic, auteurist vision of Altman.
It is remembered as a rare instance where the master of ensemble improvisation tackled a straight-ahead legal thriller, resulting in a film that is far more atmospheric and visually layered than its genre peers.
Altman’s signature roving camera and overlapping dialogue transform a traditional potboiler into a moody Southern Gothic experience.
The film also stands as a fascinating time capsule for its high-caliber cast, featuring a twitchy performance by Downey Jr. and a rare, chilling turn by Duvall.
