A terrific legal thriller movie is airing on TV tonight

Stephen Porzio

The film marked a very important turning point in its star’s career.

Our TV movie pick for tonight (Tuesday, 14 May) is The Lincoln Lawyer – the 2011 legal thriller starring Matthew McConaughey.

Based on the novel of the same name by Michael Connelly (Bosch), the Oscar-winner plays Mickey Haller – a charismatic defense attorney who does business out of his Lincoln Continental sedan.

“Mick spends most of his time defending petty crooks and other bottom-feeders, so it comes as quite a surprise when he lands the case of a lifetime: defending a Beverly Hills playboy (Ryan Phillippe) who is accused of attempted murder,” the plot synopsis reads.

“However, what Mick initially thinks is an open-and-shut case with a big monetary reward develops into something more sinister.”

Also featuring amongst its cast Bryan Cranston, John Leguizamo, Josh Lucas, Michael Peña, Marisa Tomei and William H. Macy, The Lincoln Lawyer’s twisty plot and magnetic central turn from McConaughey led to it scoring an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Arriving in cinemas in 2011, the movie is also notable for launching the so-called ‘McConaissance’, the period in the star’s career where he began taking on better and more adventurous and challenging roles.

Not long after the legal thriller’s release came Dallas Buyers Club (for which he won an Oscar), Interstellar and True Detective.

The Lincoln Lawyer was also a box office hit, so much so that it wound up spawning an ongoing Netflix series of the same name where Mickey Haller is played by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo.

The legal thriller movie is airing on TV tonight on Film4 at 11.20pm. It is also available to rent on Apple TV+.

Check out the trailer for 2011’s The Lincoln Lawyer right here:

Here are the other movies on TV tonight:

I Am Legend – Sky Showcase – 9pm

Will Smith is the last human in New York in this quite good apocalyptic thriller.

Independence Day: Resurgence – Film4 – 9pm

Speaking of Will Smith, he did not return for this long-awaited, pretty disappointing sequel to the classic ’90s sci-fi blockbuster.

Bad Moms – Comedy Central – 9pm

The hit comedy about three overworked and under-appreciated moms (Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell and Mila Kunis) who decide to ditch their conventional responsibilities and have some fun.

The Flock – Legend Xtra – 10.45pm

Claire Danes and Richard Gere headline this gritty thriller as department of public safety agents on the hunt for a missing girl.

While She Was Out – Legend – 10.55pm

Oscar-winner Kim Basinger stars in this thriller as a suburban housewife forced to fend for herself when she becomes stranded in a desolate forest with four murderous thugs.

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? – BBC Two – 11.15pm

Bette Davis and Joan Crawford star in this ’60s cult classic psychological horror thriller.