From the Hip

FROM THE HIP is the story of a young defense lawyer (Nelson) trying his first case, a simple assault. He grandstands, wins the case, makes headlines and is immediately handed a capital murder case to defend. How he handles that case is what the movie is about. He is defending John Hurt in the vicious slayings of two people whose bodies have never been found. Nelson is in way over his head, and knows it. He also is not convinced of Hurt's innocence. In real life, this wouldn't matter, but since this is a movie, he comes down with a bad case of conscience. Elizabeth Perkins is aboard as Nelson's loyal girlfriend and several veteran actors including Darren McGavin, Ray Walston and Nancy Marchand show up to further the story. But HIP is really all about Judd Nelson's brash and rash young lawyer, which allows one to overlook some obvious plot holes and bizarre courtroom antics. At times, Nelson may remind you of Robert Downey Jr.