Sebastian Rudd in Rogue
Lawyer by John Grisham – I am confident I have just read
the next Grisham book to be made into a Hollywood feature film. Sebastian Rudd
is a larger than life criminal lawyer swashbuckling his way through the
criminal and occasionally civil courts of an unnamed 1,000,000 inhabitant
mid-America city.
Rudd is fearless. He challenges the police, opposing
counsel, witnesses, judges and clients. Anyone looking for a fight he will make
it a brawl.
He despises the tactics and actions of overly
aggressive and unethical district attorneys and police.
Rudd has a brutally wicked wit that he rarely
restrains in and out of court.
Rudd is as far from the grey suit clad lawyers
occupying the towers of corporate law in Manhattan as possible in America.
He is the second American fictional lawyer to
function from a rolling office. Where Michael Connelly’s lawyer, Mickey Haller,
practises criminal law in Los Angeles from the back seat of a Lincoln it is a
custom equipped van for Rudd. While Haller chose mobility Rudd was forced out
of his office by a firebomb.
Rudd has a compelling driver in Partner, a
physically imposing black man who, after being successfully defended by Rudd,
has taken on the challenge of protecting and assisting the hyper-aggressive
defence counsel.
Rudd has a monastic home life in a high rise tower.
It is harder for a disgruntled _______ (pick any of the above he has
confronted) to attack him in such a residence.
To while away the sleepless hours he regularly
endures Rudd has a full size pool table occupying his den / living room and
plays games against himself.
While he has little time in his hectic life for the
ladies he is the father of a 7 year old boy, Sketcher, who is surprisingly
normal despite his father’s chaotic life and his mother’s tumultuous lesbian
relationship.
Rudd is really the type of daring courtroom lawyer
all litigators wish we could be if we did not care about consequences. He is dancing on
the edge every day.
And, by the way, he is a part owner of an upcoming
professional cage fighter looking to reach the upper echelons of mixed martial
arts. Rudd wears a brilliant yellow jacket and cap as one of the fighter’s
handlers.
What leading male actor in Hollywood would not leap
at the opportunity to play Rudd in the movies? Grisham thinks Rogue Lawyer and Rudd would be
better suited to being a T.V. series. It has been a decade since one of his
books has become a movie. Grisham, in a CBS interview, provided encouraging
news that he hopes Rudd will return in future books as he has lots of adventures
to tell readers.
My next post will actually discuss the type of cases
undertaken by Rudd.
Rudd certainly sounds like a larger-than-life sort of lawyer, Bill! I like it that he has a solid wit, too. And the way you describe him, he's not at all like most lawyers one reads about or sees on TV shows. He sounds like the kind of fearless lawyer you'd want defending you in court, too. And part-owner of a cage fighter? He sounds like he has some really interesting dimensions.
ReplyDeleteMargot: You would want Sebastian if you are innocent and have a tough case. You would not want him if you guilty of a relatively minor offence. He could blow up negotiations on a plea bargain if the prosecutor upset him.
DeleteHappy to send you our young Trudeau novel to review, Bill! (The Wail of the Wendigo: An Early Adventure of Pierre Trudeau) Please email me your address and will get that sent out. Cheers...
ReplyDeleteRoderick: I will send you an email tonight.
DeleteThis sounds very interesting. I just have to read the Grisham books I already have first. A Time to Kill, Sycamore Row, and a few more.
ReplyDeleteTracyK: I have read all of his legal mysteries. Some were brilliant and others more average. Most of his best books are set in Mississippi. I would be very interested in your reactions to them especially those taking place during the 1980's.
DeleteSycamore Row is brilliant. The Rogue Lawyer is fascinating and hilarious. I was smiling as I read it, laughing out loud at times.
ReplyDeleteGrisham also uses this book to provide a lot of social commentary about the injustices in the criminal justice system.
I agree that Grisham's books can be brilliant or OK. I read many of his books and then came to a halt, only to pick up Sycamore Row, Gray Mountain and The Rogue Lawyer.
I'm wondering if I missed any good ones.
Just as a note: I know children of lesbian couples: They are well-adjusted and have the good fortune of being doted on by two mothers.
Kathy D.: Thanks for the comment. I am glad you enjoyed The Rogue Lawyer. It is going to on the NY Times bestseller list for a long time.
DeleteOf his books those set in Mississippi are the most consistently good.
I want to add that Grisham does not condemn the lesbian parents. He makes the point they have as many challenges in parenting as straight parents. The son in the book is a well adjusted child.
I love your joyful take on this, Bill - I can quite see you as the Sebastian Rudd of Saskatchewan. Perhaps if Tom Cruise not available you could take on the role in the inevitable film?
ReplyDeleteMoira: Thanks for the kind words. You made me laugh. I am ready if Tom should decline the opportunity. It has been a long time since he was a Grisham lawyer in the movies.
ReplyDeleteI found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work... compensation lawsuit
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