The Lincoln Lawyer

The Lincoln Lawyer is a 2011 American legal thriller film adapted from the 2005 novel of the same title by Michael Connelly. The film is directed by Brad Furman, with a screenplay written by John Romano, and stars Matthew McConaughey as the titular lawyer, Mickey Haller. Criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller works in LA County, California, mostly from the back of his black Lincoln Town Car, chauffeured by Earl Briggs. Most of his career has been defending low-end criminals, such as a biker club led by Eddie Vogel. Haller goes to meet Gloria Dayton, one of his former clients arrested for cocaine possession. Haller learned that she had a client, Hector Arrande Moya, who had paid her in cocaine for her services. He arranged an agreement with the prosecutor to trade this information for putting Dayton in the rehabilitation clinic at USC Med.
Haller is hired for a high-profile case, representing wealthy Louis Roulet, a Beverly Hills playboy and son of real estate mogul Mary Windsor. He is accused of brutally beating prostitute Regina Campo, and insists he is the innocent victim of a setup. Haller and his investigator, Frank Levin, analyze photos and evidence and find it similar to a past case, resulting in a life sentence for his client, Jesus Martinez, for murdering a woman, despite his repeated proclamations of innocence.
Haller's ex-wife, DA Maggie McPherson, has always disliked him representing guilty clients, though they remain close. Haller wonders if he was wrong for persuading Martinez to plead guilty to avoid the death penalty. Haller visits Martinez, who becomes agitated when Haller shows him Roulet's photo. Now believing Roulet is the killer in the Martinez case, he is bound by attorney–client confidentiality rules, and unable to reveal what he knows. Roulet breaks into Haller's house and nonchalantly admits to committing the murder for which Martinez was convicted. Roulet makes veiled threats towards Haller's ex-wife and their daughter. Levin is found shot to death after leaving Haller a voicemail message claiming he found Martinez's "ticket out of jail." Haller discovers that his late father's .22 Colt Woodsman is missing from its box, the same caliber gun that killed Levin. Detective Lankford, who dislikes Haller, discovers the gun's registration and suspects his involvement in Levin's murder. Haller is certain that Roulet stole the weapon when he broke into his home. Legally obliged to defend his client, guilty or not, Haller ruthlessly cross-examines Campo and discredits her in the jury's eyes. He then sets up a known prison informant, Dwayne Jeffrey "DJ" Corliss, with information on the previous murder, with the help of Dayton who is in the same USC Med facility as DJ. When the informant testifies, Haller discredits him, and the state's attorney can only move to dismiss all charges. Roulet is set free, but the police arrest him immediately after for the previous murder, based upon testimony Haller coaxed from the informant.