Pretty standard straight-ahead courtroom case with no real thrills. The cast was impressive and fine in their respective parts (and Deril is truly gay for McConaughey), but it's all familiar territory better showcased in 'Mississippi Burning' and the like.
Ashley Judd as the long-suffering lawyer's wife is just a throwaway role, not really needed.
The dog lives, and McConaughey gets to utter the always dependable line "If we quit now, then all this was for nothing!!".
And Donald Sutherland turns in another typecast-late-in-his-career performance as a grizzled old drunk (see 'Virus').
It kept me involved enough, but I won't remember too much of it in a few months.
"Yes they deserve to die! And I hope they burn in HELL!"

I thought this was GREAT. I was on the edge of my seat throughout. I really got sucked into the story and found myself really caring for the characters. My only complaint is that Spacey was under used (but still great). Oliver PLatt gets 1 star right off the bat. Sam Jackson was great as usual.