Matthew McConaughey always seems to play the nice guy - the character who gets the girl and succeeds in the end.
But playing slick, charismatic Los Angeles criminal defence attorney Mick Hellier, McConaughey steps into a meatier role with some depth to show.
Hellier doesn't normally deal with the cream of society - he prefers to make his money defending low-life crims from the back of his Lincoln Continental sedan.
Life seems to be turning around when he is approached to defend rich Beverly Hills playboy Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe) who appears to have been set up to take the wrap for a vicious beating.
Hillier knows he can get his client off with a bit of digging and nous, until he realises all is not what it seems.