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7.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Mouthpiece remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies about guys who lose their moral compass and start having a little too much fun with the chaos, you’ll dig The Mouthpiece. If you want a clean, heroic courtroom drama where everything ends with a handshake, stay far away.
Warren William is the whole show here. He’s got that specific, sharp-edged energy that makes you believe he could win any argument, even if he’s wrong. When he’s screaming at the electric chair scene, you can tell the movie wants you to feel that heavy, wet blanket of guilt. It works, mostly because the movie doesn't hang around too long after the point is made.
There is a weird shift in tone halfway through. It stops being a sad story about justice and turns into a high-stakes romp. I wasn't sure if I liked it, but I couldn't look away either. It feels a bit like watching someone drive a car off a cliff and wondering if they’ll hit the water or the rocks.
The supporting cast is packed with faces you recognize if you watch enough old stuff, like Guy Kibbee, who is always a treat even when he’s just sitting in the background looking worried. There’s a frantic, desperate energy to the whole thing that makes it feel less like a polished studio project and more like a fever dream.
It’s not as sweet as The Primitive Lover or as breezy as some of the other stuff from the era, but it’s got teeth. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Stout Hearts and Willing Hands, just way more cynical and soaked in cheap booze.
The pacing is a total wreck, honestly. Sometimes the story jumps forward months in a single cut, and you’re left wondering if you missed a reel. But in a weird way, that lack of polish is what keeps it alive. It’s not trying to win an award; it’s just trying to get to the next scene before you get bored. ⚖️