I was worried. How old is Sidney Lumet anyhow?* Doesn't he have footage of Jesus's Resurrection? Does Lumet still have the energy, stamina, and rough-shod vitality to make a 43rd film for today's tough-and-toned audiences?

Yes. And not only that, Lumet gives Vin Diesel a wonderful actor's showy showcase. FIND ME GUILTY is a very pleasant and enjoyable surprise. You will not only be shocked at Diesel's performance, but thrilled by it.

In 1987 when I was living in New York, 20 members of New Jersey's Lucchese crime family were indicted on 76 different RICO charges and brought to trial by a politically hungry prosecutor from the Southern District of New York.

One member of the Lucchese family on trial is Jackie DiNorscio (Diesel) who, already serving 30 years on drug charges, decides to defend himself. After all, what does he have to lose? The way I see it, instead of sitting out his sentence somewhere like the tough U.S. Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, DiNorscio gets to spend 21 months in New York City, going to trial every day in a suit. And, of course, surrounded by his co-defendants – all his childhood friends and criminal cohorts.

DiNorscio tells the jury he has a 6th grade education and he's no rat. He also insists he loves all of his co-defendants. He grew up with all the guys as well as most of the witnesses. DiNorscio is so charming and self-effacing that the prosecutors quickly realize they will lose their case solely on his winning personality.

The prosecution can't seem to make a solid case against these guys. Lead federal prosecutor Sean Kierney (Linus Roache) has his own screaming fit as he sees that they are losing the case to DiNorscio's inappropriate theatrics.

Its up to Judge Finestein (Ron Silver) to keep the court's dignity while lead defense attorney Ben Klandis (Peter Dinklage) knows the jury is being willingly seduced by non-lawyer DiNorscio who seems to be mocking everyone in the room. There is no denying that DiNorscio is guilty as well as the other defendants but do the prosecutors make their case parading drug addicts and convicts as witnesses in front of the jury?

The entire production has a rough-around-its-edges feel to it and is a worthy addition to past loved courtroom dramas. Everyone I saw the film with loved it and enjoyed Diesel's performance. He has successfully left Riddick and The Pacifier behind him now. Lumet surrounds him with the very capable Dinklage who always gives a very layered, complex performance and Roache as Klandis, who with his tight-laced features and a hair-trigger temper easily matches DiNorscio's bravado antics.

*IMDB.com gives Lumet's birth date as June 25, 1924!

(We at zboneman.com are excited to welcome the prolific and multi-talented writer Victoria Alexander to our staff. Critic for http://www.filmsinreview.com/ and pundit and humorist responsible for the candid and fearlessly funny "The Devil's Hammer," her column appears every Monday on fromthebalcony.com. Start off your week with a good hard laugh. It's a thrill to have her on board. Victoria Alexander answers every email and can be contacted directly at masauu@aol.com.)