‘Presumed Innocent’ is guilty of excess

Now we have the Apple TV+ version of “Presumed Innocent,” created by the ever-prolific David E. Kelley, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Rusty Sabich, a former Chicago prosecutor accused of murdering his lover.

That Rusty’s affair with co-worker Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve) was a betrayal of his wife, Barbara (Ruth Negga), is something “Presumed Innocent” doesn’t let us forget. When Carolyn is found brutally murdered, Rusty is charged, devastating his and Barbara’s two teenage children, Jaden (Chase Infiniti) and Kyle (Kingston Rumi Southwick).

It must be said that in most respects this adaptation avoids the misogyny that ruined the 1990 film. In most respects. “Presumed Innocent” shows the photos of the murdered Carolyn more often than necessary. The series is written largely by Kelley, who early in his career specialized in courtroom dramas (“The Practice,” “LA Law,” “Ally McBeal”) and is an inveterate keyboardist.

A longstanding office rivalry is reignited when Rusty’s former colleague, Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard), proves eager—too eager?—to prosecute Rusty for the crime. (Sarsgaard is Gyllenhaal’s real-life brother-in-law, married to Maggie Gyllenhaal.) Looking over Tommy’s shoulder is District Attorney Nico Della Guardia (O.T. Fagbenle).

Kelley and co. add a few new twists to “Presumed Innocent,” an exceptionally grim whodunit, but they’re too contrived. And then there’s the matter of length. At eight episodes, “Presumed Innocent” is another streaming miniseries that merrily glides along the “mini,” seemingly unconcerned with the value of narrative brevity while focusing instead on building a brooding atmosphere. That, in turn, leads to self-absorbed or mannered performances from the cast, with the exception of Bill Camp as former district attorney Raymond Horgan, who becomes Rusty’s defense attorney.

Programmers at Apple TV+ apparently weren’t impressed: Last month, the streamer announced that a second season of “Presumed Innocent” is in the works. It will reportedly focus on a new case.

Gyllenhaal doesn’t shy away from roles that are closely related to another actor’s, for better or worse. He starred in this year’s remake of “Road House” as super-bouncer Dalton, who was played by Patrick Swayze in the cheesy 1989 cult classic. In a 2017 Broadway revival of the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical “Sunday in the Park with George,” Gyllenhaal took on the title role, originally and memorably played by Mandy Patinkin.

Gyllenhaal is a fine actor, but he’s not as convincing as Ford in portraying a man of action who is also a man of ideas and, furthermore — a level lower in “Presumed Innocent” — a tormented figure who may or may not be guilty of murder but is far from innocent.

Don Aucoin can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @GlobeAucoin.