And the Verdict Is In…
June 25th, 2008 by KananiI love to watch movies with legal content because it sparks controversy, curiosity, and passion in the viewer. Here are my top ten movies that deal with legalities, politics, courtroom drama, and the death penalty:
1. 12 Angry Men (Orion-Nova Productions, 1957)
2. Inherit the Wind (Stanley Kramer Productions, 1960)
3. A Civil Action (Touchstone Pictures, 1998)
4. Erin Brockovich (Jersey Films, 2000)
5. To Kill a Mockingbird (Brentwood Productions, 1962)
6. The Verdict (Twentieth Century-Fox, 1982)
7. Dead Man Walking (Havoc, 1995)
8. I Want To Live! (Figaro, 1958)
9. Anatomy of a Murder (Carlyle Productions, 1959)
10. Just Cause (Fountainbridge Films, 1995)
What is your favorite legal picks?
June 26th, 2008 at 2:06 am
Definitely TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, INHERIT THE WIND and THE VERDICT would be on my list too…. But for argument’s sake, and to not have the same titles, here are 10 of my other law flicks:
1. A FEW GOOD MEN — “You can’t handle the truth!” This film made me want to become a lawyer and work for JAG. And drink lots of Yoohoo.
2. THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT — Great performances by Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love and Edward Norton.
3. THE CASTLE — Hilarious Aussie film about a quirky family who lives right by the airport and how they are forced by the govt to move, making them take their case all the way to the High Court.
4. I JUST DIDN’T DO IT — From Japan, about a salaryman who is wrongly accused of groping a young girl on the subway and the unbalanced justice system that unfairly incarcerates him with little to no legal rights. Apparently, a very major issue in today’s Japan.
5. MY COUSIN VINNY — “Two yutes.” Classic.
6. MR SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON — One of Frank Capra’s best films ever. Jimmy Stewart’s marathon like filibuster was inspirational and some of the best work he’s ever done.
7. MALICE — A highly underrated thriller written by a young Aaron Sorkin. Alec Baldwin is in it as a doctor with a God complex and is one of his best performances in his career, second only to his role in Glengary Glenn Ross (and 30 Rock).
8. REVERSAL OF FORTUNE — Awesome, awesome film that really showcases the preparations for trial law. Real life case of Claus Von Bulow, played by Jeremy Irons, who won the Oscar this role, and his hiring of Alan Dershowitz and his law students to defend him for the attempted murder of his wife. No courtroom scenes in the film, rather, the focus is on the prep work and the many discussions and theories that Dershowitz and his students had in preparing for trial.
9. THE HURRICANE — True life story of prized boxer Ruben “The Hurricane” Carter (Denzel Washington) who was wrongfully convicted of murder and the two decades long legal fight to clear his name and set him free. Solid, old school direction from Norman Jewison and Denzel can do no wrong in this role.
10. JFK — One of the best films from the ’90s and one of Oliver Stone’s best films period. It was tense, kinetic, and the theories were coming from all directions and the ensemble cast was not only amazing, it was huge! Thus, JFK is one of the main “connectors” when it comes to playing SIX DEGREES OF KEVIN BACON.
June 26th, 2008 at 3:06 am
[…] And the Verdict Is In… 3. A Civil Action (Touchstone Pictures, 1998) 4. Erin Brockovich (Jersey Films, 2000) … 10. Just Cause (Fountainbridge Films, 1995) […]
June 26th, 2008 at 7:13 am
My Cousin Vinny
Philadelphia (Tom Hanks/Denzel Washington)
The Life of Ben Gale (Kate Winslet/Kevin Spacey)
June 26th, 2008 at 7:17 am
May I add:
The Client
Philadelphia
The Firm
The Pelican Brief
Rashomon
June 26th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Ah yes, 12 Angry Men!
Good call hemajang, I was gonna say Rashomon too. What an influential film.
LOVE My Cousin Vinnie as well. “Did you say, ‘yutes?’”
Gee, not much for me to add
The Accused
…And Justice for All
Does Shawshank count here too?
June 26th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Any John Grisham’s book –> movies
1) Time to kill
All the presidents men
2) The Firm
3) The Client
4) The Pelican Brief
5) Double Jeopardy
6) Body Heat
7) Michael Clayton
9) Kramer vs Kramer
10) Silkwood
June 26th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I’ll add:
Presumed Innocent and Primal Fear.
the ending of these were like….whoa!
June 26th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Best movie ever about lawyers is Billy Wilder’s “The Fortune Cookie”. Jack Lemon is a TV cameraman who gets injured at a Cleveland Browns game, and his brother-in-law,an ambulance chaser named “Whiplash Willie” Gingrich, tries to score as much money as possible in a lawsuit. Walter Matthau is terrific as the lawyer.
June 26th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
“Breaker Morant” 1980
When this topic came up I had this military courtroom drama in mind but couldn’t come up with the title. Its been awhile since I viewed it. Three Australian soldiers fighting for the English in early 1900 South Africa are on trial for murder. The British need a scapegoat for political reasons to get out of the war and want the Aussies guilty. The true hero is an inexperience barrister assigned to defend the Aussie soldiers. Film was riveting stuff and based on a true story.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:27 am
The movie about the court martial of the Australian soldiers is “Breaker Morant” I saw it when it came out a while ago and enjoyed it.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Thanks all for the comments! I have to add Judgment at Nuremburg (1961) and The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) as “must see” movies as well. Hemajang and Ankelbiters: loved “The Firm” too, my favorite Tom Cruise movie. Thanks for mentioning “Breaker Morant,” another great classic:)
July 4th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I JUST SAW THIS LIST AND HAD TO POST A COMMENT. FOR A LIST OF LAW/ DRAMA MOVIES. i CAN’T BELIEVE NO ONE MENTIONED SHAWSHANKE REDEMPTION (DON’T MINE THE SPELLING) ………;-(
July 8th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I would like to add the movie “Jagged Edge” to the list
July 8th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Additionally, can I add “absence of malice” with Paul Newman & Sally Fields…to the list
July 15th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
A not well known but very entertaining flim is “Find Me Guilty” starring Vin Diesel. It is based on a true story about a Italian mob trial. Vin Diesel is awesome in this.
August 17th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
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