There are really two kinds of lawyer films out there; the kind that is about the trial and the kind that is about the lawyers; this film is about the lawyers and the family drama of a father and daughter pitted against each other in a class action lawsuit. The film is well constructed and acted, though there is the occasional corny dialoge in the father-daughter scenes that could have been written much stronger.
The father (played by Gene Hackman) is a crusading support-the-little-guy type, but he is not without his warts and particularly not without the consequences of his giant ego. Hackman is perfect in this role and gives his character the depth it deserves. Mary Elizabeth Masterantonio plays the daughter and is really the center of the film since it is her evolution more than Hackman's that drives the plot. She more than holds her own against a much more experienced actor and gives the film credibility.
There are a few witty remarks in the film but I can't say that the dialogue crackles; since this is not an action film, the dialogue is how the film moves along, so that's a shame. But the plot is enthralling and takes a few unexpected twists at the end; combined with the solid cast (this was shot so long ago that Fred Dalton Thompson was not yet a senator and Lawrence Fishbourne is listed as Larry) it makes the film engaging and certainly worth the low price of this DVD.
The DVD itself is disappointing and carries no special features to speak of (trailers for this film and other movies DO NOT count as special features, at least in my opinion). The only reason to get the DVD versus the tape is that it's easier to find and will hold up better over time.
The bottom line is that this is a solid, well acted film whose David versus Goliath, Inc theme rings even more true in the post-Enron universe than it did when the film first came out.
Excellent Courtroom Drama
Gene Hackman and Mary Mastrantonio are great in this class action case involving Argo, and automobile manufacturer. In this case a car manufacturer tries to hide a defective wiring circuit that can cause a car to explode. Interesting that here Hackman is fighting for the little guy, while in "Runaway Jury" he was the corporate lawyer. I am glad they are finally releasing Class Action on DVD February 1, 2005. Why they didn't before that is beyond all of us familiar with the movie.
Hackman and Mastrantonio play father and daughter. This accident case threatens to split them even further than they were because of her fathers devotion to his cause. Mastrantonio is remarkable as a daughter who can't forgive her father for hurting her mother. Great drama and some good court scenes make this well worth buying. Lawrence Fishburne is excellent as always. His performance as an attorney is superb. I picked this up for under seven dollars at the local brick and mortar. I highly recommend it.
Very enjoyable & highly underrated. Where is the DVD?
This is a very enjoyable movie, and one of the best in the legal drama genre. Gene Hackman is typically brilliant, mixing humor and anger in the most believable and human way. This was the first time I saw Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who proves herself a very capable actress, never once seeming overpowered by Hackman. She's also stunningingly beautiful (which has nothing to do with acting, but it doesn't hurt). Laurence Fishburn also puts in a powerful supporting role, as does the city of San Francisco, which always looks beautiful and inviting on film and this is no exception. The only thing missing is a DVD version. It's almost become a cliche to ask, with all the garbage that's released on DVD, how can so many great movies languish for so long on VHS, utterly ignored by the studios? Who knows. But if you still own a VCR, this movie is highly recommended.
This 1983 film was one of the first to use vigilante justice with JUDGES as the catalysts. It offers a tragic look at how our judicial system is held captive by its own mechanizations. Michael Douglas plays a judge who is forced to obey the law in cases where technical mishaps or improper protocol allows known criminals to go free. Douglas discovers that his mentor (Hal Holbrook) sits on a panel of nine judges who serve their own method of justice to these kind of criminals. He is asked to join them when one of their members commits suicide. Whether or not this kind of vigilante justice is ethical or whether it merely reduces the judges to the level of their victims forms the core of the movie. Douglas and Holbrook are excellent, but Sharon Gless is wasted in her role as Douglas'... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Michael Douglas - Hal Holbrook Director(s): Peter Hyams DVD Release Date: Released the 01 February 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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In this 1982 courtroom drama written by David Mamet and directed by Sidney Lumet, Paul Newman found the perfect role for a transitional period of his stellar career. As alcoholic Boston lawyer Frank Galvin, Newman shook off his screen persona as a handsome, blue-eyed hunk to portray an aging, weary man whose best years are behind him, with a shot-glass future that looks very bleak indeed. But when Galvin is given a chance to redeem himself--by proving medical negligence in the case of a comatose woman--he makes one final effort to regain his self-respect and tarnished reputation. He's an underdog against formidable odds, facing a powerful, politically connected lawyer (James Mason, slick as ever) who will do anything to win his case, regardless of professional ethics. Further complicating... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Paul Newman - Charlotte Rampling Director(s): Sidney Lumet DVD Release Date: Released the 04 June 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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I'm an avid movie maniac. I have certain films that I can only watch at certain times of the year, and do, every year. Other Peoples Money, starts off my fall movie viewing, after Halloween of course. I love the new England Autumn charm of this film. The story is good, dialogue clever and the chemistry between Miller and DeVito is scary. An unlikely romanic couple if ever there was. A Classic in my book! More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Danny DeVito - Gregory Peck - Penelope Ann Miller Director(s): Norman Jewison DVD Release Date: Released the 15 February 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Uncomfortably close to Ben Hecht and Alfred Hitchcock's film Notorious, this World War II drama (based on a novel by Susan Isaacs) concerns a love affair between a spy (Michael Douglas) and a secretary (Melanie Griffith) that goes south when duty turns him cold and pushes her into dangerous, behind-the-lines intelligence work. Liam Neeson plays the gentleman Nazi unwittingly providing Griffith with cover as domestic help. The best parts of the film are the twists and turns in the romance (Douglas is very good at playing a character who can turn off all feeling at will) at the beginning, while the German scenes are less compelling despite such high stakes for the heroine. The climax--taking us back to Notorious whether it wants to or not--is quite gripping, largely due to... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Michael Douglas - Melanie Griffith Director(s): David Seltzer DVD Release Date: Released the 11 January 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Jonathan Harr's nonfiction bestseller was a shot in the arm for those seeking more than last-minute heroics akin to a John Grisham thriller. Here was a labyrinthine case involving industrial pollution by two highly regarded corporations, contaminated drinking water, and the deaths of innocent children in New England, circa 1981. The case has hundreds of twists and takes our hero--a steady, respectable lawyer named Jan Schlichtmann--and turns his life into personal disaster. Instead of celebrating the law, the story is a maddening and rewarding look at the elusiveness of the courtroom case.
Steven Zaillian, who won an Oscar for adapting Schindler's List and directed Searching for Bobby Fischer, boils Harr's 502-page book into a complete, satisfactory film experience.... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): John Travolta - Robert Duvall - Kathleen Quinlan Director(s): Steven Zaillian DVD Release Date: Released the 13 July 1999 Usually ships in 24 hours
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