...And Justice for All. (1979)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

Valerie Curtin (written by) &
Barry Levinson (written by)

Release Date:

25 December 1979 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Crime

Tagline:

This man needs the best lawyer in town. But the problem is... he is the best lawyer in town.

Plot:

An ethical Baltimore defense lawyer disgusted with rampant legal corruption is asked to defend a judge he despises in a rape trial. But if he doesn't do it, the judge will have him disbarred.

Plot Keywords:

Judge | Rape | Attorney | Lawyer | Assault

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Arthur Kirkland
Jack Warden	...	Judge Francis Rayford
John Forsythe	...	Judge Henry T. Fleming
Lee Strasberg	...	Sam Kirkland
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Jay Porter
Christine Lahti	...	Gail Packer
Sam Levene	...	Arnie
Robert Christian	...	Ralph Agee
Thomas G. Waites	...	Jeff McCullaugh (as Thomas Waites)
Larry Bryggman	...	Warren Fresnell
Dominic Chianese	...	Carl Travers
Craig T. Nelson	...	Frank Bowers
Victor Arnold	...	Leo Fasci
Vincent Beck	...	Officer Leary
Michael Gorrin	...	Elderly Man

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M | France:Unrated | Brazil:16 | Argentina:16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Iceland:L | Norway:16 | Peru:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

This was 75-year old character actor Sam Levene's final film. It culminated a 40+ year acting career.

Goofs:

Continuity: Arthur and the judge get coffee after the helicopter ride. How Arthur is wrapped in the blanket is consistent when seen from his point of view, but is different from when seen by the judge.

Quotes:

Jeff McCullaugh: If everybody agrees I'm innocent, how come I'm going BACK to jail?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: 12 to the Moon (#6.24)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Something Funny Goin' On

Pacino works his magic on an average film

"...And Justice For All" is one of those well-intentioned movies that doesn't achieve the goal it was set out to accomplish. Having said this, the film is a good example of the way some lawyers truly do care about their clients and not intent on making a lot of money.

I now know why Al Pacino is considered one of the greatest film stars in Hollywood. With roles in "The Godfather," "Scent Of A Woman," "Heat," "Devil's Advocate" and "The Insider," Pacino has proven he is an actor with integrity and presence. The best thing about "...And Justice For All" was the true and genuine care that Pacino's character had for his clients.

The only thing I would change about this movie would be to narrow the storylines because it had a few too many to follow. With the number of subplots in this film, it was too difficult to pinpoint the main plot and enjoy the film outright.

Overall, this movie was good and I recommend it.