Trial and Error (1997) 5.5
An actor poses as a lawyer to help his sick friend, and problems develop. Director:Jonathan Lynn |
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Trial and Error (1997) 5.5
An actor poses as a lawyer to help his sick friend, and problems develop. Director:Jonathan Lynn |
|
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Michael Richards | ... | ||
| Jeff Daniels | ... | ||
| Charlize Theron | ... | ||
| Jessica Steen | ... | ||
| Austin Pendleton | ... | ||
| Rip Torn | ... | ||
| Alexandra Wentworth | ... | ||
| Jennifer Coolidge | ... | ||
| Lawrence Pressman | ... | ||
| Dale Dye | ... | ||
| Max Casella | ... | ||
| McNally Sagal | ... | ||
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Kenneth White | ... | |
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Keith Mills | ... | |
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Zaid Farid | ... | |
Lawyer Charlie Tuttle is defending his wife's relative Benny Gibbs in a class action fraud suit, but when he gets to the city where court takes place, he gets drunk and the following day, when the hearings begin, his friend, actor Richard Rjetti takes his place posing as Charlie. The bad thing is that Richard doesn't know anything about being a lawyer, and Charlie has to teach him as the court goes on. Written by Marcos Eduardo Acosta Aldrete
This film illustrates that appearances can be deceiving. Each of the main characters is playing a role that is somehow contrary to that person's real identity. In the case of the Rip Torn character, who is on trial for fraud, the deception is obvious, despite his ludicrous attempt to justify his fraudulent actions. And it is equally obvious in the case of the Michael Richards character, who is pretending to be a lawyer to help out his friend. But the other characters also are revealed to be different than who they appear to be.
This is a wonderful movie, which raises important questions about the veneer most of us use to hide our real selves. Like most good comedians (e.g., Robin Williams, Steve Martin), Michael Richards is also a fine actor, and his closing argument in the case is an especially masterful piece of acting.