casablancavic
This movie could have been done in 1/3 the time.What was good ws the potential story, what was bad was the over acting from everybody -Jeffrey Tambor and the person who played the trans girl especially.The music was atrocious....ohh so brutal.Who would think that this music should be in there should have their ears pulled off their heads.Endless dialogue which has nothing to do and is uninteresting at all points.Scenes which come out of nowhere and go nowhere.Characters who don't appear again and who aren't need to begin with.Dialogue which doesn't sound real and camera work which seems like a first year film student is doing a sample shot of work.It's not in tune with the 70\s or even the 80\s, 90's or 60's for that matter - and it definitely ain't in tune for anything 40 years later.I watched it for free and I only did so because I want to see how bad it really was.The only spoiler here is the bad performances which should have been nixed from the editor before making it's way into the film...and there were plenty.There was no need for a bedroom scene at all, it offered nothing at any point and took away from everything.Lousy writing overall - even for a 1970's era film.
Danny Blankenship
I for one mostly like legal movies as they are mixed with drama, suspense and very tense scenes and most of the time the plots are revealing and with a twist. And this 1979 picture directed by TV man Norm Jewison has all of that with an all right title of "And Justice For All" it shows that the courts and legal system is a cat and mouse game with unfairness and plenty of corruption, and true the film is mixed with some funny moments and some outrageous characters to round the entertainment and overall quality of it.Al Pacino(one of the best around and one of his better roles which was Oscar nominated)is Arthur Kirkland a young criminal defense lawyer in Baltimore, who watches a system with criminals going free as it's the typical lawyers and judges are making deals like plea bargains and deals, yet all of a sudden the innocent are going unprotected. As after case after case Arthur is to repay a favor somewhat political it's like you scratch my back I scratch yours as Arthur is pressured into defending a high profile judge(played by John Forsythe) who's been accused of raping and beating a young girl. And you guessed it Arthur knows he's guilty and finally all of this comes to an explosive head! This film is simply about integrity and choosing between right and wrong it's a calling for morality and in the meantime it's a showcase and satire spin of the justice legal system which like anything else can be manipulated, really overall good underrated late 1970's film.
Desertman84
"...And Justice for All" is an Oscar nominated court room drama that stars Al Pacino as charismatic and personable lawyer Arthur Kirkland,who has apparently gotten sick of the American judicial system.Joining him in are Jack Warden, John Forsythe, and Lee Strasberg. This film directed by Norman Jewison has earned a Oscar nominations for both Pacino and the screenplay written by Barry Levison and Valerie Curtin.Added to that,it also well-known for its final speech scene by Kirkland which has served as inspiration to many films after it was shown back in 1979.Arthur Kirkland is a lawyer who remains someone who is fighting for truth,justice and idealism which many lawyers tend to forget once they attain fame and fortune.This is presented in the story through many cases and problems that his clients face including defending a judge who is guilty and cannot refuse to become his client as he is threatened to get disbarred from his profession as a lawyer.It was obvious that Al Pacino's presence and great performance made this film a classic.He portrayed Kirkland extremely well that is definitely unforgettable.His final speech wherein the people in the court scream,"You are out of order" His presence and personality as the lawyer Arthur Kirkland,helps carry this drama-comedy through to an effective if melodramatic monologue at the end, functioning as the summation of a court case.Despite the many plots involved in it,the viewer won't get confused as Pacino's performance becomes central to the movie rather than the many events that are involved in it.
kai ringler
first off what a great courtroom drama. Al Pacino turns in a wonderful performance,, as well as Craig T. Nelson, Jack Warden, and a host of others. this movie explores the criminal justice system,, and makes you wonder just how much this is based on reality,, a lot i'm sure. our lawyer hero tries to defend his clients the best he can,, some are guilty some are innocent,, you have to feel for his main client wrongly convicted and rotting in jail,, as far as the dirty judge goes, i'm glad the storyline had our hero not defending the scumbag judge,, the part of the movie that was intriguing to me was the woman hired to get dirt on the case and our hero,, he winds up sleeping with, I guess maybe he figured he would beat her to the punch so if she had information regarding the investigation he would be the first one to find out what was going on.
AD
