tdrish Women falling victim of sex crimes? Happens all the time. What if your job profession was...prostitution? Should you still be protected under law, when you're doing something illegal? Here's something else the film tackles, and it adds a strong foundation to the mix: What if you could not think in a linear way? Meaning, your mind is just not wired like your usual Sam, Tam or Sally? Would you be able to stand trial, or would you be deemed incapable by the court because you are, as the movie puts it, "Nuts". Even if a woman is crazy, they should still not fall victim to a sex crime, which is what happens to our lead female ( played by Streisand). When she kills the man who viciously attacked her in self defense, she wants to be her own lawyer for the trial. The entire premise of the movie just revolves around her arguing with her lawyer and defense attourneys of the state weather she has the mental capacity to stand trial. And while the movie fails to deliver the goods on how the trial is all played out, we will never see the real court case, the movie just simply demands the "yes" or "no" question. Does it work? In a word, yes! This isn't a typical court room movie where we find out if she's guilty or innocent, Nuts just simply asks the question...can a woman deemed crazy be qualified to be her own lawyer at trial. While she does seem a bit off in her thinking, at times, she can be powerfully witty, which adds plenty of humor to the film. I also liked the realism of the use of the courtroom, its very believable, unlike some other cheesy attempts made in other films. ( What was it with those vibrant colors used in all those 80's movies, anyway?) All in all, Nuts is a winner, almost clocked in at two hours, but does not bore you, even for a minute. It's a movie that proves that sometimes, your sanity cannot be put on trial, even if you're trying to plead temporary insanity.

namashi_1 Based on Tom Topor's 1979 play by the same name, 'Nuts' is an affecting & slightly heavy courtroom drama, that is compelling & also offers strong performances to empower the show.'Nuts' Synopsis: A high-class call girl (Barbra Streisand) accused of murder fights for the right to stand trial rather than be declared mentally incompetent.Much of 'Nuts' benefits from its strong cast who bring in their A-Game. Streisand is excellent as the woman accused of being Nuts, delivering a performance of genuine power & sadness. And the ever-reliable Richard Dreyfuss is terrific as her attorney, nailing the supporting part with flourish. Even The Late/Great Maureen Stapleton does a splendid job as Streisand's imperfect, but caring mother. There is also the pleasure to watch Karl Malden, Eli Wallach, James Whitmore, Robert Webber & Leslie Nielsen on-screen, since they are no longer with us. All the actors are first-rate.Tom Topor, Darryl Ponicsan & Alvin Sargent's Screenplay is grim, affecting & engrossing. The Writing indulges in disturbing matters such as pedophileia & sexual harassment, but with an impact. The Late/Great Martin Ritt's Direction is effective. Cinematography, Editing & Art Design, merit a special mention.On the whole, 'Nuts' is a winning motion-picture.

bkoganbing Barbra Streisand herself must have seen the potential of the play Nuts for a big screen drama. In Nuts she fulfilled the ambition of every player I know to get a courtroom drama. In fact a whole bunch of players got their turn to strut their stuff in Nuts.The play by Tom Topor only ran 96 performances on Broadway, but the producers were wise enough to retain Topor to expand his work so it is not just confined to a courtroom in the same way A Few Good Men was adapted to the big screen. The issue is whether the lawyer hired by Streisand's parents is acting in her best interests in getting her declared not mentally competent enough to stand trial. Streisand insists she's perfectly sane. But assaulting her own high priced mouthpiece William Prince in open court might not have been the best way to go in proving it. Needing an attorney real fast she gets a legal aid attorney in Richard Dreyfuss who gets dragged unwillingly into the case.After that we get to James Whitmore's court where the issue will be joined. To some degree Whitmore, prosecutor Robert Webber, court psychiatrist Eli Wallach, and Dreyfuss is defending "the system" and their role in it.Barbra's a high class hooker who gets $500.00 a night and she is accused of killing client Leslie Nielsen who's a brutish sort of lout and we see what really went down in flashback. But speaking of vested interests it's clear that Streisand's wealthy parents Maureen Stapleton and Karl Malden have clear vested interests in getting her confined to a mental institution instead of a public trial.Like A Few Good Men a great ensemble cast brings this story to life and it's riveting. In fact one of the things you'll question is whether Streisand herself is acting in her own best interests.Nuts is a great drama asking questions with deep implications about our mental health system as it applies to criminal justice. We often hear of people trying to 'get off' from criminal responsibility by pleading temporary insanity. That is a course that has its own pitfalls as Nuts clearly demonstrates.The viewer because of the flashbacks knows the real story. One of the great strengths of Nuts is that anyone might draw different conclusions as to whether Streisand is acting in her own best interests.I'm astounded that Nuts did not merit any Oscar consideration. That to me is Nuts.

BreanneB I think that this movie is excellent. Barbara Strissand and Richard Dreyfuss are the best acts. I'm going to get my own d.v.d. of it. I also liked the costumes, production, directing, script, photography, plot, storyline, and realisticness and fantasy.I think that Claudia was right to stand up for herself the way she did. She was not incompetent of standing trial or assisting in her own defense. She could have used some outpatient therapy, even she realized that, but she did not need to be in a mental hospital. If there is anybody here who does need to be it's her parents. Think about it, her mother let her stepfather abuse her for years and her stepfather bathed her until she was 16 years old. The only reason she killed her john was out of self-defense. If she had not tried to protect herself he would have killed her.This was a brilliant film to bring to the screen. This type of movie does not come around very often. Also the judge made the right decision by releasing Claudia on her own recognizes before and during her trial.