court films

thenakedanddead

Any courtroom drama buffs here? I've seen two in full so far, and am yet to watch most of the so-called classics. Any particular favourites of the genre?

krudler

12 Angry Men and A Time To Kill spring to mind, 12 Angry Men especially, absolute classic, its one of my favourite rainy day movies. Its slow to begin with but thats the point, and every actor is brilliant in it.

thenakedanddead

krudler wrote: »

12 Angry Men and A Time To Kill spring to mind, 12 Angry Men especially, absolute classic, its one of my favourite rainy day movies. Its slow to begin with but thats the point, and every actor is brilliant in it.

Agree with "12 angry men". Presents as very simple, yet terrific tension, especially towards the end.

Mickeroo

Runaway Jury, thoroughly ridiculous film but entertaining nonetheless.

Generation Terrorist

The Verdict has to be the greatest courtroom drama ever

How Newman didn't get an Oscar for this I'll never know. Absolutely stunning performance

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084855/

tricky D

Criminal Justice (1990) with Forest Whitaker, Anthony LaPaglia, Rosie Perez was a TV movie about an innocent man who is picked from an ID parade and then gets roped into a plea bargaining hell. Rarely on TV but gets my recommendation.

To Kill a Mockingbird - a classic
A Cry in the Dark - the dingo case

LittleBook

The Rural Juror

Seriously though, while not entirely set in a courtroom To Kill A Mockingbird contains some great courtroom drama.

Adam's Rib for the Spencer Tracy/Katherine Hepburn magic.

It's been a while but I remember enjoying Music Box ... Jessica Lange defending her father accused of war crimes.

Twelve Angry Men is the epitome but I highly recommend Anatomy of a Murder ... again, not entirely set in the courtroom.

DazMarz

My Cousin Vinny (1992)... Best courtroom comedy film going! Take one abrasive Noo Yawk lawyer (who has 6 weeks experience), two innocent college students (accused of murder), one overly-sensitive and conservative Southern gentleman Judge and a sassy Noo Yawk ex-hairdresser and throw them all into an Alabama courthouse and watch the sparks fly...

kraggy

Primal Fear
Presumed Innocent
A Few Good Men

Gillington

DazMarz wrote: »

My Cousin Vinny (1992)... Best courtroom comedy film going! Take one abrasive Noo Yawk lawyer (who has 6 weeks experience), two innocent college students (accused of murder), one overly-sensitive and conservative Southern gentleman Judge and a sassy Noo Yawk ex-hairdresser and throw them all into an Alabama courthouse and watch the sparks fly...

My infatuation with Marisa Tomei began after seeing this film!

DrumSteve

a few good men is a great film. well paced and jack just chews up everything.

talla10

Rules of engagment
defo a few good men
a time to kill

duckworth

"Inherit the Wind" is seen as a classic of the genre-

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053946/

It's about a real-life court case against a teacher in the south for teaching evolution.

It's pretty heavy-handed in its ideology, but its a good film nonetheless.

krudler

DazMarz wrote: »

My Cousin Vinny (1992)... Best courtroom comedy film going! Take one abrasive Noo Yawk lawyer (who has 6 weeks experience), two innocent college students (accused of murder), one overly-sensitive and conservative Southern gentleman Judge and a sassy Noo Yawk ex-hairdresser and throw them all into an Alabama courthouse and watch the sparks fly...

"two yoooods!"

fluke

Philadelphia is defintely worth a look.

Jagged Edge is good too

Lester Freamon

"Anatomy of a Murder" (1959)

A classic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomy_of_a_Murder#Critical_reception

Magic Eight Ball

2 pages and no mention of JFK? :eek:

mikemac

"Away and to the left". Ahh JFK

Been mentioned already, watch Runaway Jury

And if you want to go old skool, To Kill a Mockingbird

If you want to buy a TV boxset, then Murder One was quality.
Over 10 years old at this stage but I re-watched it again a few months back
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_One_(TV_series)
I've only seen Series 1, not Series 2

Manchegan

"Murder in the First" - Kevin Bacon gives the performance of his career
"Primal Fear" - a young Edward Norton and the excellent Laura Linney

MagicMarker

The Rainmaker - absolutely brilliant movie imo.

Matt Damon did some classics in the noughties it has to be said.

bonerm

Generation Terrorist wrote: »

The Verdict has to be the greatest courtroom drama ever

How Newman didn't get an Oscar for this I'll never know. Absolutely stunning performance

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084855/

Agree with this.

Witness for the Prosecution is another must see.

JP Liz V1

The Accused - rape case

Kramer vs. Kramer - custody case

Some of the best have been mentioned already

steddyeddy

Cant believe no one mentioned north country! (on a lesser note how about the people vs larry flynt?)

faceman

12 Angry Men is top of the list although its set in the jury room rather than the court room.

Im a fan of JFK and the court scenes are pretty detailed.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a court room drama too, worth a look if you want to blend a court room drama with creepy moments!

Nolanger

Evelyn.

mikemac

The Crucible

Hank_Jones

I'd second The Verdict.

The whole film is just really well put together.
Would think it has something to do with Sidney Lumet knowing how to put a courtroom film together.

Tomohawk

Paths of Glory is an good indictment of the french military legal system as well as being a damn fine war film.

johndoe99

Suspect (1987)
Murder In The First (1994)

The guy

I'm going to second 12 angry men and also recommend To kill a mockingbird.

MagicMarker

I just watched JFK.... wow!

faceman

Folks, if posting in the thread, dont just name films, say why too please so that we dont end up with a list thread.

Find Me Guilty

It stars Vin Diesel and he actually has to act. In the majority of his films, he relies on his body and looks but in this - they're pretty much gone.





Yes, that is Vin Diesel. That is a transformation comparable to Charlie Theron in Monster IMHO, and he really doesn't get enough credit for it.

Anakin.S

Suspect is good, haven't watched it in ages so it might of dated a bit.

The Accused, Jodie Foster's performance in this is fantastic

Feu

A lot of them have been said, 12 angry men, a time to kill, runaway jury, few good men, primal fear, my cousin vinny

+1 Suspect! Dennis Quaid, Liam Neeson, and Cher. Ok don't let the Cher thing put you off, she's very good as a put upon public defender. Dennis Quaid, is his normal cheesy charming self and Liam Neeson is brilliant as the deaf/dumb accused in a non-speaking part. There is a definite mounting tension throughout. Well worth watching if you've not seen it.

+1 The accused, Jodie Foster at her best, put upon white trash trying to win against small town scum. It's a bit sad and sentimental but very watchable!

Though i wouldn't be a fan of the John Grisham books, a lot of the movies have turned into quite good thrillers; not strictly courtroom, but legal based,
The Client - Susan Sarandon is great as a small town lawyer trying to stay on the wagon

The Pelican Brief - julia roberts being julia, but brilliant rising feeling of tension

A Time to kill - Matthew McCaughney [sp!] surprisingly good, i can't recall if he takes his shirt off or not :rolleyes:

The rainmaker [mentioned above, matt damon is likebaly goofy in it]

And of course The Firm, which is on telly about once a month, but yet, i have to watch it evrytime! What's brilliant about these movies too, is there's such great character parts with preening DAs, and blunderbuss southern judges.

in Bee Movie, John goodman voices one of those brilliant blustering southern lawyers, worth it just to see that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiW_UWmzxaY

DMcL1971

From the Hip (1987).

Stars Judd Nelson and John Hurt. It's an odd film, it starts off as a comedy about Judd Nelson as a brash young lawyer trying to get trial experience. His bosses then give him the task of defending John Hurt in a murder trial and the film quickly changes gear from a comedy to a drama as he realises John Hurt may not exactly be playing with a full deck.

John Hurts performance is excellent, the film is worth watching for that alone.

Handsome Bob

Liar Liar tbh lads. Yeah I know it's not a court room film in the true sense but Jim Carrey is at his comedic best. Hilarious yet touching in a weird kind of way. I really like the "I hold myself in contempt scene".

In regards to court room drama in the true sense, everything I would have recomended has already being mentioned i.e. A Time To Kill, To Kill A Mocking Bird and 12 Angry Men. That reminds me, has anyone seen the remake of 12 Angry Men with James Gandolfini? If so, is it any use?