GREAT COURTROOM MOVIES - PART 11

The film industry has produced a lot of movies since its inception. War movies are arguably one of the most popular and watched categories. However, the most outstanding battlefields may have nothing to do with fights, bloodshed, or battlefields. With perfect characters, theme, and intellect, courtroom movies are among the best films in the industry. Many enjoy the challenges the legal minds pose on each other, the jury's proceedings, and the alleged crimes. It is always interesting to see how things turn out to be. Unlike in war movies, where ammunition is used, lawyers in courtroom movies use their minds and facts in legal wars. In many cases, the issues presented are matters of life and death, just like it happens on real battlefields. The only difference is that the back does not end with the lawyers. The clients represented by these lawyers always retain everything on the line. Courtroom movies are always based on the basic aspects of justice, including finding the truth and how to bring it out. Here are some of the greatest courtroom movies.

Class Action 1991

This movie is based on a lawsuit that involves the injuries suffered because of a faulty automobile.  Jeddy Tucker Ward (Gene Hackman), the complainant's lawyer, realizes that the defense attorney is his daughter Maggie Ward (Elizabeth Mastrantonio), currently estranged. For this reason, the proceeding takes a personal direction. In her career, Jedediah Ward takes time to fight on behalf of the common people to protect them from suffering at the hands of the rich and powerful individuals in society. He prioritizes principle and justice instead of profit. However, he is plagued with the weakness of not checking on his clients once the cases are closed. On the other hand, Maggie has had a very bad relationship with the father since it was evident the father was not faithful to her mother Estelle (Joanna Merlin). In her occupation, Maggie has been successful at working with very powerful law firms. Jed has been given the responsibility of representing clients in court against the manufacturer of autos. It is so unfortunate that the station wagons often detonate on impact while taking left turns. He has done his research and feels ready for the legal battle. Nevertheless, everything changes when he discovers that his daughter Maggie has been hired as the defense attorney, specifically the manufacturer that he is suing. Furthermore, the firm also uses a “bean-counting” method in risk management. In this critical approach, the estimates of actuaries for likely deaths and injured auto owners are weighed against the price of repairing and reproducing the auto without the fault. The objective is to maintain the auto as is to make gains in the short term.

Director; The movie is directed by Michael Apted.

Cast; The movie stares; Gene Hackman (Jedediah Tucker Ward), Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Maggie Ward), Colin Friels (Michael Grazier), and Joanna Merlin (Estelle Ward).

Nominations and Awards; The information regarding Awards and Nominations is not available.

Commercial Performance; In the Opening Weekend, the movie recorded $4,207,923, 17 March 1991 in the USA. The movie grossed $24 277 858 in the USA and recorded a cumulative worldwide gross of $28 277 918.

Trivia; Although Michael Apted had a documentary background, he was vigilant enough to depict the legal battle accurately. This was the first screenplay by Samantha Shad. The movie’s plot is based on the Ford Pinto legal battle, specifically Grimshaw v. Ford Motor Company (119 Cal. App. 3d 757).

An American Crime 2007

The plot of this movie is based on the mistreatment children undergo when left under the care of someone else instead of their parents. In 1965, Sylvia Likens (Elliot Page), aged 16, and her physically challenged sister Jenny (Hayley McFarland), aged 15, are left under the care of Gertrude Baniszewski (Catherine Keener). Lester and Betty, the parents of the two daughters, work in the carnival circuit. Gertrude is a penurious woman and a mother to several children, among them Paula (Ari Graynor), Johnny (Tristan Jarred), and Stephanie (Scout Taylor-Compton). Gertrude agrees to take this responsibility for a compensation of $20 weekly. Unfortunately, she seriously whips Likens and her sister using a belt when the compensation fails to arrive in time. The payments arrived later with a later to the two sisters. Nevertheless, Gertrude discards the latter without letting the two sisters know. At one point, Sylvia informs Paula's boyfriend that Paula is expectant. When Gertrude learns this, she accuses Sylvia of spreading lies against her daughter, and therefore she has to apologize. With help from her son Johnny, she beats up Sylvia to submission. Jenny finds the letter written to them in the trash. Gertrude falsely accuses them of stealing money and burns Sylvia's hand using a cigarette. Sylvia is also accused of flirting with Andy, a father to one of Gertrude's sons. As a result, she is sexually assaulted and pushed down the basement.

With instructions from her, Gertrude’s daughters lie that Sylvia went to juvenile detention. The children to the neighbors are incited to abuse Sylvia regularly. With a guilt heart, Paula tells her mother that Sylvia has received sufficient punishment. However, the mother ignores this and even reminds her that blood is equally in her hands. the words "I'M A PROSTITUTE AND PROUD OF IT" are branded on Sylvia’s stomach using a heated needle. Paula helps the extremely injured Sylvia to escape from the basement. Lucky enough, she goes to her parents. Although the parents are terrified by Sylvia's conditions, they take her back to Gertrude's house at her request so that she could ensure Jenny is okay. Sadly, she dies. Jenny asks to testify against Gertrude in exchange for freedom. During the murder trial, Jenny says how she was promised the same treatment in case she reveals what transpired. Gertrude is found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Director; The movie is directed by Tommy O’Haver.

Cast; The movie stares Elliot Page (Sylvia Likens), Catherine Keener (Gertrude Baniszewski), Hayley McFarland (Jenny Fay Likens), Ari Graynor (Paula Baniszewski), Nick Searcy (Lester Likens), (Romy Rosemont (Betty Likens), Evan Peters (Ricky Hobbs), James Franco (Andy Gordon), and Brian Geraghty (Bradley), Tristan Jarred (Johnny Baniszewski) and Scout Taylor-Compton (Stephanie)

Awards and Nomination; Information regarding awards and nominations is not available.

Commercial performance; The movie’s estimated budget was $2 million. It recorded a cumulative worldwide gross of $1 306 875.

Trivia; The actual pictures of Sylvia are available online, including the crime scene. This was the second movie that attempted to narrates the story of Sylvia Likens. Unlike the first one, this one was successful. In the 980s, there were attempts to make movies about Sylvia. Nevertheless, her sister Jenny could not consent to that. Although the real event happened in 1965, the efforts to depict the experience became successful from 2004, following Jenny's death. Furthermore, the film was shot chronologically for the characters to get the experience Sylvia went through. The movie is mostly based on real court transcripts. Lastly, Only Elliot Page could play the role of Sylvia.

The Conspirator 2010

Seven men and one woman are arrested after the assassination of President Lincoln. They are charged with conspiring to murder the president as well as the secretary of state. Lawyer Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy) unwillingly accepts representing and defending the woman, Mary Surratt (Robin Wright). This has a boarding house where the assassins, including John Wilkes Booth, organized the crimes. Aiken discovers that the woman could be innocent. She is only being used to get her son, who is a prime suspect.

Director; the movie is directed by Robert Redford.

Cast; The movie stars James McAvoy (Captain Frederick Aiken), Robin Wright (Mary Surratt), Evan Rachel Wood (Anna Surratt), Kevin Kline (Edwin Stanton), Tom Wilkinson (Reverdy Johnson), Alexis Bledel (Sarah Weston), Danny Huston (Brigadier General), Joseph Holt (the prosecuting attorney), and Stephen Root (John M. Lloyd).

Awards and Nominations; This information is not available,

Commercial Performance; The estimated budget for the movie was $25 million. On Opening Weekend USA, the movie recorded $3 506 602. It grossed $11 538 204 in the USA and a cumulative worldwide gross of $ 15 625 544.

Trivia; Not much is known about Frederic Aiken. Even the photos of him are not available. This was the first movie by the American Film Company. The objective of this company is to produce films that are historically accurate regarding America's past.

Sergeant Rutledge 1960

At an Army fort in the Arizona Territory, an officer is killed while her daughter is fought, raped, and stifled. Braxton Rutledge (Woody Strode) is an African American sergeant charged with the murder. The defense attorney is Tom Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter). The legal arguments by the prosecutor and Cantrell reveal the truth regarding what transpired at the fort. The story starts in the courtroom, and it is presented in the form of flashbacks. It turns out that the accused was only mistaken for a criminal.

Director; The movie is directed by John Ford.

Cast; The movie stares Woody Strode (Sergeant Braxton Rutledge), Jeffrey Hunter (Lt. Tom Cantrell), Constance Towers (Mary Beecher), Billie Burke (Mrs. Cordelia Fosgate), Willis Bouchey (Lt. Col. Otis Fosgate), and Juano Hernández (Sgt. Matthew Luke Skidmore).

Awards and Nominations; This information is not available.

Commercial Performance; This information is also not available.

Trivia; This was the last movie for Billie Burke. She passed on aged 85 in 1970. The movie was produced between May and August 1981. Lastly, this was the first movie that Woody Strode featured with John Ford, his best friend.

My Sister's Keeper 2009

Anna Fitzgerald, aged 11, seeks the services of lawyer Campbell Alexander to help get medical emancipation against her parents. Sara, Anna's mother demands that she donate her kidney to save her sister Kate, plagued with leukemia. Anna has undergone a lot of medical procedures for the sake of Kate. The lawyer accepts to offer pro bono services. As a result, Sara files a lawsuit to compel Anna to help Kate. This case threatens to destroy the family beyond repair.

Director; The movie is directed by Nick Cassavetes.

Cast; The movie stars Cameron Diaz (Sara Fitzgerald), Abigail Breslin (Anna Fitzgerald), Evan Ellingson (Jesse Fitzgerald), Alec Baldwin (Campbell Alexander), Jason Patric (Brian Fitzgerald), Sofia Vassilieva (Kate Fitzgerald), Heather Wahlquist (Aunt Kelly), Joan Cusack (Judge De Salvo), David Thornton (Dr. Chance), and Thomas Dekker (Taylor Ambrose).

Awards and Nominations; There are various awards and nominations that the movie and the characters earned. For instance, the movie won the Teen Choice Award for the category of Choice Summer Movie Drama. Sofia Vassilieva and Abigail Breslin won the Young Artist Awards in the Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Actress and Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actress, respectively. Brennan Bailey was nominated for Young Artist Awards in Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Actor. In 2009, Cameron Diaz won the Outstanding Actress in Motion Picture in ALMA AWARDS.

Commercial Performance; The estimated budget for the movie was $30 million. The movie grossed $49 200 230 and $95 714 875 in the USA and globally, respectively.

Trivia; Sofia Vassilieva had to shave her hair and eyebrows to act as Kate Fitzgerald. According to her, this was the far she could go to understand all the pain Kate went through.

Just Mercy 2019

Upon graduating, Bryan Steven moves to Alabama to fight for the rights of those wrongly accused or who cannot just afford proper legal representation. In his first case, he fights for Walter McMillian. Walter had been charged with the murder of a girl aged 18. Despite compelling evidence of Walter's innocence, he was sentenced to death in 1987. In the subsequent years, Stevenson is plagued with racism and legal and pollical schemes as he diligently fights to save Walter.

Director; The movie is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.

Cast; The movie features Jamie Foxx (Walter McMillian), Charlie Pye (Charlie the Tree Expert), Michael Harding (Sheriff Tate), and Michael b. Jordan (Bryan Stevenson).

Awards and Nominations; This information is not available.

Commercial Performance; The movie’s estimated budget was $25 million. It grossed $36 001 502 in the USA and cumulative worldwide of $50 401 502.

Trivia; The movie is based on the book entitled "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson. Also, some sections of the movie were filmed in Montenegro around 2018 mid.

Night Falls on Manhattan 1997

Sean Casey (Andy Garcia) has been given the responsibility of prosecuting a case against Jordan Washington (Shiek Mahmud-Bey). Jordan is charged with drug dealing. His attorney, Sam Vigoda (Richard Dreyfuss), asserts that there is a police cover-up, obviously against his client. Nevertheless, Casey wins the case and gets appointed as the new county district attorney. In discharging his duties, he discovers that corruption possibly involved his father Liam (Ian Holm).

Director; The movie is directed by Sidney Lumet.

Cast; The movie stares Andy García (Sean Casey), Ian Holm (Liam Casey), James Gandolfini (Joey Allegretto), Lena Olin (Peggy Lindstrom), Richard Dreyfuss (Sam Vigoda), Shiek Mahmud-Bey (Jordan Washington), Ron Leibman (Morgenstern), Colm Feore (Elihu Harrison), Dominic Chianese (Judge Dominick Impellitteri), Paul Guilfoyle (McGovern), and Vic Noto (Police Diver Cochran).

Awards and Nominations; This information is not available.

Commercial Performance; The movie grossed $9 889 670 in the USA, which was also its cumulative worldwide gross.

Trivia; Andy Garcia, and Richard Bright featured in another movie, The Godfather; Part III (1990). This drama is also based on a real-life event. It depicts the case of Larry Davis, who gunned down 6 cops. He was charged with murder and found guilty. However, Larry was later acquitted after discovering that the police wanted to murder him due to their involvement in the drug trade.

The Bottom Line

Courtroom movies are among the best films in the industry. It is always interesting to see how the attorneys argue their cases in these movies. Although they help quench the thirst for entertainment, courtroom movies can help impart moral values in society, including a sense of justice. This blog has discussed at least 7 courtroom movies. Watch them and be sure of great entertainment and lessons.

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