GREAT COURTROOM MOVIES- PART 13

Courtroom movies are among the most interesting films available in the movie industry.  Besides being entertaining, these films touch on real-life situations, making them more popular with time. The plots explored in courtroom movies are situations we interact with daily or occasionally. For example, vices such as rape, theft, and employee firing are commonplace. Some courtroom movies feature people as they play an advocacy role, say fighting for environmental conservation or advocating for a stop in pollution of water sources. Since they touch on real-life situations, these movies are more relatable. Some people have thought that genre will become less popular with time and lose fame slowly. However, courtroom films have a sensational effect and a riveting power in the films. These will never allow the films to get extinct. This article shares some seven examples of great courtroom movies a person would ever watch.

The Burning Bed (1984)

This film was adopted by Rose Leiman Goldemberg from Faith McNulty’s The Burning Bed non-fiction book. The movie follows a woman who faces court trials for allegations of murdering her husband. In the 95minutes film, Francine kills her husband, James Mickey. For thirteen years, Francine has lived the hardest life. She has been suffering at the hands of her husband, James. Enraged, she orders her children to wear their coats and move to the car where they should wait for her. She heads to the house and takes gasoline, and pours it on the bed. At this time, the husband is asleep n the very bed. The bed catches fire, and James is killed in the act. Francine drives alongside her children to the police station, where she confesses her actions. On diagnosis, Francine is found to be temporarily mad. The jury sympathizes with her and rules a not-guilty judgment.

Director: the film was directed by Robert Greenwald.

Cast: the film featured a vast cast, including Farrah Fawcett (as Francine Hughes), Paul Le Mat (as James Berlin ‘Mickey’ Hughes), Richard Masur (as Aryon (Arjen) Greydanus), and Grace Zabriskie (as Flossie Hughes).

Awards and Nominations: The Burning Bed film was well-received by critics who acclaimed its many accolades. It has a total of three wins and seventeen nominations. Emmy Awards nominated the film for several awards, including Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling (Stephen Robinette), Outstanding Achievement in Makeup Michael Hancock (makeup) for Fred C. Blau Jr., Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special (Robert Greenwald), Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special (Jon Avnet, Steve Tisch, Carol Schreder, and Rose Leiman Goldemberg), and Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or a Special for Richard Fetterman and Michael A. Stevenson. The film won the TCA Award for Outstanding Performance in Specials. In addition, Paul Lu Mat won the Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Award.

Commercial Performance: there was no information about the film’s budget or the commercial gross. Therefore, it is impossible t comment on how the film performed in the market after premiering.

Trivia: the movie performed well, especially because it touched on a non-fiction event. In the NBC list, it emerged as the highest-rated film. On the worldwide scope, the Burning Bed film was the seventeenth highest aired movie. Most movie buffs agreed that it featured true talent.

Eureka (1983)

The 1983 Eureka movie follows a Klondike prospector, Jack, that becomes rich but is suddenly xenophobic about everything and anything. He somewhat feels that his daughter, Tracy, and his son-in-law Claude are after his hard-earned money and wealth. In his mind, he believes that the two fellows are planning a death plot to take his life and win over his wealth. The fifteen years of looking for wealth have been uneventful, and when he finally lands it rich, he has no peace of mind. The man's wife also cannot let him rest. He also has a personal assistant whom he suspects so much. Besides, some investors want his island of gold mine sold to them to build a casino. For a long time, just 20years after becoming rich, he must struggle in the hands of all these potential rascals. Eventually, jack is murdered by unknown mob associates. The prime suspect in the murder is Claude, his son-in-law. He is taken to court to face trials. Jack’s long list of enemies makes it hard to prove Claude innocent or guilty. Claude is acquitted nonetheless.

Director: Eureka movie was directed by Nicholas Roeg.

Cast: the movie’s cast included Gene Hackman (as Jack McCann), Theresa Russell (as Tracy McCann Maillot Van Horn), and Rutger Hauer (as Claude Maillot Van Horn). There are many other actors in the supporting roles.

Awards and Nominations: there is no information about any awards and nominations the movie gathered.

Commercial Performance: the film realized $123,573 after it premiered.

Trivia: Eureka movie is one of the best courtroom films. Mark Cousins realized this, and while making his Sight & Sound list in 212, he included Eureka in the list as part of the top ten best movies. The film was also classified this film as underrated by Danny Boyle.

Nothing But the Truth (2008)

The 2008 Nothing But the Truth movie follows a reporter who writes a story about a CIA covert and ends up in jail because of the report. Following the divulging image report, the US government seeks to know from the reporter what source she used to pen down the report. When she defies the order and fails to state her source, she is jailed for this. The movie has a bonus feature after it that explains the ordeal further.

Director: Rod Lurie directed the film.

Cast: some of the film’s principal actors included Kate Beckinsale (as Rachel Armstrong), Matt Dillon (as Patton Dubois), Alan Alda (as Albert Burnside), and Vera Farmiga (as Erica Van Doren)

Awards and Nominations: the movie performed well critically and received two awards and two nominations. The Women’s Fim Critics’ circle awarded the film the Best Equality of Sexes Award. The film got two nominations from Critics' Choice Movie Awards for Best Actress (Kate Beckinsale) and Best Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga) in 2010. Saturn Awards also granted the movie the Best DVD or Blu-ray Release Award for its great performance.

Commercial Performance: the film grossed a total of $409,832. This was a commercial failure since its preparatory budget amounted to $11.5million. The box office value was way below the budget.

Trivia: after the film premiered, a bonus feature was produced in the bonus feature; Rod Lurie played the director and scriptwriter roles, while Marc Frydman served as the producer. The bonus feature is called The Truth Hurts: The Making of Nothing but the Truth. The deleted scenes amount to eight.

Shakedown (1988)

The film features two individuals, an idealistic lawyer and a cop, who work together to unravel the mystery of police corruption case. There is a possible scandal in drug dealing by police, and the veteran cp and the low-aid lawyer team up to uncover the unknowns. With the case ongoing, the lawyer realizes that the prosecutor is a former love interest and awakens the affair to the benefit of his case. Enough evidence is gathered, and the duo heads for the police station to unravel part of the great mystery. Sadly, the lawyer is captured by some dirty cops and held captive. Before he faces his death, the veteran cp arrives just in time and saves him from the killers.

Director: the 1988 Shakedown movie was produced under the direction of James Glickenhaus.

Cast: the movie's cast includes Peter Weller (as Roland Dalton), Sam Elliott (as Detective Richie Marks), Patricia Charbonneau (as Assistant District Attorney Susan Cantrell), and Jude Ciccolella (as Officer Patrick O'Leary).

Awards and Nominations: the Shakedown song received two Best Original Song and from Golden Globe and Academy Awards.

Commercial Performance: the movie experienced tremendous commercial success in the market. Its budget cost about $6million. After its worldwide premiere, the film grossed a total of $10,068,039, n impressive figure.

Red Corner (1997)

The movie was written by Robert King about an American entrepreneur who is wrongfully tried for murder. The man is so desperate and holds on to the slim thread of hope that a female defense lawyer from his country will help him out of the case. It all starts when the businessman is out in China installing a satellite. He is suddenly framed for murdering a top Chinese government official's daughter. The entrepreneur liaises with the female lawyer. The duo develops a series of evidence that set free the businessman and shows the conspiracy and corruption in the government.

Director: John Avnet directed the film.

Cast: the principal actors in the film included Richard Gere (as Jack Moore), Bai Ling (as Shen Yuelin), Bradley Whitford (as Bob Ghery), Byron Mann (as Lin Dan) and Peter Donat (as David McAndrews).

Awards and Nominations: the 1997 Red Corner film did well in the market and was recognized by critics. It received two nominations from the National Board of Reviews; the NBR Award for Breakthrough Female Performance (Bai Ling ) and the 1997 National Board of Review Freedom of Expression Award (Richard Gere, Jon Avnet) and). Ling was awarded the San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress.

Commercial Performance: Red Corner attained a gross value of $22,415,440. This figure was way below the film's budget quotation, which amounted to $48million.

Trivia: the film led to a good relationship between Moore and his lawyer, She. As Moore left for America, the two shared a hug on the runway, and Shen considered him part of her family. The film opened Shen’s eyes about the injustices by the Chinese government.

Nuts (1987)

The film features a lawyer who finds it hard to prove a call girl not insane in her murder case. The volatile prostitute is accused of killing, and her parents want a rater easy way out for her. They want her to behave like a lunatic so that she is declared insane and not declared guilty. This means that the girl will end up in a mental institution, and she wants nothing to do with this. Therefore, she hires a lawyer to prove that she is not insane and gives the lawyer quite a hard time.

Director: the 1987 Nuts movie was directed by Martin Ritt.

Cast: the film’s principal cast included Barbra Streisand (as Claudia Draper), Richard Dreyfuss (as Aaron Levinsky), Maureen Stapleton (as Rose Kirk), Karl Malden (as Arthur Kirk), and Eli Wallach (as Dr. Herbert Morrison).

Awards and Nominations: Nuts did well and was recognized by critics who acclaimed it. It received three Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Motion Picture Drama, Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture for Dreyfuss, and the Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for Streisand. Streisand also received the David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actress Award nomination.

Commercial Performance: Nuts movie commercial performance was impressive. It grossed $31million against the $25million, the total budget for the movie's production.

The Chamber (1996)

This film follows a young lawyer who has a hard time defending his racist grandfather, who is accused of killing two boys of Jewish origin. The young lawyer works out all his wits, but the court and the government won't relent and grant the grandfather clemency. Eventually, the grandfather is executed at the gas chamber. At this time, a lot has been revealed about what the grandfather did t the family, his ill intentions, and he has apologized for all this.

Director: the film was directed by James Foley.

Cast: the following are among the film’s principal actors; Chris O'Donnell (as Adam Hall), Gene Hackman (as Sam Cayhall), Faye Dunaway (as Lee Cayhall Bowen), and Robert Prosky (as E. Garner Goodman).

Awards and Nominations: Faye Dunaway was nominated for the Worst Performing Award, but she lost the award.

Commercial Performance: the movie failed commercially. It grossed $22.5million against its $50million budget.

Conclusion

Courtroom films are great movies that entertain and teach real-life lessons. They have been there for a long time and will keep being here. As time unfolds, they keep growing fame and teach people life lessons. This article has looked at the seven best courtroom movies a person would watch with no regrets.

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