Directed by:
Sidney LumetCinematography:
Andrzej BartkowiakComposer:
Johnny MandelCast:
Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason, Milo O'Shea, Lindsay Crouse, Edward Binns, Roxanne Hart, James Handy, Wesley Addy, Colin Stinton (more)Plots(1)
Frank Galvin (Newman) is a boozy washed-up attorney with a losing streak a mile long. So when he is handed a lucrative out-of-court settlement, everyone expects him to take the money and run. But Frank is tired of running. In a desperate bid to reclaim his self-respect, he recklessly brings the case to court - only to discover that if finding the whole truth is a little like trial and error, then finding real justice is a lot like trial by fire. (20th Century Fox UK)
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Reviews (2)
Although this is an honestly filmed and equally well-acted classic courtroom drama, it is somehow predictable and conventional. The "surprising" twist is not surprising at all, and the viewer expects it from the beginning. Not to mention that in the American legal environment, the suing party is actually at an advantage, often successfully seeking financial compensation for the most bizarre injuries, and there is even a hit parade of the most bizarre legal proceedings. Paul Newman was one of the biggest stars of American cinema at the time of filming, and his acting performance corresponds to that. He managed to imbue credibility into his alcohol-soaked and unambitious lawyer living by nature, but the script pulls him toward melodramatic gestures and improbable actions. It is definitely time well spent, but this film did not bring me to ecstasy in any way. Overall impression: 65%.
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I guess what bothers me is that the film is much more interesting in terms of personal drama than in terms of the courtroom case that unfolds before us, which I expected to be the main focus. Paul Newman, however, ensures that the film fully focuses on him because he is excellent in this interesting and somewhat unconventional role for him.
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