... and justice for all
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | ... and justice for all |
| Original title | ... And Justice for All |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1979 |
| length | 115 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 16 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Norman Jewison |
| script |
Valerie Curtin , Barry Levinson |
| production | Norman Jewison, Patrick J. Palmer , Joe Wizan |
| music | Dave Grusin |
| camera | Victor J. Kemper |
| cut | John F. Burnett |
| occupation | |
| |
... And Justice for All ( ... And Justice for All ) is an American film drama by Norman Jewison from the year 1979 .
action
The idealistic lawyer Arthur Kirkland defends society's losers and sees that his clients are not treated fairly in court. He is very critical of the judicial system. Kirkland has a deep enmity with Judge Henry T. Fleming in particular. Fleming is a slippery and ruthless judge who has insulted the accused and self-gloriously ignores their constitutional rights. At one point, Kirkland tried to persuade Judge Fleming to admit new evidence of the innocence of one of his clients, even though it was only submitted after the deadline. Fleming imprisoned Kirkland for a short time for disobeying the court.
Kirkland testifies before a commission responsible for upholding ethical principles within the legal profession. He considers the work of the commission to be ineffective. Later he meets privately with a woman who works there and starts an affair with her.
When Judge Henry T. Fleming is charged with rape and assault, Kirkland is approached to take the defense. At first he thinks it's a joke; Later it becomes clear to him that the choice of his person as a criminal defense lawyer should convince the public of Fleming's innocence. Flemming blackmailed Kirkland with an old case in which Kirkland had breached legal confidentiality, which, if it came out, would result in his license to be withdrawn. Kirkland is forced to accept the case.
Kirkland suspects that Fleming is guilty. He wants Fleming to undergo a polygraph test. Fleming agrees and passes it. Kirkland questions a possible witness, but the latter tells him that he cannot remember correctly. A Kirkland client involved in organized crime procures photos showing Fleming playing bizarre sex games. When Kirkland speaks to Fleming about it, he unemotionally admits that he is guilty. He also tells Kirkland that he manipulated the polygraph test with the help of friends and also intimidated the witness through contacts.
At the opening of the main hearing, Kirkland makes his plea and suddenly loses his temper. He yells and charges his own client with the crime. The trial is drowned in the turmoil. Judge Rayford has Kirkland kicked out of the courtroom. With the end of his career in mind, Kirkland sits on the steps of the courthouse. A colleague who had also had a nervous breakdown because he knowingly got a criminal offense in court and who then murdered two girls, walks into the courthouse and greets Kirkland.
Reviews
James Berardinelli described the film on ReelViews as "the most vicious cinematic attack on the justice system". The scene in which Al Pacino screams is one of the best courtroom scenes in film history. The film addresses questions of morality and ethics, while avoiding the “mediocre showmanship” that characterizes many other court films. Al Pacino often plays "excellent", but it is not the case in all scenes. Of the supporting cast, John Forsythe and Jack Warden would impress most.
The lexicon of international films judges: “An ambitious film that lets the utopia of ethics and high morality triumph over reality. The impressive main actor effortlessly covers up some staged unevenness. "
Adolf Heinzlmeier and Berndt Schulz rate the film in their lexicon “Films on TV” with two stars, which corresponds to an “average”, and say: “[...] the conflict of conscience is embodied by the lead actor Pacino convincingly, but the script is not always conclusive; good photography. "
Awards
Al Pacino and the screenwriters were nominated for an Oscar in 1980 . Pacino was also nominated for the 1980 Golden Globe Award and the American Movie Award .
background
The phrase "... And Justice for All" (... and justice for all) comes from the loyalty oath ( Pledge of Allegiance ), which can also be heard at the beginning of the film. The film was shot in Baltimore , Lutherville, Maryland, and San Francisco . Fort McHenry in Baltimore can be seen during the helicopter flight from Kirkland and Rayfords . It had its world premiere on September 15, 1979 at the Toronto Film Festival . The film grossed approximately $ 33.3 million in US cinemas .
Web links
- ... and justice for all in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- ... And Justice for All at Rotten Tomatoes (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Review by James Berardinelli
- ↑ ... and justice for all. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ^ Adolf Heinzlmeier, Berndt Schulz: Lexicon "Films on Television" (extended new edition). Rasch and Röhring, Hamburg 1990, ISBN 3-89136-392-3 , p. 849
- ↑ Filming locations for ... and justice for all .
- ↑ Premiere dates for ... and justice for all .
- ↑ Income for … and justice for all .