Written by: Valerie Curtin, Barry Levinson
Directed by: Norman Jewison
Starring: Al Pacino, Jack Warden, John Forsythe, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Lahti, Craig T. Nelson
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A lawyer is forced to defend a guilty judge, while defending other innocent clients, and trying to find punishment for the guilty and provide justice for the innocent.
Verdict
The movie rails against the failures of the justice system. If it wasn't for the time period, I'd think it was written recently. It's no less relevant then that it is now. It tackles the justice system by showing us a lawyer and a few of his cases. Each one is a window into how and why the justice system fails. Arthur is upholding the spirit of the law, but everyone else is content to uphold the letter of the law to reduce their own workload. Even if you've never seen this movie, and it's definitely worth watching, you've probably heard the closing monologue quoted, "You're out of order! You're out of order!" It's amazing just how little has changed forty years later.
Watch it.
Review
I don't remember where I heard about this. It could be the "You're out of order!" quote or the fact that Pacino stars. I like the premise, a lawyer having to defend a crooked judge. It's the lawyer's job to defend his client, but that's a morally difficult position if you know you're client is guilty.
The introduction and music is dated. The score is not good. This starts off like a '70s TV show replete with Judge Rayford discharging a firearm in the courthouse. Even if he is the judge it seems a bit out there. Then again he is a judge, and this movie delves into the power makeup of the courtroom. It's a strange dissonance of tone, but it might be included for a later point Arthur raises questioning the judgement of someone suffering from stress trauma or both. Rayford is indirectly suicidal. Gail, who is on the ethics committee states Rayford does a good job. Rayford's judgement is paramount, but only Arthur questions it. Arthur is the only person in the movie that cares.
This is a poignant movie even today, exploring the failings of the justice system. Judge Fleming wants to use Arthur (Al Pacino) for the optics despite being "innocent." That calls it into question right there. While optics are important it seems deceitful.
Arthur is forced to take the case because he implicated his client in a crime that occurred after Arthur defended him. Arthur's only goal was to save lives, which he did. Arthur believes in the spirit of the law and what will do the greatest good, but everyone else follows the law to the letter regardless of who gets hurt. A colleague who had promised to defend one of Arthur's clients while Arthur was unavailable is apathetic on learning the client will be sent to jail instead of getting out, calling the case "nickels and dimes." Arthur angrily remarks that it's a person's life.
Arthur has a client in jail because his name is the same as a murderer and no one double checked to confirm they had the right guy. Judge Fleming realizes the mistake and doesn't care because correcting it would cause him to go out of his way.
Part of this is Fleming's power dynamic of being a judge. Fleming thinks he's above the law and even comments on committing his crimes again, crimes the head of the ethics committee was privy to. The crime for which Arthur is currently defending him.
This has a great ending with Arthur reaching a breaking point, prompting his "You're out of order!" quote. The justice system is broken and he's the only one that cares.
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