Review of ...And Justice for All (1979) by Poo B — 02 Feb 2012

Al Pacino is widely considered to be one of the world's finest actors, and he gained that reputation in part by picking showy, larger-than-life parts in which he's equally passionate and chews the scenery like no one else. That description fits the character he plays in "And Justice For All" perfectly, and while this doesn't rank as one of his best films, Pacino is very entertaining.

Barry Levinson's script is all over the road tone-wise, and the film aways seems to be shifting moods. One part black comedy, the other part highly dramatic, you never know what Levinson and acclaimed director Norman Jewison will throw at you next. That's the biggest reason that this good film never quite becomes a great film.

Actually, the film works best in the way it humanizes one of the world's most hated professions. It really does an excellent job of making lawyers human beings by showing us some of the risks of the job. It made me feel good to think there are some lawyers out there who still have a heart and actually care about their clients. The central plot of the film is pure movie stuff and probably would never happen, but it sure makes for a lot of great "What If?" moments here, and I was intrigued.

For those of us who only know the John Forsythe from "Dynasty", it's a real treat watching him in this. He's terrific, and the story builds to a knockout climax that leaves you with a lot of discussion topics afterwards. "And Justice For All" is exceedingly improbable but totally absorbing. Pacino is almost always fun to watch, and this is certainly no exception.