Review of ...And Justice for All (1979) by Timothy M — 01 Jan 2011

Fantastic tragicomedy, turning the Baltimore courts into, essentially a carnival. The film's intent, however, isn't purely satirical. It certainly doesn't feel like an American film, much more European, where a scene of great mirth and oddity will be followed up by horrible (and ironic) tragedy.

I think what appeals to me most is the fact that the protagonist is a good man, who makes bad decisions. Not morally bad decisions, but pragmatically bad decisions, and as a result he fails everyone in his life, one way or another. Even at the end, when he does the right thing, he signs his own death warrant and technically fails his client (a superb John Forsythe). It's a very loud Pacino performance, one of the first, but it has an integrity to it and none of the mocking/cartoonish affectations that plagued his career through the 80s/90s/now.