Review of ...And Justice for All (1979) by Torres G — 06 Jul 2011

This film totally fed into my love of courtroom dramas, providing a a viciously satirical at a process so complex and often so mystifying, it almost begs for satire. Al Pacino is terrific in this film; this was still in his 70's heyday when practically every role he took was astounding, and his performance as Arthur Kirkland here is another tour-de-force.

Kirkland is a man of strong ethical and moral convictions who is disgusted with the lack of decency he finds in the rest of his contemporaries in the justice system. Kirkland is presented with a bizarre opportunity to prove his passion for justice when he is asked to defend the one judge he loathes for his lack of ethics when he is charged with rape.

The film is a harsh condemnation on the flaws in the justice system; in the wake of the Casey Anthony trial, watching this film proved to outline its potency even more. The film doesn't suggest that the justice system is broken, but instead that justice is very elusive when the system is placed in the hands of corrupt people.

Kirkland's rage at the violation of justice isn't the over-the-top, kabuki style anger Pacino exhibits later in his career (which while entertaining and impressive would not fit this movie). You can't help but love Kirkland because he represents an ideal that people wish for in the justice system but you rarely get to see.

This film isn't held in the same high regard like "Witness for the Prosecution" or "12 Angry Men", but honestly it deserves to be in the upper ranks of this genre.