Review of The Star Chamber (1983) by Kenny N — 06 Feb 2015

Directed by Peter Hyams (Capricorn One (1978), Outland (1981) and End of Days (1999), from a script Hyams co-wrote with Roderick Taylor (American Outlaws (2001) and The Brave One (2007)), this is a thought-provoking thriller which focuses on the injustice of technicalities in the judicial system and an alternate way to sort out criminals.

It's a good thriller, one of 80's cinema's best kept secrets. Los Angeles Judge Steven Hardin (Michael Douglas) believes in the law, but he's let down time and again when criminals who are clearly guilty of violent crimes are being let off the hook due to technicalities with how the evidence was obtains by officers not going by the rules.

After having to let two criminals go, which leads to a shooting in the court room. Hardin loses patience, but his friend and fellow Judge Benjamin Caulfield (Hal Holbrook) lets him join The Star Chamber, where he and other judges go after criminals who were let go due to technicalities.

Hardin joins, but after learning that one criminal is in fact innocent, Hardin has a change of heart. It's an indictment on how the law works, and it does show that the law is an ass, but vigilantism doesn't make it right.

It has a good cast, and it's a bit of a forgotten 80's thriller, and even a remake wouldn't hurt it, as it's socially relevant now as it was back in the 1980's, it's also one of Hyams best films as a director.