Review of The Star Chamber (1983) by Stephen C — 11 Apr 2012
Somehow the work of director Peter Hyams always seems to get lost in the clamour for quality movies and that to me is a shame because he has cranked out some interesting work over the years and this thriller proves that.
Michael Douglas plays a young judge who becomes fed up with criminals getting away with murders because of loopholes in the system.
When an older colleague invites him to join the so called "Star Chamber" which dispenses justice in its own style ,events spiral out of control as Douglas realises how dangerous real justice can be.
The films idea is pretty neat and Hyams keeps the tension at a good level and only once or twice does the film come off the boil.
The films feel is akin to that of the conspiracy movies of the 1970s right down to the score by Michael Small ,and Hal Holbrook as the older judge Caulfield.
The films stands on Douglas central performance and here its pretty darn good as we see the truth slowly dawn on his character ,Hyams shows how the rules of justice can become so blurred it becomes hard to see the edges.
Quality fare then and sorely underated.
This review of The Star Chamber (1983) was written by Stephen C on 11 Apr 2012.
The Star Chamber has generally received mixed reviews.
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