Chaplin
Better off silent
This is the top movies that use a courtroom in the majority of the action and plot.
1) JFK
Regardless of whether or not you believe there was a conspiracy to assassinate John F. Kennedy, this movie is a fascinating study of one extreme conspiracy as put forward by Oliver Stone. He does take some liberties with the events, but some of the things in the movie that are factual make you think and ask some questions--the biggest of which is if it were a single shooter, why are a lot of the documents regarding this event in American history still locked up? Why does releasing them affect our national security, as the government has said for years? Whether you agree with Stone's radical views, this film is impeccably well-made. I recommend the Director's Cut which adds a lot of extra footage in support of the conspiracy.
2) Murder in the First
Underrated gem starring Christian Slater, Gary Oldman and Kevin Bacon. This was the first trail vs. a penal institution, in this case the most nortorious, Alcatraz. Slater does a credible job facing unbeatable odds in his trial against the prison (the great Brad Dourif plays his brother), but this movie shines when Oldman is villainous and especially when Kevin Bacon plays the deformed and tragic subject of the film. Just an amazing, underrated performance unrecognized that year. Highly recommended.
3) My Cousin Vinny
Maybe not the greatest film in the world, but this amazingly funny movie is notable for several reasons--it showed Joe Pesci had great comic timing, Ralph Macchio was more than just Daniel LaRusso, and Marisa Tomei was an actress to be reckoned with. True, the Academy Awards took a beating for giving Tomei the Best Supporting Actress award, but watching this movie over and over, you can really see just how good she is. She is as believable a character as you'll ever see. She was NOT Marisa Tomei, she was Mona Lisa Vito. Some very funny lines and even some slapstick.
1) JFK
Regardless of whether or not you believe there was a conspiracy to assassinate John F. Kennedy, this movie is a fascinating study of one extreme conspiracy as put forward by Oliver Stone. He does take some liberties with the events, but some of the things in the movie that are factual make you think and ask some questions--the biggest of which is if it were a single shooter, why are a lot of the documents regarding this event in American history still locked up? Why does releasing them affect our national security, as the government has said for years? Whether you agree with Stone's radical views, this film is impeccably well-made. I recommend the Director's Cut which adds a lot of extra footage in support of the conspiracy.
2) Murder in the First
Underrated gem starring Christian Slater, Gary Oldman and Kevin Bacon. This was the first trail vs. a penal institution, in this case the most nortorious, Alcatraz. Slater does a credible job facing unbeatable odds in his trial against the prison (the great Brad Dourif plays his brother), but this movie shines when Oldman is villainous and especially when Kevin Bacon plays the deformed and tragic subject of the film. Just an amazing, underrated performance unrecognized that year. Highly recommended.
3) My Cousin Vinny
Maybe not the greatest film in the world, but this amazingly funny movie is notable for several reasons--it showed Joe Pesci had great comic timing, Ralph Macchio was more than just Daniel LaRusso, and Marisa Tomei was an actress to be reckoned with. True, the Academy Awards took a beating for giving Tomei the Best Supporting Actress award, but watching this movie over and over, you can really see just how good she is. She is as believable a character as you'll ever see. She was NOT Marisa Tomei, she was Mona Lisa Vito. Some very funny lines and even some slapstick.
