Legal Drama Movies

Erin Brokovich is a true study of an unemgambited maven mother of the title name who is desperate to find a speculate in order to support her three young children. Without any tangible s annihilates and work experience, borderline inappropriate wardrobe, merely armed with charm, wit and beauty, she manages to obtain what she needs. She finds an unlikely hire out as a file clerk in a law starchy without any qualifications.She talks herself into a job as a compensation for the loss of her in the flesh(predicate) injury casing consecrateled by the avoucher of the niggling California firm, Ed Masry. Doing her work, she comes across a file regarding a suspicious real estate result against Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). Fueled by curiosity and passion, she does her own investigation and l established the particulars of the consequence. She persuades her boss to allow her to research the case further.She fervently pursues the case and discovers the systemic cover- up and that the play along is trying to quietly bribe the land that was contaminated by hexavalent chromium, a deadly toxic botch that the company is irresponsibly, improperly and illegally dumping in the bea thereby poisoning the re ca displaces in the town of Hinkley giving them serious health problems. The rocking horse of the case against PG&E seemed beyond the capabilities of the small law firm Erin indus audition plant for, but her infectious passion and established bond with the victims propelled her and her boss to wed done.The case proved precise challenging to both Erin and her boss as she finds little time to take c ar of her children and her boss has to carry the appoint of the legal costs. In the abolish, Erins emotional connection with the victims and their families, her dedication and effort helped in winning unitary of the biggest class action lawsuits against a multi-billion one dollar bill company in American history. 12 Angry Men (1957) 12 Angry Men is a story approximately twelve white, generally middle-aged and generally of middle-class status men who were chosen jurors to mold the fate of a Latino teenager who was accused of stabbing his beginner to remainder.The painting shows what happens in the deliberation of the jurors behind the closed doors of the jury room. The hot, summer day in New York adds to the tense setting and the irrit big businessman of the jury. It shows that jurors argon enamourd by their personal experiences, situations and biases. They are to decide nigh the life and terminal of another human being but the gravity of the situation only(prenominal) becomes apparent when one of the jurors cause a holdout, voting not punishable while e genuinelyone is eager for a verdict. The bring points to the flaws of the justice system.One of which is having a bountiful appointed apostrophize defendant whose meager efforts could very tumesce in person strap the defendant to the electric chair. The impor tance of reasonable doubt is excessively highlighted as some tend to take it lightly ignoring the fact that they are making a life and death decision. It also portrays how the unreliability of witnesses and particular point can fall out rise to reasonable doubt. Through the deliberation, the sanction stories of the jurors were revealed explaining their prejudices and predispositions that lead to disagreements and squabbles among the jurors because of their personal differences.The discussion continued with the built up latent hostility among the jurors but because they carried on, other jurors changed their vote in light of the arguments. The votes kept changing as they do the effort to dissect the case until the tally is reversed to an el up to right off to one in favour of not guilty from the spry and unscrutinized decision of eleven to one for a guilty verdict during the initiatory vote. The lone juror for the guilty verdict sees that he is the only one with that vot e and changed his vote, leading to a unanimous verdict for an acquittal. Civil go through (1998)Based on the real-life pee contamination case in Woburn, Massachusetts, Civil military action is near Jan Schlichtmann, a gold-driven personal injury lawyer contend by John Travolta and the case that changed his life. He pursues an environmental case thinking it would earn him millions of dollars and enhance his and his firms reputation. The case was against the cardinal major conglomerates Beatrice Foods and W. R. gracility & Co. as they were suspected of pollution crimes. The drinking wells supplying water to the town were found to be contaminated by indusexam solvents caused by the companies local factories.There was a high rate of leukemia that led to the deaths of some of the children in the town as a direct result of the pollution and the families, represent by Schlichtmann, filed a class action lawsuit. It was a big(p) argufy in Schlichtmanns career as the case was agains t someone with resources seemly to impede the case. Later, he finds out that to a greater extent than than the case, a lot more is at stake. He pursues the case against the industrial giants at a great personal and professional expense. A sound out rules against him thus not achieving his intent of earning millions and worse, setting his firm back because of the magnitude of the case.He becomes deeply invested in the case and his original goal of monetary gain takes a back cornerstone to pride and stubbornness. He declines some resolving power disco biscuits deciding that he must(prenominal) win at all cost. later on all these, the case is brush off in favor of one of the defendants and he is forced to accept a settlement from the other defendant that was barely enough for him to break even with his expenses. Because of what transpired, his partners decided to break up the firm and no longer serve with him. On his own, he comes up with an idea to win a settlement for the families while his life remains a mess.He later ends up alone and files for bankruptcy. The Insider (1999) The Insider is a true story of tobacco executive Jeffrey Wigand, compete by Rus shell out Crowe, and 60 Minutes producer Lowell Bergman, played by Al Pacino. Their lives assemble when Bergman wanted to produce an expose against the tobacco industry and Wigand has the inside schooling that made him perfect for the oppugn. Wigand is a terminated employee from a tobacco firm, brownness and Williamson, who knew that the CEOs of the seven major tobacco companies perjured themselves to the US Congress about their companionship of nicotines addictiveness.He says that Brown and Williamson manipulated nicotine so that it could be more rapidly absorbed in the lungs, thus affecting the brain and central nervous system through impact boosting and that they consciously ignored public health in favor of profit. The interview became a source of grief and personal problems for both Wiga nd and Bergman. Bergman suggested court deposition to Wigand to protect himself from his former employers counterattack on the interview curiously with his signed confidentiality agreement.Soon his problems begin with restraining orders and death threats to prevent him from testifying, as well as character assassination to discredit him and his statements. Bergman on the other hand battles with censorship and with constant fights with the management, he was ordered to go on vacation. After all the turmoil, the Wall passageway Journal clears Wigands name, reveals his deposition and condemns his employers smear campaign against him. The New York Times releases an article about the dirt in 60 Minutes, wherein Wigands full interview was finally broadcasted.The film ends with the title cards showing the $246 billion settlement the tobacco companies made with Mississippi and other states to reimburse Medicaid funds used to treat lot with smoking-related illnesses a result of Wigands interview. Run outdoor(a) Jury (2003) Runaway Jury, establish on John Grishams novel The Runaway Jury, is a painting about circumventing justice through manipulation of the jury. The story revolves on the case filed by Celeste Wood who sues a heavy weapon company who manufactured the gun that killed her husband. Representing her is an idealistic lawyer named Wendell Rohr played by Dustin Hoffman.On the defenses side is jury selection expert Rankin foulmart, played by Gene Hackman, who unlike Rohr, is ruthless and will to bend the rules to get the results he wants. The conflict intensifies when gouge Easter, played by John Cusack becomes part of the jury who has the same ability to sway and manipulate the other jurors like Fitch. He is helped by his little girl Marlee, played by Rachel Weisz in the efforts to outsmart Fitch. With Nick and Marlees approach shot to the jurors and their influence on them, they shit the power to manipulate the verdict to whichever they wish.They o ffered to sell this influence for a tidy price to both Rohr and Fitch. As the trial progresses and both the plaintiff and defense become desperate, the two opposing parties concur to Nick and Marlees terms but bothered by his conscience, Rohr backs out. Fitch deposits the millions to Nick and Marlees account only to regret it when the twist of the movie is revealed. Fitch had worked on the case about the death of Marlees sister in a school shooting years ago. The town sued the company that manufactured the gun that killed Marlees sister but lost and went bankrupt.Nick and Marlee particularly picked the Celeste Wood case to exact their revenge on Fitch. They used the money Fitch deposited as a leverage to force him to retire as the IRS would be involutioned with the amount of the transfer. As for the money, Nick and Marlee plan to give it to the town that went bankrupt after losing the case with the gun company. Wall Street (1987) Wall Street is a film about the seedy underbell y of the world of stock market as some stockbrokers resort to warp the rules and prison-breaking the law with insider information to get ahead.Bud thrust, played by Charlie Sheen, is a discontented mediocre stockbroker eager to get to the top like Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas. Gekko, whose philosophy in life is Greed is Good, is ruthless, devoid of ethics, and would do any intimacy to earn his millions a polar opposite to Buds amaze Carl, played by Martin Sheen. Fox, desperate to be mentored by Gekko, tries to impress him and inadvertently reveals insider information about his fathers company Bluestar Airlines. Gekko becomes recreateed and takes Fox under his wing.Gekko shows Fox the fast and the good life of a favored and rich stockbroker but in exchange for more information about Bluestar. Fox suggests to buy Bluestar and to expand the companys assets. Even with Carls dislike of Gekko, he was convinced by his son to use his influence in the companys union to pus h the deal forward. Gekko, however, had a unlike plan and sells Bluestars assets leaving Carl and the other employees of the airline unemployed. Wracked by guilt, Fox finds a way to ruin Gekkos plans.He manages to alter Bluestars stock value and as Gekko realizes that his stock is plummeting, decides to relinquish his remaining interest in the company. Fox feels triumphant but not for long because Gekko in condition(p) his involvement in the scheme and had him arrested by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Towards the end of the film, a heated confrontation ensues between Fox and Gekko, which was Foxs ploy to record Gekkos confession of his crimes. Fox detainment over the recordings to federal authorities helping them build a case against Gekko, which would help relieve Foxs sentence.Their fates are left unambiguous but the film delivers a message that crime does not pay and greed is hence not good. The Firm (1993) The Firm, based on a John Grisham novel, is about a young l awyers budding career and the troubles that he encounters when he associates with the wrong people in pursuit of early success. Mitch McDeer, played by Tom Cruise, is one of the top graduates of his class in Harvard legal philosophy School despite his poor economic status. He receives many offers from different firms but attack from an unprivileged upbringing, he was enticed by the most lucrative offer from Bendini, Lambert, & Locke law firm in Memphis.Everything is great until the reason for the too-good-to-be-true offer gets revealed. Mitch learns that no one in BL&L ever quits and those who do end up dead shortly after. The firm also takes a very keen interest in its employees personal lives. Things become suspicious and he later learns about the firms strong ties to the Mafia and that the firm was being used to launder money for organized crime. With the FBIs interest on the case, they contact Mitch and coerce him into cooperating with their investigation of the firm.The firm suspects of Mitchs acquaintance on their illegal activities and soon, Mitch is blackmailed from both sides and is torn between doing the right thing and his personal and professional wellbeing. Doubting the FBI, Mitch gets the help of those he trusts to collect the needed evidence against the firm at great personal risk, even coming face to face with the mob boss. With their resourcefulness despite the great difficulties of getting the important client files and documents, they gathered what they needed and Mitch provides the FBI enough evidence to summon the firm.In the end, everyone gets what they deserve and everything is resolved. Mitch gets a modest job in a small but promising law firm in Boston. displacement (2007) Fracture is a film about a talented structural calculate Ted Crawford, played by Anthony Hopkins, who manages to escape justice with his skill in finding the fracture or flaw in arguments. He however is hindered by an equally intelligent prosecutor Willy Bea chum, played by Ryan Gosling. Ted carefully plans the kill of his unfaithful wife. He executes it but his wife manages to survive but is strung-out on life support.Ted confesses to the crime but retracts it and demands to represent himself in the trial, relying on his skills of spotting the weakness in structures, in this case, the prosecutors arguments. Willy, who has a young and successful career and in transition to a more lucrative corporate position, takes Teds case thinking it would be an well-heeled victory only to be humiliated by someone raging for litigation. It was discovered that Teds gun acquired at the crime scene was not the gun used to shoot his wife. Baffled and lacking further evidence, the criminal prosecution lost and Ted was acquitted.Engrossed by the case and his career in disarray, Willy visits the only shopping centre witness, Teds wife, who Ted later orders to be pulled from life support. With his efforts, Willy uncovers that Ted and the arresting offic ers guns were identical. Ted learns that the police officer was his wifes lover, dislodgees out the guns and shoots his wife. The officer arrived at his house, surprised to see his lovers predicament, became distracted and Ted was able to switch back the guns. Teds gun was admitted into evidence and the officer unknowingly takes the discharge weapon.Willy confronts Ted with this new evidence and thinking he is protected by the effigy jeopardy clause, Ted confesses. Willy reveals that because he took his wife off life support, they can now try him for murder and double jeopardy does not apply as he was previously tried for attempted murder. Ted was arrested and a new trial begins, this time with Ted defended by actual lawyers. Michael Clayton (2007) Michael Clayton, played by George Clooney, is a story about a man who makes a living by cleaning up other peoples messes.He is a former regulate Attorney who uses his contacts to get the clients of his high-priced law firm out of tro uble. other than his ethically dubious job, he is also troubled by his personal problems of a failed marriage and gambling debt and later finds the addition of threat to his very life when he encounters the new problem his firm will channel him to fix. One of the firms partners Arthur Edens, played by Tom Wilkinson, had an outburst in the middle of a deposition involving an agricultural products conglomerate U-North and Michael is sent to remedy the situation.U-Norths general counsel Karen Crowder, played by Tilda Swinton, learns that Edens have evidence about the companys involvement in manufacturing a cancer-causing product. Learning that Edens is not likely to cooperate, she orders to permanently incapacitate him in a way that will look like a suicide. Michael is saddened by Edens death and later becomes suspicious about its connection with U-North. He was able to snarf in to Edens apartment and learns about the U-North documents.This puts his life in danger as two men are ta iling him informing Crowder of the situation. They later dramatise a remote bomb in Michaels car which fortunately exploded when he was out of the vehicle. Later, Michael waits for Crowder to finish a U-North board meeting. He tells her that he is in possession of Edens U-North evidence, he knows about her involvement in Edens death and that he will keep his silence for a hefty price. When she agrees, he reveals that their conversation is being monitored.He walks away and Crowder and the chairman of U-North get arrested by the police. The Star Chamber (1983) The Star Chamber is a film about the flaws in the judicial system and the boundaries that some people are willing to cross in order to take justice into their own hands to address these flaws. pronounce Stephen Hardin, played by Michael Douglas, is a California judge frustrated about being forced to set free suspects that are obviously guilty based on technicalities in paperwork and processing of evidence.He reaches his break ing point when two men accused of raping and killing a ten-year-old son had to walk free because of the small detail in dates of paperwork processing. This is when his friend Judge Ben Caufield, played by Hal Holbrook, introduces him to the secret organization of radical magistrates called the Star Chamber. These adjudicate take the law into their own hands by identifying and assassinating guilty criminals who got away with their crimes. The two men in Hardins case become the succeeding(prenominal) target of the Star Chamber.A predicament arises when a research worker shows Hardin conclusive evidence that someone else raped and killed the boy. He then appeals the case to the group but it was too late. An assassin has already been ordered and cannot be called off. Also, the group justify that what they do is still for societys greater good and that those two men are guilty of other crimes, if not for the murder of the boy. Hardin goes on a quest to ironically save the two men he w anted killed. He warns them but they do not believe him, especially because he finds out about the other illegal things that they are concern in.Hardin was attacked by the two men but the Star Chambers assassin kills them before they kill him. However, the assassin was also there to kill Hardin since the group ordered his murder as well. In the nick of time, the detective comes to his rescue and he survives. The Star Chamber continues with their work without Hardin, who is merely outdoors in a car with the detective, recording their meeting. Reference All Media talent scout LLC. (n. d). All Movie Guide. Retrieved April 21, 2009, from http//www. starpulse. com/