LAW MOVIE REVIEW/research project
At the end of these instructions is a list of just a few of the
hundreds of law-related movies that are available on the market. You
are free to use any law-related movie you like
with TWO EXCEPTIONS:
1. Double Jeopardy is NOT acceptable, because Hollywood got the legal
issue completely wrong!; and
2. A Few Good Men is NOT acceptable, because it is limited to
military law, so not really helpful for most beginning students of US
law.
(up to 50 points)
PRINT YOUR NAME: _________________________
NAME OF MOVIE: _________________________
YEAR OF RELEASE: _________________________
DIRECTOR: _________________________
MAIN ACTORS/ACTRESSES: _________________________________
_________________________________
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A. Describe in a page the FACTS of the case the movie is about.
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B Describe two significant legal ISSUES that this movie brought up.
(Remember that FACTS are not the same as legal ISSUES. For example, in
the movie THE ACCUSED, the character played by Jodie Foster is raped
in a tavern. That is one of the FACTS of the case. One of the legal
ISSUES was the use of PLEA BARGAIN - the prosecutor was willing to let
the rapists "plea bargain" to lesser crimes.)
ISSUE #1________________________________________________________
ISSUE #2________________________________________________________
C. Take either ISSUE #1 or ISSUE #2, and look up in
library (or any other library or law library), or a
a reference that gives you greater understanding of
that you can describe the general rule of law about
any significant exceptions.
a book in the NSCC
legal web-site, as
this issue, so
this issue, and
Title of Book used for
reference:______________________________________
or Website citation: ___________________________________
Author of Book:___________________________________________________
Copyright year:_____________(be sure to use as current a source as
possible – something 2000 or newer!)
D. Describe in your own words what you think the general rule of law
is about this particular ISSUE (and significant exceptions), and why
you think the general rule makes sense (or doesn't!).
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Below is a short list of some of the many law-related
movies that you may want to look at - but you do not
have to stick to this list!
There are MANY more
law-related movies that come out each year!
Some suggestions for LAW-RELATED
MOVIES TO WATCH & REVIEW
Some of these films are available at the NSCC library – in the media center. Newer films may
be available through Blockbuster or one of the other major video rental outlets. For the older
classics, you may have to look at one of the "specialty" rental shops like Video Isle (top of
Queen Anne Hill or on Fremont just South of 45th) or Scarecrow Video (5030 Roosevelt Way
NE in the U District) – or of course you can buy online!
1. MY COUSIN VINNY (1997); comedy with a newly-licensed attorney
(played by Joe Pesci) representing a family member wrongly accused of
murder. It touches on several few serious legal issues regarding
preparation for trial, even with the comedy.
This one is often used
in training trial lawyers (both for what to do – and what NOT to do!).
2. THE ACCUSED (1988); with Jodie Foster & Kelly McGillis. True story
of a Massachusetts gang-rape case and follow-up case. Issues regarding
admission of evidence, criminal prosecutions, victim's rights.
3. THE VERDICT (1982); with Paul Newman, James Mason and Charlotte
Rampling. Alcoholic lawyer takes on a malpractice case. Possible
unethical actions by attorneys on both sides of the case!
4. ADAM'S RIB (1949); with Spencer Tracy & Katherine Hepburn. Husband
and wife lawyers, on opposing sides of the same case. Classic comedy
with good discussions of several legal issues.
5. INHERIT THE WIND (1960); with Spencer Tracy & Fredric Marsh. Based
on the famous Scopes "monkey trial," with a biology teacher on trial
for daring to teach the theory of evolution. A classic trial!!
6. TWELVE ANGRY MEN (1957); with Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, E.G.
Marshall & Jack Klugman. CLASSIC jury film; intense jury dispute; how
a jury evaluates a case. This is the Original! (There is a recent
(1997 I think) version also with Jack Lemmon & James Gandolfini, but I
don’t know how it compares to the original.)
7. JUST CAUSE (1995); with Sean Connery, Blair Underwood, Laurence
Fishburne; Kate Capshaw, Ed Harris. Coercion of a confession; murder,
venue, Pro Bono Publico representation, conflict of interest.
8. PERFECT WITNESS (1989); with Brian Dennehy, Aidan Quinn, Stockard
Channing & Lara Harrington. Witness to mob murder put in jail for
perjury - social responsibility issues.
9. THE PAPER CHASE (1973); with Timothy Bottoms, John Houseman and
Lindsay Wagner. Law student's first year at Harvard Law School (mainly
in contracts class).
10. L.A. LAW (1987); with Harry Hamlin, Susan Dey, Corbin Bernsen.
Introduced the TV series of the same name.
11. ABSENCE OF MALICE (1981); with Paul Newman and Sally Field.
Freedom of the press and defamation of character.
12. SUSPECT (1987); with Cher and Dennis Quaid. Jury tampering,
collusion, bribery of a government official.
13. MURDER IN THE FIRST (1995); with Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldham,
Christian Slater. Cruel and unusual punishment in the Alcatraz prison;
jury "nullification," federal jurisdiction.
14. CONVICTION (2010); WITH Hillary Swank.
Project.
Exoneration – Innocence
15. OF CIVIL WRONGS AND RIGHTS, THE FRED KOREMATSU STORY (2006).
of the World War II Japanese-American internment cases.
One
These are just a few of the hundreds of law-related movies out
there. If you find other good "law-related" movies not listed above
you think would be appropriate, let me know and we'll add it to this
list!!