Back in April of this year I wrote an article about 5 movies with themes of trusts, estates and guardianship.
Today, I bring you the second installment of this blog series, being 5 movies about litigation.
Consider watching one of the films listed below the next time you have a break in your schedule:
After being left by his wife Joanna (Meryl Streep), Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) struggles to adjust to the new reality of raising his son while also maintaining his promising career trajectory. When Joanna resurfaces in Ted’s life and decides she wants custody, the estranged couple goes to court and things get even uglier, showing the stressful impact of divorce litigation on the persons involved.
A 12-man jury for a murder trial begins their deliberations with the general belief that the case is open-and-shut, with their final decision all but a foregone conclusion. However, one skeptical juror raises doubts about the others’ preconceived notions and quickly begins to gain influence over the rest of the room, prolonging the discussion but making things much more intriguing.
Based on a true story, young Northern-Irishman Gerry Conlon (Daniel-Day Lewis) finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and ends up being convicted and imprisoned for a terrorist attack he did not commit. Thus, Conlon begins his lifelong journey to clear his name and set foot outside once again. Notably, Day-Lewis apparently spent two days in solitary confinement with no food or water to prepare for the role.
Novelist Sandra Voyter (Sandra Hüller) stands trial for the alleged murder of her husband, Samuel Maleski. Throughout, tense courtroom scenes are interwoven with earlier memories of family life and the disputed sequence of events in question. While the film’s portrayal of criminal procedure often strains credulity (see: the prosecutor’s aggressive cross-examination of the victim’s visually impaired minor child), the enthralling storyline and catchy, repetitive soundtrack will be sure to have your eyes glued to the screen.
Notwithstanding that these two films relate to completely different events (and that I have snuck in a 6th film on to the list), they share one common denominator – a lawyer who suffers severe reputational damage and nightmarish attacks on his personal life, resulting from his decision to represent a nationally reviled defendant accused of committing heinous or treacherous acts. As both films are based on true stories, they remind viewers of some of the harshest realities of the legal profession.
Thank you for reading and have a great weekend.