The newest attorney at the world's most powerful law firm has never lost a case. But he's about to lose his soul.

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron, Jeffrey Jones, Judith Ivey, Connie Nielsen, Craig T. Nelson, Tamara Tunie, Debra Monk

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I've nurtured every sensation man's been inspired to have. I cared about what he wanted and I never judged him. Why? Because I never rejected him. In spite of all his imperfections, I'm a fan of man!" - John Milton

Why watch this? Some say lawyers lack a soul. This movies helps that point along.

Plot Summary: A highly successful Florida lawyer, Kevin Lomax, accepts a prestigious job offer at a New York City law firm. His wife begins experiencing disturbing visions as he becomes more consumed with his work and the influence of his enigmatic boss, Mr. Milton. Kevin is drawn deeper into a dangerous world where he must confront the true nature of his firm and the forces at play.

Dad's Preview: A young, ambitious defense attorney has never lost a case. This reputation lands him a big job in Manhattan, where his new firm pushes the boundaries of "legal" to win cases. He does not spend much time with his new wife, so his marriage starts to fall apart. This film is a morality play and it's full of both religious symbolism and more. Just wait for the ending! Pacino's devilish performance is one of the best of his career.

Regency Enterprises, Kopelson Ent.; Warner Bros.

Being a victim was her only crime.

Starring: Jodie Foster, Kelly McGillis, Bernie Coulson, Leo Rossi, Ann Hearn, Carmen Argenziano, Steve Antin, Tom O'Brien, Woody Brown

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"What the hell are you talking about? You saw me at the hospital, what you think I asked for that? Is that what you think? If that's what you think then you get the f*** out of my house!" - Sarah Tobias

Why watch this? This fine effort jump-started the 2nd half of Jodie Foster's career.

Plot Summary: A young girl, Sarah Tobias, is hanging out at a bar having a good time, drinking a lot, and suggestively dancing. In a back pool room, four guys rape her. Nobody stops it. Determined to bring the perpetrators to justice, she hires lawyer Kathryn Murphy, who becomes equally committed to holding the men to account.

Dad's Preview: This intense courtroom drama takes on the subject of rape. The trial focuses on her reputation and whether or not she was "asking for it". It raises thought-provoking questions at a time when the legal system was male-dominated. This role elevated Jodie Foster's career for more adult parts. Here, she is incredible.

Stanley R. Jaffe, Sherry Lansing; Paramount Pictures

Somewhere... somewhere there must be the right man!

Starring: Henry Fonda, Vera Miles, Anthony Quayle, Harold J. Stone, Richard Robbins, Charles Cooper, John Heldabrand

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"No matter what you do, they've got it fixed so that it goes against you. No matter how innocent you are or how hard you try, they'll find you guilty." - Rose Balestrero

Why watch this? What would you do if wrongly accused something you did not do?

Plot Summary: A devoted New York musician, Chris "Manny" Balestrero's life spirals into a nightmare after being mistakenly identified as an armed robber. Despite his attempts to prove his innocence with the help of his lawyer, the legal system relentlessly processes him as the culprit. The harrowing experience takes a severe emotional toll on Manny and his family, especially his wife.

Dad's Preview: Of his remarkable works, this is the most "un-Hitchcock" regarding his style, yet the director's genius still shines through in this uniquely real movie. Here an ordinary man is accused of a terrible crime. There are no heroics, no super sleuths to save the day. The man of meager means is at the "mercy the system". He can only hope that he will not be wrongly convicted. This proves too much for his unstable wife. There are genuinely tense moments as we wait for the verdict. Will they ever catch the real culprit? Do they even care if they do? Fonda's super-skill was understatement and, here, he represents any one of us. 

Warner Bros.

A Miracle of Entertainment!

Starring: Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, Gene Lockhart, Natalie Wood, Porter Hall, William Frawley

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Faith is believing in something when common sense tells you not to. Don't you see? It's not just Kris that's on trial, it's everything he stands for. It's kindness and joy and love and all the other intangibles." – Fred Gailey

Why watch this? Believing has always been the challenge - Well... do you believe?

Plot Summary: After hiring a kind elderly man named Kris Kringle to play Santa Claus at Macy's, a skeptical New York City mother is surprised when he insists he is the real thing. This claim creates complications, leading to a court case where his sanity and the existence of Santa Claus are questioned. Through the trial, the film explores themes of faith, belief, and the true spirit of Christmas, ultimately challenging the cynical views of the mother and her young daughter.

Dad's Preview: This wonderful holiday classic centers on a young single, yet jaded, mother who is very practical. She can't have her daughter thinking something made-up like Santa Claus. Then a friendly, jolly man named Kris shows up and claims to be, well, Old Saint Nick himself. As a result, he's put on trial. A young idealistic attorney takes the case, and entertains Kris' as just a sweet old guy. The trial scenes are some of the most humorous you'll find. This holiday tear-jerker needs to be on your Christmas list.

William Perlberg; 20th Century Fox

It explodes in the no-man's land no picture ever dared cross before!

Starring: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, Wayne Morris, Richard Anderson, Joe Turkel, Peter Capell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I apologize, sir, for not telling you sooner that you're a degenerate, sadistic old man. And you can go to hell before I apologize to you now or ever again!" - Colonel Dax

Why watch this? ... it's a superb war film set in the trenches of the first World War.

Plot Summary: Colonel Dax, a French officer in World War I, is ordered by his superiors to lead his men in a suicidal assault on a German position known as the "Ant Hill". The mission ends in disaster and the French General, in an effort to deflect blame from himself, demands that three soldiers be court-martialed and executed for cowardice. Dax, a former lawyer, volunteers to defend his men against the blatant injustice of the proceedings.

Dad's Preview: The significance of Kirk Douglas on American cinema cannot be overstated. Where his contemporaries (Wayne, Stewart, Peck, or Tracy) filled roles as the dependable hero, Douglas often played the more complex man. He was usually conflicted, sullen, explosive, difficult to read. He was an acting force. In this film he plays a French commander who refuses to send his men on a suicide attack and faces trial by court-martial. This powerful anti-war effort is engrossing, mostly attributed to Douglas' performance.

Bryna Productions, Harris-Kubrick Pictures Corp.; United Artists

The most electrifying entertainment of our time!

Starring: Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, John Williams, Henry Daniell, Ian Wolfe, Torin Thatcher

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"The question is, Frau Helm, were you lying then, are you lying now, or are you not in fact a chronic and habitual LIAR!" - Sir Wilfrid

Why watch this? It's a compelling courtroom drama that features top performances and more than a few twists.

Plot Summary: Based on an Agatha Christie story, this is a gripping courtroom drama set in London's Old Bailey. The film follows Leonard Vole, a man accused of murdering a wealthy widow who named him as the primary beneficiary in her will, and his cunning wife Christine, who becomes a pivotal witness in the trial. Celebrated defense barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts takes on Vole's seemingly hopeless case, uncovering shocking twists and turns.

Dad's Preview: This British courtroom drama has several unexpected turns as it winds its way to a surprising finale. Laughton is excellent as the barrister defending the accused, but it's Marlene Dietrich, cool as a cucumber and mysterious, who captivates every minute she's on the screen.

Edward Small Productions; United Artists

TRUST ME

Starring: Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Jennifer Tilly, Swoosie Kurtz, Amanda Donohoe, Anne Haney, Justin Cooper

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I'm kicking my ass! Do you mind?" -  Fletcher Reede

Why watch this? Jim Carrey's conduct in the courtroom is one for the ages. Buckle up!

Plot Summary: Fletcher Reede, a fast-talking lawyer, relies on lies to succeed in his career and often disappoints his young son, Max. After Fletcher misses Max's birthday party, Max makes a wish that his father would be unable to lie for one day. The wish comes true, forcing Fletcher to navigate his life and a crucial court case without being able to utter a single untruth.

Dad's Preview: This is one of Carrey's funnier films, and that is saying plenty. He's at the top of his out-of-freaking-control game here, as a lawyer who, thanks to his son's birthday wish, has been cursed to not lie for an entire day... and he's a slimy defense attorney. He cannot politely lie to the beggar outside the courthouse, or to the woman who asks how she looks. He also cannot bear false witness about his buxom client whole demands custody of her children, even though she's been sleeping with half of L.A. Carrey milks this fertile comedy cow for all she's worth. The courtroom finale is one for the record books.

Imagine Entertainment; Universal Pictures

The Truth Can Be Adjusted

Starring: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack, Michael O'Keefe, Danielle Skraastad, Wai Chan

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I'm not the guy you kill. I'm the guy you buy! Are you so f'ing blind that you don't even see what I am? I sold out Arthur for 80 grand. I'm your easiest problem and you're gonna kill me?" - Michael Clayton

Why watch this? This is another solid effort by Clooney. He's a master of understatement.

Plot Summary: Michael Clayton works as a "fixer" at a prestigious New York law firm, essentially cleaning up the messes made by the firm and its wealthy clients. He's called in when one of the firm's senior partners, Arthur Edens, has a breakdown during a multi-billion dollar class-action lawsuit against an agricultural conglomerate called U-North. As Clayton tries to manage the fallout from Edens' erratic behavior, he uncovers corruption and potential criminal wrongdoing surrounding the lawsuit, putting his own life at risk.

Dad's Preview: This story is such a rewarding, intelligent slow burn. We meet Mr. Clayton and quickly learn that he is a corporate "fixer". His vast experience and connections are invaluable to legal firms when they need problems to "just go away". When his good friend at the firm starts acting strange (he grows a conscious) and quite unexpectedly succumbs, Michael realizes that he's probably next. This is the point that I really began to see George Clooney's genius. He makes acting look so easy. I also love the erratic performance by Tom Wilkinson. The last scene in this film is worth the price of admission alone.

Samuels Media, Castle Rock Ent., Mirage Ent., Section Eight Prod.;
Warner Bros. Pictures

The most beloved Pulitzer Prize book now comes vividly alive on the screen!

Starring: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford, Brock Peters, Paul Fix, Robert Duvall, Frank Overton, John Megna, Rosemary Murphy, Ruth White

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." – Atticus Finch

Why watch this? It's a superb adaptation of the Pulitzer-winning classic novel.

Plot Summary: Scout Finch is a young girl growing up in a racially segregated Alabama town during the Great Depression. Her principled lawyer father, Atticus, defends a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. Through the trial and interactions with their mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley, Scout and her brother Jem confront the complex realities of prejudice, injustice, and the loss of childhood innocence.

Dad's Preview: A wonderful, yet somber message film about a racially motivated 1930's trial in the deep Southern state of Alabama. There is a pivotal moment in the film, at night, when an angry mob descends upon the jail house, hell-bent on lynching the black man on trial. Only Atticus Finch, the black man's attorney, stands in their way, and he seems no match for their anger, torches and guns. Suddenly Scout, his 8 year-old daughter, steps forward from behind Atticus. What this precocious young lady does next will have you in tears.

Brentwood Productions; Universal Pictures

An Immortal Screen Classic that will live Forever!

Starring: Renée Jeanne Falconetti, Eugène Silvain, André Berley, Maurice Schutz, Antonin Artaud, Gilbert Dalleu, Michel Simon 

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"When the mission that God has entrusted to me is over, I will again dress as a woman." - Jeanne d'Arc, when asked why she wears men's clothing

Why watch this? ... her passion, as shown here, is otherworldly.

Plot Summary: This silent film chronicles the 15th-century trial of Joan of Arc, a young warrior accused of heresy for claiming divine visions. The film focuses on her intense interrogation by church officials who attempt to force her to recant her claims and beliefs. Ultimately, she faces a brutal punishment and becomes a symbol of martyrdom and steadfast faith.

Dad's Preview: This silent film is called historical, as it was created from the detailed records of Jeanne d'Arc's trial and execution.  Before age 20, she led the French in many battles during the Hundred Years' War and was captured by the church in England, She was then tried for heresy. The religious court threatens and intimidates her in a effort to get her to sign a document stating she was under the devil's influence. This early film is a cinematic landmark for its production value and use of close-up shots for effect. You will walk away from this powerful masterpiece with a lot to think about. On my second viewing, I wept uncontrollably.

Société Générale des Films

Last year's No.1 best-seller ... This year's No.1 motion picture.

Starring: James Stewart, Lee Remick, George C. Scott, Ben Gazzara, Eve Arden, Kathryn Grant, Orson Bean, Russ Brown

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"As a lawyer, I've had to learn that people aren't just good or just bad. People are many things." - Paul Biegler

Why watch this? This is a worthy and intense courtroom drama.

Plot Summary: A small-town lawyer is assigned to defend a U.S. Army lieutenant accused of murdering a man who allegedly raped his wife. The film follows the defense attorney's challenging journey as he navigates the complex legal proceedings and courtroom drama.

Dad's Preview: There is a non-sensationalist quality to this film that feels like you are watching a news report, not a movie. It was released in black and white, which also helps it land as more realistic for its time. This film technique was often used by director Preminger (In Harm's Way (1965)). George C. Scott and James Stewart are excellent as opposing litigators, but the surprise performance comes from the beautiful, and morally ambiguous, Lee Remick.

Carlyle Productions; Columbia Pictures

She brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees.

Starring: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart, Dawn Didawick, Conchata Ferrell, Marg Helgenberger, Tracey Walter, Peter Coyote

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Ya know why everyone thinks that all lawyers are backstabbing, bloodsucking scumbags? 'Cause they are!" - Erin Brockovich

Why watch this? This is Julia Roberts at the peak of her career. She is a force.

Plot Summary: This is the true story of a tenacious single mother who, after convincing her lawyer to hire her, stumbles upon suspicious medical records hidden within real estate files. Despite lacking formal legal training, she investigates and uncovers a massive corporate cover-up involving the poisoning of a town's water supply by a large utilities company. Driven by a fierce sense of justice and empathy for the affected residents, Erin takes on the powerful corporation in a landmark class-action lawsuit.

Dad's Preview: This film serves notice that women carry the heavier load. They have to work harder, just to get on level footing. Roberts plays a legal researcher who figures out that a big corporation is poisoning the local water, its employees and the community around them. She does all the research and, man, does she makes them pay. It is a wonderful thing to see. Hats off to Albert Finney who offers a nice balance to Robert's brutal determination. This film is also based on a true story about the real Erin Brockovich.

Columbia Pictures, Jersey Films; Universal Pictures

No one would take on his case... until one man was willing to take on the system.

Starring: Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, Jason Robarbs, Mary Steenburgen, Antonio Banderas, Joanne Woodward

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #27 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Philadelphia

"Every now and again - not often, but occasionally - you get to be a part of justice being done. That really is quite a thrill when that happens." - Andrew Beckett

Why watch this? ... are all men created equal? Apparently not all men.

Plot Summary: Andrew Beckett is a gifted lawyer at a prestigious firm who is unjustly fired after his firm discovers he has AIDS. Beckett decides to sue the firm for wrongful termination, but struggles to find legal representation due to his illness and sexual orientation. He eventually hires Joe Miller, a initially homophobic lawyer played by Denzel Washington, who is the only attorney willing to take on the difficult case.

Dad's Preview: I've always been a fan of courtroom dramas. Philadelphia is that, and much more. An attorney, Andrew Beckett, is fired from a prestigious firm. The stated reason? - bad performance. The real reason: He is a gay man with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Andrew hires Joe Miller, one of the few lawyers willing to take his case. Together they take on the firm's corrupt practices, fueled by society's fear and hatred towards the community most impacted by the deadly disease. This amazing film should serve as a gut-punch regarding false fears and bigotry. Please have the courage to watch it.

Clinica Estetico Productions; TriStar Pictures

Rambo, Terminator, Indiana Jones, Vinny Gambimi.

Starring: Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, Marisa Tomei, Mitchell Whitfield, Fred Gwynne, Lane Smith, Austin Pendleton, Bruce McGill

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"We agreed to get married as soon as you won your first case. Meanwhile, TEN YEARS LATER, my niece, the daughter of my sister is getting married. My biological clock is TICKING LIKE THIS and the way this case is going, I ain't never getting married." - Mona Lisa Vito

Why watch this? It's a superb comedy, and I love Fred Gwynne as the judge.

Plot Summary: Two young New Yorkers find themselves mistakenly accused of murder while on a road trip through rural Alabama. Unable to afford a lawyer, they rely on the cousin of one of the accused, Vinny Gambini, a loud and inexperienced attorney from Brooklyn. Vinny, accompanied by his sharp-witted fiancée Mona Lisa Vito, must navigate the unfamiliar Southern legal system and challenge witness testimony to prove his clients' innocence.

Dad's Preview: I have sort of a love-hate relationship with Joe Pesci. When he's a tough mobster, I love him. When he does comedy, not so much. Honestly, he ruined the Lethal Weapon sequels for me, Anyway, here, he's a comedic genius, playing a street-wise NYC lawyer, Vinny Gambini. The real star of the film is the amazing Marisa Tomei. She such a pleasure as Pesci's spunky Italian fiancée, Mona Lisa Vito, and she won the Best Supporting Oscar for her portrayal. The film focuses on Vinny's efforts to win his nephew's trumped-up robbery case in the deep South. You'll chuckle as big-city clashes with good-old-boy! I also have to give a shout-out Fred Qwynne's (remember as TV's Herman Munster?!) hilarious performance as the judge.

Palo Vista Productions, Peter V. Miller Inv. Corp.; 20th Century Fox

It's all about the monkey trial that rocked America.

Starring: Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Dick York, Donna Anderson, Harry Morgan, Claude Akins, Noah Beery Jr.

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Why did God plague us with the capacity to think? Mr. Brady, why do you deny the one faculty of man that raises him above the other creatures of the earth, the power of his brain to reason? What other merit have we?" – Henry Drummond

Why watch this? This retells the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial regarding a school teacher and Darwinism.

Plot Summary: Based on the real-life 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, the film depicts a fictionalized account of the passionate courtroom clash between two legal giants representing opposing viewpoints. A teacher is accused of breaking a state law by teaching evolution, sparking a highly publicized legal battle that captures national attention.

Dad's Preview: This is a courtroom drama like no other. It features two cinematic legends in Spencer Tracy as Henry Drummond, and Fredric March as Biblical scholar Matthew Brady (he won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance). It's a heavyweight courtroom fight as these two debate the primordial question of Creation vs. Evolution. Astonishingly, we're still discussing it today. This masterpiece explores themes of intellectual freedom, the clash between religious belief and scientific inquiry, and the right to think freely.

Stanley Kramer; United Artists

Once in a generation...a motion picture explodes into greatness!

Starring: Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Maximilian Schell, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Those people, those millions of people...I never knew it would come to that. YOU must believe it, you MUST believe it." – Ernst Janning

"Herr Janning, it came to that the first time you sentenced a man to death you knew to be innocent." - Judge Dan Haywood, responding to Janning

Why watch this? Its historical significance. War criminals must face judgment.

Plot Summary: An American military tribunal convenes in post-WWII Nuremberg, Germany, to try four German judges accused of crimes against humanity under the Nazi regime. The proceedings delve into the extent of individual and collective responsibility for Nazi atrocities, examining whether the judges were simply following orders or willingly participating in a corrupt legal system. Presiding Judge Dan Haywood faces moral and political pressure as he navigates the complex issues of justice, truth, and the value of a single human life amidst a tense international backdrop including the onset of the Cold War.

Dad's Preview: This is the trial of the key German scientists and officers who oversaw the prison camps and atrocities that would become known as The Holocaust. It's important to see and absorb. This is a film about historical record. It happened. Don't let anyone tell you different. This all-star cast, and Kramer's stern direction, puts forth an amazing, yet understandably disturbing film. While Tracy, Widmark and Lancaster deliver memorable performances, its Maximilian Schell, as the German defense attorney, who captivates us - he's relentless as a man defending the indefensible. 

Roxlom Films, Amber Entertainment; United Artists

Frank Galvin Has One Last Chance At A Big Case.

Starring: Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason, Milo O'Shea, Lindsay Crouse, Edward Binns, Julie Bovasso

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"All I wanted in this case is an even shake. You rushed me into court in five days... my star witness disappears, I can't get a continuance, and I don't give a damn. I'm going up there and I'm going to try it. Let the jury decide." – Frank Galvin

Why watch this? Paul Newman is spectacular in this tense, courtroom drama.

Plot Summary: Has-been lawyer Frank Galvin, facing the end of his career, receives an opportunity to handle a seemingly straightforward medical malpractice suit. Initially inclined to settle, he decides to take the case to trial against a powerful hospital and the Archdiocese of Boston, seeking justice and a chance at personal redemption.

Dad's Preview: Newman portrays a worn-down, broken, alcoholic lawyer who only takes on a medical malpractice case, just to make a quick buck. All is going fine until he starts really diving into the facts of the case. He uncovers a lot more than he, or the judge, ever expected him to find. It all culminates in one of the best courtroom showdowns on film. I really believe that this is Newman's greatest performance. He perfectly portrays a man broken, at the end of his rope, but finally resolved to take a stand and see that justice is achieved. It was nominated for five Oscars, but came away empty-handed.

The Zanuck/Brown Company; 20th Century Fox

In the heart of the nation's capital, in a courthouse of the U.S. government,
one man will stop at nothing to keep his honor, and one will stop at nothing to find the truth.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, Jack Nicholson, Kevin Bacon, J. T. Walsh, Kevin Pollak, James Marshall, Kieffer Sutherland

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You can't handle the truth!" - Col. Nathan Jessep

Why watch this? It it's on, I'm watching it. Cruise is great, but Nicholson, holy cow he's incredible!

Plot Summary: Two U.S. Marines are charged with the murder of a fellow Marine at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. A team of military lawyers, including Lieut. Daniel Kaffee, takes on the case, initially expecting a simple plea bargain. However, as the investigation progresses, they uncover a potential conspiracy involving a high-ranking officer and the unauthorized disciplinary practice known as "Code Red". The lawyers must navigate the military's strict chain of command and the code of honor to uncover the truth.

Dad's Preview: This engrossing drama, about two soldiers accused of murder, knows how to hold your attention. It stars Tom Cruise, as a cocky JAG attorney, acting way above his experience level. In the film's climax, Cruise squares off against Jack Nicholson, the highly-decorated Guantanamo Bay Base Colonel. It is a litigation battle royale for the ages. The supporting cast, namely Demi Moore, Kieffer Sutherland and Kevin Bacon, are also excellent. There is a swagger to this effort and it is one very smart military courtroom slugfest.

Castle Rock Entertainment; Columbia Pictures

Stirring - In the seeing! Precious - In the remembering!

Starring: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell, Edward Arnold, Beulah Bondi, Harry Carey, Eugene Pallette

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #34 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

"You all think I'm licked. Well I'm not licked. And I'm gonna stay right here and fight for this lost cause!" - Senator Jefferson Smith, Tenn.

Why watch this? ... an idyllic young Senator finds himself attacked by corruption.

Plot Summary: Idealistic young man Jefferson Smith is unexpectedly appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill a vacant seat. Initially, Smith is seen as easily manipulated by corrupt political figures, including his state's powerful political boss and even his childhood hero, Senator Joseph Paine. However, when Smith proposes a national boys' camp that interferes with a corrupt land scheme, he finds himself in a fight for his ideals against the powerful forces of political corruption.

Dad's Preview: Nobody plays the underdog like Jimmy Stewart. This is the second Stewart-Capra collaboration. Every American should watch this, and ask yourself, "What do I stand for?" Am I pulling for the young Tennessee senator, Jefferson Smith, who still believes is fair government, helping common citizens? Or do I relate more to the senator who takes bribes from bullying businessmen? Well? I choose Jeff Smith, and a government of the people by the people and for the people. This is a MUST SEE!

Frank Capra; Columbia Pictures

12 Angry Men (1957), Director: Sidney Lumet, Rated: Approved

Life Is In Their Hands -- Death Is On Their Minds!

Starring: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden, Jack Klugman, Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, E. G. Marshall, Edward Binns, Joseph Sweeney, Ed Begley, George Voskevec, Robert Webber

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #26 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of 12 Angry Men

"You don't really mean that you would kill me, do you?" Juror #8

Why watch this? A superb character study about a jury deciding a boy's fate.

Plot Summary: This film focuses on a jury's deliberation during a murder trial for a young man accused of killing his father. Initially, the vast majority of the jurors believe the defendant is guilty, but one juror raises doubt, prompting a heated debate and re-examination of the evidence. The film explores themes of justice, prejudice, and the power of individual conscience as the men must decide whether or not to reach a unanimous decision.

Dad's Preview: One fascinating aspect of our judicial system is how a jury works. Twelve complete strangers will hear the evidence and render a verdict. This masterful film takes us through the whole process. Though it features a host of familiar character actors (who all render great performances, with different personalities and motives), the film focuses on Jurors #3 and #8. They are polar opposites - one fiery and damaged by personal issues; the other, calm and rational. Fonda and Cobb dominate this courtroom drama that will leave you wondering, "How would perform my duty if a boy's life was on the line?"

Orion-Nova Productionsl; United Artists

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