Steve Terrell's List of Best Lawyer Movies EVER

Here's my own personal list of the best lawyer and law-related movies EVER.

1. To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) -- The timeless story of Atticus Finch, racial prejudice, courage, grace and humanity in the deep south.
2. 12 Angry Men (1957) -- Intense drama in the jury room as 12 men explore the evidence -- and their own prejudices.  Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb head an outstanding ensemble performance 
3. The Sweet Hereafter (1997) -- A school bus accident claims 14 lives, bringing a plaintiff's lawyer (remarkably played by Ian Holm) to the barren winter plains of Western Canada.  The movie explores the pain of loss, which follows everyone -- even the lawyer.
4. Chicago (2002).  Stunning musical and winner of Best Picture Academy Award.  Richard Gere is impeccable as the smooth talking Billy Flynn, master of the courtroom -- and the press conference.  I wanna tap dance in the courtroom just like Billy!
5. Anatomy of a Murder (1959) -- From a best seller written by a Michigan Supreme Court Justice, this Otto Preminger film of rape, murder and betrayal pulls no punches and remains perhaps the the best film depiction of courtroom drama. Jimmy Stewart is stellar as the unwilling defense attorney.
6. Snow Falling on Cedars (2000) -- Beautifully set in the 1950s San Juan Islands of Washington State, the movie weaves complex relationships impacted by love, hate and prejudice over a half century, set against the backdrop of a murder trial.  Max VonSydow is marvelous as the old lawyer defending his last great case. 
7. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) -- When lawyers were viewed as "good guys" -- saving the real Santa from the nuthouse, getting the girl, and finding a home in the country for the sweet child.  Oh, how times have changed!
8. Reversal of Fortune (1990) -- Before O.J. and Johnny Cochran, there was Klaus von Bulow and Alan Dershowitz. Narrated by Glenn Close as the comatose Sunny von Bulow, this follows Dershowitz handling Klaus' appeal.  Jeromy Irons in amazing as Klaus von Bulow. 
9. Body Heat (1981) -- The screen sizzles in steamiest thriller ever.  Kathleen Turner is HOT and William Hurt is just a poor schmutzy lawyer who can't help himself. And in the end, it is the only movie ever made where the dramatic final turn rests on the Rule Against Perpetuities.  Should have paid more attention in Property 101.
10. Philadelphia (1994) -- Tom Hanks Academy Award winning performance as aid-stricken young lawyer Andrew Beckett, who rightfully suspects he was fired from a big Philadelphia firm because of his disease.  Denzel Washington is equally effective as the homophobic lawyer who os transformed while representing Beckett in his discrimination claim.
11. Inherit the Wind (1960) -- Stanley Kramer produced and directed this fictionalized account of the Scopes "monkey trial.  The real trial pitted the two great orators of the day -- agnostic Clarence Darrow against evangelist and former presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan ("You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. We will not be crucified upon a cross of gold!").   Spencer Tracy portrays the Darrow-like character and Frederick March portrays the Bryan-like character.  They match skills and beliefs in sweltering rural Tennessee in 1925 until, as in real life, Tracy  calls his star witness -- the opposing lawyer.  To view the transcript of Darrow's examination of Bryan, click here.
12. Erin Brockovich (2000) -- Julia Roberts won the Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of this real-life paralegal.  Using sass, determination, empathy and, uh, a couple of her finer assets, Brockovich was the driving force in winning  what was at that time the largest settlement ever for pollution. 
13. My Cousin Vinny (1992) -- This is comedy but the courtroom scenes are far better than most dramas.  Joe Pesci defends the two "yoots", Marisa Tomei won Best Supporting Actress Academy Award, and Fred Gwynn (Hermun Munster) gives a wonderful farewell performance as the judge.

Comments

[Tim]

I would add (at least):
-The Verdict
-Inherit the Wind (consistently ranked one of the best, and most important, overall films ever)
-Witness for the Prosecution
-Paper Chase
-Philadephia

[Greg Smith]

I would also add "A time to Kill", based on the book of the same name by John Grisham.

[Tim Sendak]

The Verdict, starring Paul Newman, should be high on the list. It's as real as it gets.

[Gary]

How could a top 10 list not include "Adam's Rib"?

[terdblossum]

This should be called "Steve Terrell's list of (mostly, sometimes laughably liberal) Best Lawyers Movies Ever. Several movies that surpass most on his list:

Breaker Morant (1980)

Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

[john w. cotner]

"the verdict" should be on your list for the classic line that paul newman delivered to the judge, played by milo o'shea, after the judge had horned in on newman's handling of his own case:

"if you're going to try my case for me judge, at least try not to lose it..."

john w. cotner
jowinco@aol.com

[John P. Jacobs]

Not NEARLY as good a List as the Author thinks.

I host the "Lawyer In Film" Festival in Michigan and note that these entries-- always strong finishers in our Juried competition and Embarrassingly Conspicuous by their absences are these epics:

"A Man For All Seasons" on Saint Thomas More; Paul Scofield;

"And Justice For All" with Al Pacino and John Forsythe [ a mordant, biting satire on litigation utterly leaves My Cousin Vinny In The Dust];

"The Fortune Cookie" with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemon (Hilarious; on personal injury law; you DARE to compare "My Nitwit Vinny" with these brilliant comedians (???)

"The Trial" with Orson Welles, yes there is a filmed version of Franz Kafka'a existential terror)

"I Love You Alice B. Toklas" with Peter Sellers;

Worst Appellate Film: "Reversal of Fortune". Best: "Gideon's Trumpet" with Henry Fonda; superb; maybe, just maybe, Amistad for John Quincy Adams Supreme Court Oratory;

Best Court Martial Movie: A Tie: Yes, "Breaker Morant" on the nose with "The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell" with Gary Cooper

Best Death Penalty Films: Compare Dead Man Walking with Sean Penn and Susan Hayward's stunning performance in "I Want To Live"

Best Lawyer Movie Ever? "Witness For The Prosecution" of course

Best New Lawyer Movie: "Michael Clayton"

[lawgirl]

I agree except your forgeting the classic Elle Woods.

[Charles Bird]

I think that this John Jacobs guy is full of bovine scat. I cannot find any information on a "Lawyer in Film" festival anywhere in Michigan. He sounds a lot like a guy I once met who used to make stuff like that up--and tell everyone that his opinions on the best of anything or everything were the result of some authoritative contest, study or finding.

[Desert Blondie]

I put up a movie list too...inspired by the Amer. Film Institute's Top Ten Courtoom Drama's. Take a look http://hubpages.com/_DB6/hub/Ten-Great-Legal-Movies So many lawyer movies...so little time!

[Eliot New]

Guess i'm the only one that digs the more fictionalized, but where is a Few Good Men?

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[antony]

I would like to add "Devil's Advocate" Directed by Taylor Hackford based on the book of the same name by Andrew Neiderman.

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[Sabeen]

Erin Brockovich is awesome movie. Julia Roberts is my favorite actress. I have seen many movies of Julia Roberts this is one of the best film.

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[Andrei petcu]

Pathetic list. Your mind is so well rested and that it shouts at you to watch Julia Roberts, play a liar whore that invented such a dull story that 50cent or Eminem would be envious.

Other than this piece of crap, you must have selected the titles from the garbage.

You don't seem to know a thing about attorneys, courtrooms etc.

Dumb kid! What? You're not a kid? Oh, well.. you're dumb as one!

[Jamie]

12 angry men was just epic... such a classic movie ! really insane drama and unmatched to this day

[JDMBA]

"The Firm" with Tom Cruise

[BWD]

1959's "Compulsion" based on the Loeb-Leopold case. Perhaps not the greatest film, but it has excellent performances--especially Orson Welles as the Clarence Darrow character. His 15-minute speech against the death penalty was (at the time, and maybe still) the longest monologue in a film. It is riveting.

[Ricky]

What about "Sleepers"?