Hollywood and the Courtroom
Hollywood Loves the Courtroom
Courtrooms are depicted as an exciting and mysterious places where justice is doled out with flair and awesome makeup. While it may not be exactly like the movies, we still love to see the roles of justice played well on the big screen. Here are a few all-time favorites:
To Kill A Mockingbird – Evenhanded attorney, Atticus Finch, steps into a racial and legal battle in a small town in Alabama. He believes in the justice system and represents the accused because he believes he is innocent. His consistent character and fairness inspire real-life lawyers to be the same.
Erin Brockovich – One of the few blockbusters we know of that involves a non-criminal case. The true story of a paralegal who gathers the evidence about illegal dumping of toxic chemicals that sickened a town. The film explores an interesting side of our legal system, class action suits.
A Few Good Men – In addition to giving us one of the most famous film lines of the 90’s, this film is a suspenseful military courtroom drama involving the court-martial of two Marines accused of killing one of their fellow soldiers. The film also benefits from an all-star cast including Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore.
Miracle on 34th Street – What is more lovable than a court scene involving Santa Claus? Although we admit it’s not quite realistic, it is a lovely story that somehow mixes the realism of our legal system and the magic of the Holidays.
Anatomy of a Murder – An old classic film written based on a book by a Michigan Supreme Court Justice. While the story of the murder itself is not unusual, the movie is one of the best in exploring justice, ethics and legal strategies.
We think Hollywood is a reflection of what interests the American public, so we are proud that the courts provide so much intrigue – even if real life is not quite so glamorous.