Well-acted but sappy unrealistic ending
Added 9/27/2009
This is a very good film, but it is fatally flawed from a realism standpoint. The gimmick of this film, of course, is the notion that opposing lead counsel on two sides of a huge civil litigation case would ever pit father against daughter. No client would stand for it, and this film shows why they should not. The ending is unrealistic, and while it may comport with Hollywood's notion of justice and doing the right thing, any lawyer has to be aghast as to this conclusion.
The sappy family angle in this film detracted from what could have been a better film. What saves this one from a three-star rating is the first rate portrayal of courtroom tactics and the discovery battles between the law firms. Both are startlingly accurate (in total contrast with the ending--no spoilers here) and I enjoyed this part of the film immensely. RJB.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
A great movie to watch over and over and over
Added 5/1/2009
I had this movie on tape and wore it out. I was so happy to see that it was available on DVD.
It has some really GREAT acting, has some funny and sad moments and a really great ending.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Superb Courtroom Thriller
Added 2/28/2009
There are no murders or car chases in CLASS ACTION (1991), directed by Michael Apted, but this is certainly one of the best courtroom dramas that I've ever seen.
The key characters, played by Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, are not only father and daughter, but they are also opposing counsel in a multi-million dollar class action lawsuit against an automobile manufacturer. Gene has a small law firm that has a sterling reputation for winning "David and Goliath" litigations, and Mary Elizabeth works for a major San Francisco law firm that doesn't always play by the rules.
Father and daughter don't really get along, primarily because she resents that fact that he used to cheat on her mother. Mom has long ago forgiven her husband, but when she dies suddenly, there is no longer anybody to intercede between the two. Then, Mary Elizabeth's bosses start cheating during the trial, destroying documents to which Hackman's side is entitled, and she must decide which side she is really on.
Hackman and Mastrantonio are superb.
© Michael B. Druxman
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Great Tort Law Movie!
Added 12/28/2008
It was suggested our Tort Law class view this film if we could, and being a Gene Hackman fan, I was very pleased to get this DVD online for such a modest price. Great Father/Daughter drama, where they represent opposing sides in a class action suit against a car manufacturer. For the Tort Law student, all points are clearly shown for a prima facie case: Duty, Breach, Proximate Cause, and Damages. And for the rest of us, it's scary as hell to see how dollars and cents can overrule common decency in the minds of unscrupulous business people. Good flick! I also highly recommend "The Verdict" with Paul Newman.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Class Action
Added 10/18/2008
Saw this movie before and totally enjoyed it. Now I have the movie in my collection.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Well-acted but sappy unrealistic ending
Added 9/27/2009
This is a very good film, but it is fatally flawed from a realism standpoint. The gimmick of this film, of course, is the notion that opposing lead counsel on two sides of a huge civil litigation case would ever pit father against daughter. No client would stand for it, and this film shows why they should not. The ending is unrealistic, and while it may comport with Hollywood's notion of justice and doing the right thing, any lawyer has to be aghast as to this conclusion.
The sappy family angle in this film detracted from what could have been a better film. What saves this one from a three-star rating is the first rate portrayal of courtroom tactics and the discovery battles between the law firms. Both are startlingly accurate (in total contrast with the ending--no spoilers here) and I enjoyed this part of the film immensely. RJB.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
A great movie to watch over and over and over
Added 5/1/2009
I had this movie on tape and wore it out. I was so happy to see that it was available on DVD.
It has some really GREAT acting, has some funny and sad moments and a really great ending.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Superb Courtroom Thriller
Added 2/28/2009
There are no murders or car chases in CLASS ACTION (1991), directed by Michael Apted, but this is certainly one of the best courtroom dramas that I've ever seen.
The key characters, played by Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, are not only father and daughter, but they are also opposing counsel in a multi-million dollar class action lawsuit against an automobile manufacturer. Gene has a small law firm that has a sterling reputation for winning "David and Goliath" litigations, and Mary Elizabeth works for a major San Francisco law firm that doesn't always play by the rules.
Father and daughter don't really get along, primarily because she resents that fact that he used to cheat on her mother. Mom has long ago forgiven her husband, but when she dies suddenly, there is no longer anybody to intercede between the two. Then, Mary Elizabeth's bosses start cheating during the trial, destroying documents to which Hackman's side is entitled, and she must decide which side she is really on.
Hackman and Mastrantonio are superb.
© Michael B. Druxman
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
