Breaker Morant (1980)
Short Review: During the Boer War, three Australian lieutenants are on trial for shooting Boer prisoners. Though they acted under orders, they are being used as scapegoats by the General Staff, who hopes to distance themselves from the irregular practices of the war. The trial does not progress as smoothly as expected by the General Staff, as the defence puts up a strong fight in the courtroom.
The Paper Chase (1973)
Short Review: As a first-year law student at Harvard, James Hart knows he’s got his work cut out for him. But things get harder than he anticipated when he runs afoul of the school’s dreaded contracts professor, Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.. Wry and imposing, Kingsfield drives many of the lesser students to drop out, but James endures and, as if begging for more trouble, begins dating the professor’s daughter, Susan.
Reversal of Fortune (1990)
Short Review: Alan Dershowitz a brilliant professor of law is hired by wealthy socialite Claus von Bulow to attempt to overturn his two convictions for attempted murder of his extremely wealthy wife. Based on a true story the film concentrates not on the trial like other legal thrillers, but on the preparatory work that Dershowitz and his students put in as they attempt to disprove the prosecution’s case and achieve the Reversal of Fortune of the title.
Compulsion (1959)
Short Review: Chicago, 1924. Two wealthy, but psychotic young men, who consider themselves more brilliant than others, set out for thrills but go much too far. Meanwhile, fellow law student Sid Brooks makes a deduction from evidence that leads to the identification of the killers, who believe they can outsmart all opponents with ease. Result – a sensational case featuring defense attorney Jonathan Wilk, who puts capital punishment itself on trial.
In Cold Blood (1967)
Short Review: Two young men are ineffectual individually, but when together become violent criminals. They break into a wealthy farmer’s home only to find that there is nearly no money at the home and murder the entire family to avoid identification. The first part of the film details the search for them, the second, their trial and execution. Taken from the actual events chronicled by Truman Capote in his book.
Primal Fear (1996)
Short Review: When a young man, Aaron, is charged with the horrific murder of Archbishop Rushman, hot-shot Chicago lawyer Martin Vail takes on his defense at no charge. Aaron was a homeless street kid before he was taken in by the Archbishop. He’s shy and speaks with a stammer. Vail is convinced that Aaron is innocent but after discovering a video that shows Aaron may have had good reason to want the Archbishop dead, he begins to question that conclusion. When Aaron lashes out at the psychologist examining him another personality, Roy, is revealed. With the trial already underway, Vail cannot change Aaron plea and so has to find a way to introduce his client’s condition. Aaron has something of a surprise for him as well.
A Cry in the Dark (1988)
Short Review: Based on the true story of Lindy Chamberlain. During a camping trip to Ayers Rock in outback Australia, she claimed that she witnessed a dingo stealing her baby daughter, Azaria, from the family tent. Azaria’s body was never found. Police noted some apparent inconsistencies in her story, and she was charged with murder. The case attracted a lot of attention, turning an investigation into a media circus, with the public divided in their opinions.
The Green Mile (1999)
Short Review: It’s just another normal day on the Green Mile for prison guard Paul Edgecomb. That is until huge John Coffey is sent there. Unlike the hulking brute that Coffey looks like, he is in fact kind at heart. Whilst watching over Coffey, Edgecomb learns that there is more to Coffey than can be seen.
The Reader (2008)
Short Review: In 1995, a German man reminisces about a relationship he had, as a teenager, in 1958 with an older woman. He also remembers what happened subsequent to that, including her standing trial for war crimes committed during World War 2, and the secret which denied her justice.
Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
Short Review: The plot focuses on a man who, ten years after his wife and daughter are brutally murdered, returns to extract justice from the assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case against their killers. His vengeance threatens not only the man who allowed mercy to supersede justice, but also the system and the city that made it so.
…and justice for all. (1979)
Short Review: A lawyer, Arthur Kirkland, challenges the US legal system as he defends innocent people who are convicted of crimes they did not commit, and a guilty judge he is forced to defend who tries to use his status in court to aquitt himself. Kirkland is disgusted with the corrupt courts and tries to bring justice to people who are innocent and punishment to people who are guilty.
A Civil Action (1998)
Short Review: Jan Schlickmann (Travolta) is a cynical lawyer who goes out to “get rid of” a case, only to find out it is potentially worth millions. The case becomes his obsession, to the extent that he is willing to give up everything – including his career and his clients’ goals, in order to continue the case against all odds.
Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)
Short Review: Ten years in the life of Abraham Lincoln, before he became known to his nation and the world. He moves from a Kentucky cabin to Springfield, Illinois, to begin his law practice. He defends two men accused of murder in a political brawl, suffers the death of his girlfriend Ann, courts his future wife Mary Todd, and agrees to go into politics.
Court (2014)
Short Review: The apparent ‘suicide’ of a sewage cleaner leads to the arrest of Dalit activist/folk singer. The 65-year old is held on grounds of abetting the suicide through his lyrics. The film follows the personal lives of the Judge, the Public Prosecutor & the activist’s lawyer as the case meanders its away across months courtesy of numerous excuses and delays.
Shahid (2012)
Short Review: Shahid traces the true story of slain human rights activist and lawyer Shahid Azmi. From attempting to become a terrorist to being wrongly imprisoned under a draconian anti-terrorism law to becoming a criminal lawyer Shahid traces the inspiring personal journey of a boy who became an unlikely messiah for human rights while following the rise of communal violence in India. This story of an impoverished Muslim struggling to come to terms with injustice, inequality and rising above his circumstances is an inspiring testament to the human spirit.
Damini (1993)
Short Review: The theme revolves around the character Damini who represents truth and innocence. After her marriage in renowned wealthy family, Damini happens to see a cruel act done by her brother-in-law. She wants the victim to get justice, but the family including her husband oppose her, which leads her to leave the house. Soon she is helped by a drunkard, an ex-advocate, who helps her in all respect to reach to her aim and therefore justice.
No One Killed Jessica (2011)
Short Review: Devastated when she is told that that her sister, Jessica Lall, is shot dead by Manish Bhardwaj, the son of Pramod, a Congress party Member of Parliament in Haryana, Delhi-based Sabrina Lall, in the company of her parents, attends the Court to view a charade that will lead to the acquittal of the accused and his accomplices seven years after the incident. Disillusioned by rampart police corruption and inefficiency; a stagnant British introduced legal system; the passing of her mother & the hospitalization of her father, she retreats unto herself. Then foul-mouthed NDTV employee, Meera Gaity, known for being more of an activist than a Journalist, takes an interest in this incident, and uncovers conspiracy & corruption that led to the accused’ acquittals – leading to a near India-wide protest. While preparing herself to participate in a candle-lit procession at Delhi’s India Gate, Meera will confront Sabrina and will come to know the reasons why the latter refuses to be involved in this situation any more.
Pink (2016)
Short Review: Minal, Falak and Andrea meet Rajveer and his friends through a mutual friend in a rock concert. They decide to have dinner after the concert. Rajveer and his friends misinterpret this as a sign and Rajveer tries to force himself on Minal. Minal in an act of self defence hits Rajveer, grievously injuring him in response to which he files an attempted murder case against them. The movie ‘Pink’ shows the legal battle of Minal and her friends to prove their innocence. The movie also portrays the perception of Indian society towards women who don’t subscribe to societal standards of culture and morality.
Dhananjay (2017)
Short Review: Dhananjoy’s story is based on the conviction of Dhananjoy Chatterjee, accused for the gruesome murder of Hetal Parekh, which took place in the year 1990. On the basis of circumstantial evidence and on the basis of the deceased mother’s statement, Dhananjoy Chatterjee a security guard, was executed and hanged to death on the early hours of 15th August 2004, after serving imprisonment for 14 long years and after having appealed to all levels of court in the country; and finally, to the President of India.
Kanoon (1960)
Short Review: A young lawyer accidentally witnesses his prospective father-in-law, a respected judge, murdering a moneylender. A burglar who stumbles across the body is then arrested for the murder and is put on trial before the judge’s court, leaving the lawyer with a moral dilemma. Thus giving rise to more burden on the story and a series of events to unfold the future.
Shaurya: It Takes Courage to Make Right… Right (2008)
Short Review: Indian Army lawyer, Major Siddhant Chaudhary, has not only to deal with his father’s death, but must also defend Captain Javed Khan. The later, charged with killing a decorated Major Virendra Singh Rathore, under various statutes of Indian laws & the Army Act, refuses to defend himself, admits to this killing, and awaits a guilt finding via a Court Martial. Siddhant decides to delve deeper, much to the chagrin of his prosecutor-friend, Major Akash Kapoor, not realizing that he will incur the wrath of his superiors; his work will come under sharp scrutiny; the journalist, Kaavya Shastri, assisting him will be arrested; and he may end up being transferred to violent and isolated areas in Assam and Bihar.