70 From The 70’s Part II: #60

All I can say to this movie is wow… just wow… I find it hard to believe that I’ve owned this DVD for so long, and only now got around to seeing it. Norman Jewison’s ‘And Justice For All’ (1979) is pretty damn close to a masterpiece. This is beyond the realm of being complex. This film has more heart than any human could ever have, and it has more brains than anything I’ve ever seen. There is a beauty inside this film, with the cleanest intentions of storytelling. I genuinely could not stop thinking about this film for a week after I finished it. Al Pacino delivers in my opinion his greatest performance in this film as a burnt out lawyer who needs to do the right thing. This movie is funny but also horrifically tragic at the same time. This is by far in the top five court room movies I love, and you have to see it for yourself to understand.  

Al Pacino is truly something else in this film, and viewing it in your own is the only way to really know what I mean. There is the broadest range of emotions expressed in this film, and they are almost always from him. Pacino brings himself down to a pit of anguish while still having a sense of ponderous optimism. We see with subtle motions how he truly feels. Then, once he needs to kick it up into high gear, Pacino for all the way. There is a kinetic energy to the famous actor, and his dynamic style throughout this motion picture truly makes the entire thing work. His sense of remorse and sorrow for everyone around him is an absolute spectacle. I truly cannot talk more highly about this performance, and you need to see this right away. 

Jack Warden supports Al Pacino in this film as the main judge who oversees the trial. Forrest starters, Warden introduces himself to the film by firing off a pistol in the court room to gain everyone’s attention. His humor is countered with a real sense of care and longing for a better life, while struggling with suicidal thoughts throughout. This is the film that made me fall in love with Jack Warden as an actor. His proof of range and scale is like no other. He manages to challenge Al Pacino in intimate scenes, where we see the struggle from both characters, and more so both actors. These two men put in performances of a life time in this film, and it’s a crime neither one took home some real gold for this. 

Though ‘And Justice For All’ (1979) is a tragic drama about a difficult court case in Baltimore, there is still something so funny to the whole film. The writing is on point for this film, because there is a perfect blend of the tragic storytelling we expected, with the hilarious dark comedy aspect of the rest. The best part is that neither side of this tone step over each other. The script flows flawlessly and none of these points trip over one another. The humor helps us connect better with each character, and the sadness really hits hardest after all of this. ‘And Justice For All’ (1979) has some of the sharpest writing around, it’s truly a sight to behold.

‘And Justice For All’ (1979) is truly one of the more tragic films I have ever seen in my life, and I know that is saying a lot, but if you’ve seen the film, just remember Agee. Agee’s character struggles throughout the film, and adds to the story about how the system doesn’t work, and most people don’t even think twice about it. This is the moment where Pacino truly sold me on this being his best performance. Pacino’s grandfather plays another tragic character in the film, being the chain that try’s to hold him closer to reality and embrace compassion. There is a sadness behind Pacino’s eyes when he sees his grandfather, and only then you can truly understand what this film really means. 

There are so many fantastic court room thrillers out there. ‘12 Angry Men’ (1957), ‘The Verdict’ (1982), and ‘A Few Good Men’ (1992). Each story helps educate while still entertaining the audience about how the legal system works. Almost always the case never makes sense or the lawyers would never act in a certain way. I’m not saying that to be untrue for this film, but what I am saying is that this one is one of the absolute best at it. Of course, like I have been saying, much of this has to do with the tragedy behind the acting and dramatization of the story, but oh does it work. It truly works on a whole new level. 

I need to watch this film about two dozen more times before I go. This isn’t the easiest film to sit through, and frankly, it’s pretty tough at times, but when you get down into the dirt of what the movie wants to say, you’ll understand how important this film really is. This is such a complex picture with acting that should be the definition of what an actor should strive to do. The story is full and rich with plenty of incredible points being made. I genuinely am stunned over this picture and you need to be too.