Ensemble movies involving a court case?
September 22, 2017 8:14 PM Subscribe
Looking for examples of movies where a group of different people band together to engage in a court battle against someone, and win (as a group/community/class-action lawsuit, etc.)
It can be fiction or non-fiction - but it has to be a film or a miniseries.
Three key things I'm looking for:
1. It is is an ensemble. Erin Brockovich represents a group of people - but it's really her story, not the group's. I'm looking for more of an ensemble movie - if one exists.
2. That the group of people can't be the jury (12 Angry Men) but rather the Prosecution or the Defense.
3. That the climax of the film is in the winning of a court case.
Thanks!
It can be fiction or non-fiction - but it has to be a film or a miniseries.
Three key things I'm looking for:
1. It is is an ensemble. Erin Brockovich represents a group of people - but it's really her story, not the group's. I'm looking for more of an ensemble movie - if one exists.
2. That the group of people can't be the jury (12 Angry Men) but rather the Prosecution or the Defense.
3. That the climax of the film is in the winning of a court case.
Thanks!
Reversal of Fortune pits a team against the state in an attempt to vacate Claus von Bulow's murder conviction.
posted by praemunire at 8:26 PM on September 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 8:26 PM on September 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
That the group of people can't be the jury (12 Angry Men) but rather the Prosecution or the Defense.
You know, most lawsuits (including any "class-action lawsuit") don't have a "Prosecution." You mean the ensemble is one side of a case.
posted by John Cohen at 8:33 PM on September 22, 2017
You know, most lawsuits (including any "class-action lawsuit") don't have a "Prosecution." You mean the ensemble is one side of a case.
posted by John Cohen at 8:33 PM on September 22, 2017
My Cousin Vinny, while not being exactly what you're looking for, is certainly about a "group of different people who band together to win a lawsuit".
posted by Champagne Supernova at 8:38 PM on September 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Champagne Supernova at 8:38 PM on September 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
The Castle is a classic: a man and his family, the neighbours, and a lawyer who is well out of his depth.
posted by freethefeet at 9:59 PM on September 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by freethefeet at 9:59 PM on September 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Yes - I meant on one side of the case. Watching more court case movies will help hone my legal terminology. So please keep em coming.
posted by egeanin at 10:07 PM on September 22, 2017
posted by egeanin at 10:07 PM on September 22, 2017
A Few Good Men.
A defense team of varying skill sets that has to defend a pair accused of a crime by members of an organization conspiring again them.
So, a group defending a group from a group (bonus: all these groups are members of an even larger group :-)
posted by sandra_s at 1:32 AM on September 23, 2017
A defense team of varying skill sets that has to defend a pair accused of a crime by members of an organization conspiring again them.
So, a group defending a group from a group (bonus: all these groups are members of an even larger group :-)
posted by sandra_s at 1:32 AM on September 23, 2017
I haven't seen A Civil Acti9n the movie, but the book is about the group of people affected by the environmental consequences of a polluting company. It might be worth a try unless someone here says it's strictly from the pov of one person.
posted by janey47 at 2:52 AM on September 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by janey47 at 2:52 AM on September 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
You really want a movie about a group of people fighting a civil court case, but there just aren't that many of those. That's not just my impression; I actually found a recent law journal paper noting the paucity of such films and exploring possible explanations for this.
posted by Major Clanger at 7:41 AM on September 23, 2017
posted by Major Clanger at 7:41 AM on September 23, 2017
You mention that "[w]atching more court case movies will help hone my legal terminology."
I know this is not what you asked, and you might already be well aware of this, but don't assume that the legal terminology in any movie is used correctly. At all.
posted by merejane at 8:24 AM on September 23, 2017
I know this is not what you asked, and you might already be well aware of this, but don't assume that the legal terminology in any movie is used correctly. At all.
posted by merejane at 8:24 AM on September 23, 2017
Denial fits your description to a T. It's told from Deborah Lipstadt's point of view, but is very much about the efforts of the entire legal team.
posted by Perodicticus potto at 8:28 AM on September 23, 2017
posted by Perodicticus potto at 8:28 AM on September 23, 2017
A Civil Action, the film, is really focused on the lead lawyer (played by John Travolta).
exploring possible explanations for this.
Because, under most circumstances, the only thing worse than doing discovery would be watching discovery. The only film I know of that manages to both be roughly accurate and portray some of the black humor of it is Michael Clayton, which unfortunately doesn't fit most of OP's requirements.
posted by praemunire at 10:21 AM on September 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
exploring possible explanations for this.
Because, under most circumstances, the only thing worse than doing discovery would be watching discovery. The only film I know of that manages to both be roughly accurate and portray some of the black humor of it is Michael Clayton, which unfortunately doesn't fit most of OP's requirements.
posted by praemunire at 10:21 AM on September 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Nuremberg has Alec Baldwin, Christopher Plumber, Jill Hennessy and several others in it, including me, I was an extra as a military cameraman. I loathed the experience!
posted by furtive at 7:48 PM on September 24, 2017
posted by furtive at 7:48 PM on September 24, 2017
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