...And Justice for All
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...And Justice for All
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that ...And Justice for All is a 1979 courtroom drama with strong language and adult themes. The movie tackles ethical and moral issues -- as well as the abuse of power -- with renegade defense attorney Arthur Kirkland (Al Pacino) made to represent the arrogant and dismissive Judge Fleming (John Forsythe), who stands accused of rape. Sexual violence is discussed in relation to the case. There are also scuffles and the firing of a gun inside a courtroom. While there is little diversity among the main cast, there is some in the supporting roles. Arthur's fellow lawyer, Gail (Christine Lahti), is a credible love interest who is treated with respect for being good at her job. Arthur also helps a transgender suspect, Ralph (Robert Christian), who receives no sympathy or support from others. While the language is sporadic, it does include the "N" word, used by Ralph, when talking about how police officers view Black men. Ralph is also on the receiving end of non-inclusive language. Sex is implied both directly and through innuendo. A couple are seen lying in bed together and photos from a sex party show a woman naked and others in fetish wear. Characters drink alcohol and, in one scene, Arthur's colleague, Jay (Jeffrey Tambor), appears drunk, in response to a stressful incident at work.
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What's the Story?
…AND JUSTICE FOR ALL tells the story of idealistic lawyer Arthur Kirkland (Al Pacino) who is forced to defend a judge he has frequently clashed with in the past.
Is It Any Good?
This slightly chaotic judicial drama might lack the neatness of other movies in the genre or the realism of other movies from the same era. But …And Justice for All remains an ambitious attempt to show how authority figures both struggle against and manipulate a flawed legal system. Pacino does a dependable job as courageous everyman Kirkland, revisiting the kind of role he was able to explore with greater nuance in Serpico. He's also able to raise the roof and the volume in the movie's more combustible moments without wildly overacting, which is where several of his co-stars come unstuck.
The "main" plot line revolving around Kirkland being forced to defend the monstrous Judge Fleming (John Forsythe) gets slightly buried in the melee, but does fuel the fire of Kirkland's discontent. This drives ...And Justice for All toward a final act that makes no attempt to hide the irony of its title. While undercut slightly by some misjudged comedic scenes along the way, this is still one for Pacino completists to tick off their watch lists.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Familes can talk about how the judicial system is portrayed in ...And Justice for All. What do you think the filmmakers were trying to say about the legal process? Did you think it was an accurate portrayal?
Discuss the violence in the movie. Much of it was discussed rather than shown. Did that make it any less shocking? Why, or why not? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Talk about Arthur Kirkland. Would you describe him as a good role model? What were his positive/negative attributes?
Discuss the strong language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How was sex portrayed? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 19, 1979
- On DVD or streaming: December 7, 2010
- Cast: Al Pacino, John Forsythe, Jack Warden
- Director: Norman Jewison
- Studio: Columbia Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 119 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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For kids who love courtroom dramas
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