Reel Justice - Softcover

Bergman, Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0740754602 ISBN 13: 9780740754609

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC, 2006

Synopsis

From the earliest days of the movies, filmmakers have turned to the courtroom for stories because it is an ideal setting for both drama and comedy. Fans of those courtroom movies can turn to Reel Justice for a verdict on both recent and classic courtroom films. Informative and entertaining, Reel Justice rates trial scenes in films on a one-to-four-gavel scale, with four being a classic and one being "ask for a new trial." Authors Paul Bergman and Michael Asimow, both accomplished law professionals, discuss the cultural messages encoded in the films, point out what went right and wrong in scenes where liberties were taken, and even answer a few legal questions along the way. Completely revised and reformatted from the successful first edition, this new edition of Reel Justice includes more than two dozen recent movies as well as many older favorites that weren't covered in the first version. Just a few of the films reviewed: * A Time to Kill * Legally Blonde * Philadelphia * Inherit the Wind * A Few Good Men * The Devil's Advocate * I Am Sam * Intolerable Cruelty * Rules of Engagement * Twelve Angry Men * Ghosts of Mississippi * Runaway Jury Reel Justice is an indispensable video guide for film viewers who want the legal lowdown on courtroom scenes.

About this title

From the Author:

Paul Bergman is a professor of law emeritus at UCLA Law School and frequently lectures to lawyers and judges on how films depict law and legal culture. He has written numerous articles on the depiction of law and lawyers in films, as well as several books on evidence, trial advocacy, legal counseling, and legal processes for non-lawyers.

Michael Asimow is professor of law emeritus at UCLA Law School. He specializes in administrative law and has written numerous books and articles about law and lawyers in movies and television, including Law and Popular Culture: A Course Book.

From Library Journal:

In this informative, entertaining, and unique book, the authors, two UCLA law professors, dissect a broad cross section of courtroom films with wit, humor, and professional expertise but without any stilted legal jargon. They organize the films into categories ranging from true stories (Inherit the Wind), comedy (My Cousin Vinny), and military (A Few Good Men) to lawyer/client relationships (Jagged Edge), civil cases (Kramer vs. Kramer), and unusual judges/jurors (The Devil and Daniel Webster). A succinct plot and character synopsis for each film is followed by a legal analysis of the case that discusses evidence, legal procedures, testimonies, juries, validity of actions by the attorneys, and more. The authors raise a number of provocative questions and suggest that arriving at true justice is not always a straightforward affair. Very enjoyable reading, this book will be appreciated by film enthusiasts as well as by those interested in the various legal, social, and ethical dilemmas in the films. For circulating libraries.?Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, N.J.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0740754602
• ISBN 13: 9780740754609
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384