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Best Court room drama films (10+1list)

Best Court room drama films.

written by Souranath Banerjee

Back in 1928 director Carl Theodor Dreyer made an epic film The Passion of Joan of Arc and although the movie was unique in many other aspects but it was also probably the first ever cinema to showcase the dramatization inside a court room.

And since then, there has been several brilliant contributions made to the ‘courtroom drama’ genre.

The Judge, the jury, the lawyer, the accused and the witnesses. Guilty or Not guilty?

Sometimes the primary focus is on the lawyer’s intellect and determination while other films deal more with the accused or the suspense of the final verdict. 

The list below consists of some of the best Courtroom drama films ever made.

So, Order! Order!

10. 12 Angry Men (1957)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7CBKT0PWFA

12-angry-men-posterWhen you say ‘courtroom drama’, the first film that comes to your mind is this one, and why not?

An epic film directed by Sidney Lumet featuring a murder trail where 12 jury members have to come to a decision unanimously.

Almost shot inside a single room, 12 characters and their unique approach to the case. Henry Fonda‘s best role.

Another brilliant film by the same director on this genre is The Verdict (1982). A must watch.

9. The Paradine Case (1947)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGt4VvcSfjU

pardine-case-posterNot one of his best suspense thrillers, but nevertheless Alfred Hitchcock‘s contribution to the courtroom drama genre.

A lawyer risks his own marriage and reputation as he falls for the beautiful female client accused of murdering her own husband!

Gregory PeckAnn ToddCharles Laughton and Oscar nominated Ethel Barrymore all at their best.

8. Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsVN1hv9D5c

witness-prosecution-posterThis time it’s director Billy Wilder who joins the courtroom drama.

Brilliant performances by Tyrone PowerMarlene DietrichCharles Laughton

The film’s suspense is so vital that the audience before entering the hall had to sign, cards that read, ‘I solemnly swear I will not reveal the ending of Witness for the Prosecution.’! 

7. Primal Fear (1996)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnmTi7hSjrA

primal-fear-posterA priest murdered and an alter boy is accused for killing him. But the real truth is not what it seems to be.

Directed by Gregory Hoblit, this one is a superb drama with some pretty unexpected twists.

Richard Gere and Laura Linney give awesome performances but the one to look for in the film is Edward Norton, a star was born.

Another cool film by the same director on this genre is Fracture (2007). A good watch.

6. Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfOgZXIQ6fo

Judgment-Nuremberg-posterFour Nazi judges are to be judged for their war crimes, but before the cold-war people are willing to forget the past very easily.

Director Stanley Kramer creates this terrific American courtroom in occupied Germany of 1948 and tells the intense tale of judgement. 

Probably the film of most historical significance in this list.

Another awesome film by the same director on this genre is Inherit the Wind (1960)

5. Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAVLvGP25uQ

Anatomy-Murder-posterCan temporary insanity be the reason for committing murder?

My favorite actor James Stewart gives a great performance along with Lee Remick and Ben Gazzara.

Directed by Otto Preminger, there was controversy because the film uses words like ‘bitch’, ‘contraceptive’, ‘panties’, ‘penetration’, ‘rape, ‘slut’ and ‘sperm’ for the first time on screen!

4. Philadelphia (1993)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl4B9AU45P4

philadelphia-posterTom HanksDenzel WashingtonRoberta Maxwell all together in this superb drama.

A lawyer takes the case of a man who press charges on his employee on the ground that he was fired just because he had AIDS.

Directed by Jonathan Demme, this is one remarkable film based on a true incident.

3. …And Justice for All. (1979)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQzYNoLANrg

And-Justice-All-poster‘You’re out of order! The whole trial is out of order! They’re out of order!’

One of Al Pacino‘s classics, a film that is intense and indeed makes you doubt the true meaning of justice.

A lawyer is forced to defend a judge who seems to be guilty.

Directed by Norman Jewison, one of the best court drama ever made. 

2. The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFwE3UgCMIk

Lincoln-Lawyer-posterA wealthy client, a talented defense lawyer with a conscience and then there is a full proof plan to beat the system!

Matthew McConaughey at his best as usual along with Marisa Tomei and Ryan Phillippe.

Directed by Brad Furman this one is one of the best court dramas of recent times.

  1. A Few Good Men (1992)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePo91pMcu94

few-good-men-posterDirected by master director Rob Reiner, this film has one thrilling court drama.

A Navy lawyer determined to defend two Marines who have been accused of murdering a colleague. But things doesn’t look as simple as they are.

Great performances by Tom CruiseJack NicholsonDemi MooreKevin Bacon – you can’t miss this one.

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most unique one. A must watch).

+1. OMG: Oh My God! (2012)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nUwpoTrWFk

OMG-Oh-My-God-PosterAn earthquake destroys an atheist shopkeeper’s shop and so he takes God to the courtroom.

Directed by Umesh Shukla, a film that is so innovative and probably the only film that so aptly deals with commercialization of religion in our current social scenario.

Akshay KumarParesh Rawal and Mithun Chakraborty – couldn’t have been better on the performance basis. 

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.comhttp://www.koimoi.com and www.bollywoodmdb.com.

The Wrestler Vs The WWE Wrestlemania

The Wrestler Vs The WWE Wrestlemania

written by Souranath Banerjee

In early 2008 an American sports drama called The wrestler was released starring Mickey RourkeMarisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood in the leads.

Directed by talented Darren Aronofsky, the film was about an aging professional wrestler of fading glory, who finds it tough to deal with his life outside the wresting ring.

The film trailer for a quick recap.

Now, though The wrestler received universal critical acclaim and won many prestigious awards including the Golden Lion in the 2008 Venice Film Festival, but still there was always that debate on how authentically did the film portray the inner labyrinth of the complex realms of the Professional Wrestling?

Or more importantly, did Mickey Rourke did justice to his role playing the fictitious wrestling star Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson?

Bret-The Hitman-HartWell, according to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Famer, multi-time world champion Bret “The Hitman” Hart ‘Although the film speaks superbly to the speed bumps all pro wrestlers navigate, I’m happy to report most of us don’t swerve off the road quite so severely’.

And then on the famous TV show Larry King Live, professional wrestler Chris Jericho openly challenged Rourke to fight him in a  wrestling match and also accused him of being a movie star trying too hard to imitate some real time wrestler. 

This was ofcourse all a part of a storyline since Jericho was a top heel at that time.

Finally, Rourke was invited to the 2009 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony where Jericho defeated prominent wrestlers like Ricky SteamboatRoddy Piper, and Jimmy Snuka in a handicap match.

After his victory, Jericho went on humiliating Ric Flair (who did support Rourke from the start) and openly provoked Rourke for a fight in front of the crowd.

And this time Rourke accepted the challenge and the rest is history.

By the way, this was all a part of WWE helping to promote The Wrestler and it worked really well for the film. 

Mickey Rourke undoubtedly was awesome as an actor showcasing the struggles of a one-time-famous wrestler and he received a BAFTA award, a Golden Globe award, an Independent Spirit Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor as recognition.

According to director Aronofsky – WWE chairman Vince McMahon saw the film and he called both me and Mickey (Rourke) and he was really, really touched by it.’

Rowdy-Roddy-PiperAronofsky also mentioned that “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, the late Hall of Famer became emotional after watching the film – ‘He loved it. He broke down and cried in Mickey’s arms, so he was psyched that this story was finally told.’

Even the Hardcore Legend and former WWF champion Mick Foley praised Rourke’s performance – ‘Within five [minutes], I had completely forgotten I was looking at Mickey Rourke. That guy on the screen simply was Randy ‘the Ram’ Robinson.’

More comments from professional wrestlers regarding the film on Fox Searchlight Pictures’s ‘Wrestler Round Table’

So passionate was Mickey Rourke about his role in the film that he actually ‘blade’ himself, he did cut his own forehead with a razor blade as many wrestlers often do during a fight to entertain the audience!

Hulk-HoganIt was revealed that the character Randy “The Ram” Robinson shares characteristics of the two biggest wrestling icons of the 1980s: Hulk Hogan and Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage (Randy Savage)!

And lastly one of the most chilled out and informal interview of Mickey Rourke with Darren Aronofsky – this is as frank and honest as the movie stars can get behind of the camera! 

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.comwww.freecodesource.com, www.rowdyroddypiper.comwww.dailystar.co.uk/http://hulkhogan.com/