Legal Eagles
A natural breeding ground for tension, suspense and witty repartee, the courtroom has long been an obvious choice for filmmakers. Here you will find murder ('In Cold Blood', 'Murder in the First'), injustice ('The Trials of Darryl Hunt', 'In The Name of the Father'), corruption ('Runaway Jury', 'Damages'), bigotry ('To Kill A Mockingbird', 'The Accused') and a few laughs as well ('Legally Blonde'). All be seated! Court is now in session!
Pictured: Brock Peters and the inimitable Gregory Peck who won the Oscar for his protrayal of Atticus Finch in 'To Kill A Mockingbird'.
Let Him Have It (1992)
7.3/10
Director: Peter Medak
Starring: Christopher Eccleston, Paul Reynolds, Tom Courtenay
An absorbing drama based on the true story of Derek Bentley, a slow-witted youth who was pulled into a life of crime in post war England, and sentence... Read more
McLibel (1998)
6.8/10
Director: Ken Loach, Franny Armstrong
Starring: Dave Morris, Helen Steele, John Safran, Rob Newman
When McDonald's decided to sue two young English protestors for libel, they didn't expect to be in court for years on end. The true story of England's... Read more
Michael Clayton (2007)
7.3/10
Director: Tony Gilroy
Starring: George Clooney, Sydney Pollack, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Michael O'Keefe, D...
Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is a skilled attorney with a well-earned reputation as a 'fixer', a man with a knack for making complicated legal mes... Read more
Monster (2003)
7.3/10
Director: Patty Jenkins
Starring: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Lee Tergesen
Charlize Theron won the Best Actress Academy Award for her astonishing performance as Aileen Wuornos, the prostitute convicted of killing several men... Read more
Murder on a Sunday Morning (2001)
8/10
Director: Jean Xavier de Lestrade
This intense and exciting Oscar-winning documentary focuses on the wrongful arrest of 15-year-old African-American, Brenton Butler, for the murder of... Read more
On the Basis of Sex (2018)
6.7/10
Director: Mimi Leder
Starring: Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Kathy Bates, Sam Waterston, Cailee...
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a struggling attorney and new mother who faces adversity and numerous obstacles in her fight for equal rights. When Ruth takes... Read more
Presumed Innocent (1990)
6.9/10
Director: Alan J Pakula
Starring: Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Raul Julia
A criminal prosecutor becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a colleague with whom he once had a fiery extra-marital relationship. Harrison Ford,... Read more
Primal Fear (1996)
7.7/10
Director: Gregory Hoblit
Starring: Richard Gere, Edward Norton, Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard, Frances...
Guilty? Innocent? Those questions aren't for high-powered Chicago attorney Martin Vail (Richard Gere) to decide. His job is to defend - especially if... Read more
Reversible Errors (2004)
6.3/10
Director: Mike Robe
Starring: William H Macy, Tom Selleck, Monica Potter, Felicity Huffman, James Rebhorn, She...
A tense courtroom drama, made as a TV mini-series, and starring William H Macy as a corporate lawyer who reluctantly takes on a pro bono murder case.... Read more
Rumpole of the Bailey: Rumpole's Return (1980)
8.5/10
Director: John Glenister
Starring: Leo McKern, Peter Bowles, Patricia Hodge, Patsy Smart
In a stand alone feature-length episode that follows on from the end of series 2, Rumpole (Leo McKern) has retired and moved to Florida to be closer t... Read more