shakercoola Two attorneys are representing different sides of a settlement case running into millions of dollars, potentially tens of millions. One would represent a group of car owners, the other an automobile manufacturer. The plaintiffs' cars exploded due to a bad component and this has caused injuries and fatalities. Maverick radical lawyer and ambitious big firm shark lawyer are also father and daughter respectively, and they don't get on. But this isn't just a battle of wits. Young vs Old. Although the screenplay is quite dense in law lingo, it feels authentic, and it involves a lawsuit with a powerful ethical slant. The subtext is about forgiveness and change, and the rule of law that must win the day. It's not a nail-biter but it is surprisingly effective, with two great actors giving good performances.

nealvan557 I've been a victim of medical malpractice THREE TIMES beginning 1991 then 2004, and finally TWICE in 2016. Other than the firs doctor who was completely uncaring about my side effect complaints for nearly nine months. The others simply made mistakes as we are all human and as such are fallible. HOWEVER...accidents causing harm and injury whether temporary or permanent ARE supposed to permit the injured party to be compensated based on the degree and severity of the harm done. However, not ONCE did a single lawyer believe me. None accepted ANY of my malpractice cases even though I could have easily PROVED each and every one of those doctors who got away at harming me!!If only a lawyer like the one portrayed by Hackman existed in real life, or at least in mine. Think about this readers.... How much money would all aspects of the medical, auto, legal, government, and insurance multi billion dollar industries LOSE if doctors did their jobs better instead of hiding behind the law when they harm their patients which is a violation of their Hypocratic Oath. Bottom line...THERE IS NO PROFIT IN A WORLD FILLED WITH HEALTHY PEOPLE, BUT THERE AR TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS MADE BY KEEPING SICK PEOPLE ALIVE BUT WITHIUT THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY LIVE!! Here's one more...of someone came up with the cure for Cancer or even the common cold. Do you think anything like that would EVER make it to the people in the real world? Compare the price of a cure, against the prices to keep treating and treating just ONE person for as many years as those medical people can keep that person alive while they MUST spend more and more money every day only to suffer longer until they finally die. Then the morticians get their chance to make several thousands of dollars to finish off what's left. Did you know it's ILLEGAL to spread cremated ashes on a grave plot already paid for because the cemetery is bound by LAW that they must dig a full size hole, line the whole with concrete, then after you bought the urn, put that urn into the concrete hole, cover it up, the you have to pay per letter for engraving just the name onto the headstone. Why? If people are just a pound or so of ashes, why in hell cant a family member dig their own hole, and stick the urn or just the ashes into that hole at the plot already paid for, cover it up, then pay for just the engraving? Answer....because there's NO BIG MONEY TO BE MADE BY DOING SUCH A SIMPLE THING. Not even allowe to dump the ashes at sea. And all people are allowed to think about is how Disney animations from the 1930-1960s ma have been racist. As Hackman says in the beginning of the movie...WELCOME TO THE MAD HATTERS TEA PARTY!!

AbeStreet Sometimes I'm left with the impression that viewers think all films should be award winning material, as though the goal and worth of a film can be judged by the amount of award nominations it generates and brings home. I disagree, a good film should entertain, and that is what this film does very well. Nice on location sets give the film an authentic and attractive feel. The acting is top notch. The two main overlapping stories, the father & daughter relationship and the legal battle, tie in very nicely. This is a solid film that draws the viewer in and keeps his/her attention until final scene. There are many ways to waste two hours, this film is not one of them.

blanche-2 Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastroantonio are involved in a "Class Action" in this 1991 film that also stars Laurence Fishburne, Donald Moffatt, Joanna Merlin and Fred Thompson. Hackman and MEM, father and daughter, are both attorneys. "I raised you," Jed (Hackman) yells at Maggie (MEM) during one scene. "Mom raised me," she screams back. "You had a date." Maggie's resentment over her father's infidelity erupts after the death of her mother (Merlin) in a powerful scene. Although Maggie has tried to reconcile with him, she finds there is too much in the way. Maggie is in an ethical quandary when the law firm she works for wants to suppress evidence about an automobile manufacturer's malfeasance; complicating things is that her father heads the team the other side of the case.This is a very good movie that emotionally rings true, thanks to a good script and fine performances by Hackman and Mary Elizabeth. I had the pleasure of working with Mary Elizabeth when she was a Broadway actress - a lovely woman with a great talent, shown here to excellent advantage. Grieving for her mother and unable to accept her father's love, she is blindsided by her boyfriend/boss' ethics violation and has nowhere to turn. The viewer can really feel her pain. Hackman is wonderful as a shark attorney who loved his wife deeply but made some unfortunate choices and alienated his only child. He finds himself now vulnerable and confused; Hackman expresses these emotions beautifully. There is able support from the top-notch cast.Compelling and at times powerful.