LEGAL TEAM RATES MOVIES' PORTRAYAL OF THE PRACTICE.Byline: Peter Hartlaub Daily News Staff Writer John Grisham's ``The Gingerbread gingerbread In architecture and design, elaborately detailed embellishment, either lavish or superfluous. Though the term is occasionally applied to such highly detailed and decorative styles as the Rococo, it usually refers to the hand-carved and -sawn wood ornamentation of Man'' has only one courtroom scene, which is short enough to escape the critical gavel gavel small mallet used by judge or presiding officer to signal order. [Western Culture: Misc.] See : Authority of UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX law professors Paul Bergman and Michael Asimow. The lawyer in the film opening this weekend wasn't as lucky. ``(Kenneth Branagh) portrays a man who defends cop killers, sleeps with his client and shoots an elderly man who escaped from a mental hospital,'' Bergman said, leaving out a scene where the attorney punches out the janitor at his kids' school. ``Typical Grisham,'' Asimow quipped. Filling that empty space between the Rex Reeds and Janet Renos of the world, Bergman and Asimow have made a second career critiquing courtroom dramas and deciding whether they do justice to the legal profession. Their book and lectures offer advice for those who think they're seeing the real thing when Tom Cruise approaches the witness stand to cross-examine Jack Nicholson John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22 1937), known as Jack Nicholson, is a three time Academy Award winning American actor internationally renowned for his often dark-themed portrayals of neurotic characters. : Even the best legal films tend to romanticize ro·man·ti·cize v. ro·man·ti·cized, ro·man·ti·ciz·ing, ro·man·ti·ciz·es v.tr. To view or interpret romantically; make romantic. v.intr. To think in a romantic way. a profession that is mostly paperwork. ``Sure, movie courtrooms are more exciting than real courtrooms,'' Bergman said. ``No friends have ever turned to themselves and said, `I'm in the mood for a really good time, let's go Let's Go may refer to: Television
Bergman and Asimow are a fairly simple concoction - just mix movie critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert in a blender with Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, hit ``puree pu·rée or pu·ree tr.v. pu·réed or pu·reed, pu·rée·ing or pu·ree·ing, pu·rées or pu·rees To rub through a strainer or process (food) in a blender. n. ,'' then pour in a sticky-floored cineplex. Sometimes they agree. Sometimes they argue. Sometimes they paraphrase legendary lawyer William Jennings Bryan. Their book - ``Reel Justice: The Courtroom Goes to the Movies'' - rates legal movies on a scale of gavels instead of stars (``From the Hip'' got one gavel, the worst; ``My Cousin Vinny'' received four). Bergman and Asimow also co-instruct ``Law in Popular Culture,'' a three-unit UCLA law school class that, needless to say, has a long waiting list. ``The visual image is very powerful in teaching,'' Asimow said. ``An ethics dilemma that Jimmy Stewart is faced with is something that sticks in your mind.'' Release of ``The Gingerbread Man'' means it's feeding time for the duo. It's a movie without a trial, so there will be no gavel treatment. Still, the professors typed a broader review of the film for a Web site called ``Picturing Justice.'' They called the plot ``disjointed,'' but complimented the movie's willingness to explore the attorney's caring side. The Internet article is less catty cat·ty 1 adj. cat·ti·er, cat·ti·est 1. Subtly cruel or malicious; spiteful: a catty remark. 2. Catlike; stealthy. than the reviews in ``Reel Justice,'' in which they described Judd Nelson's ``From the Hip'' character as ``what might have been if a fourth Stooge stooge n. 1. The partner in a comedy team who feeds lines to the other comedian; a straight man. 2. One who allows oneself to be used for another's profit or advantage; a puppet. 3. Slang A stool pigeon. had gone to law school.'' Bergman and Asimow have a corner on the market, but others in the legal world enjoy playing critic of lawyer movies. Los Angeles City Attorney The Los Angeles City Attorney is an elected official whose job is to prosecute all of the misdemeanor criminal offenses within the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. Jim Hahn said citizens are ``brainwashed'' by TV shows like ``Perry Mason'' and ``Matlock.'' ``There aren't enough good movies about prosecutors,'' he said. ``They're portrayed as dolts who don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what's going on What's Going On is a record by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. Released on May 21, 1971 (see 1971 in music), What's Going On reflected the beginning of a new trend in soul music. and bring false charges.'' U.S. Attorney Nora Manella also disputed ``the persistent suggestion that prosecutors will do absolutely anything to secure a conviction.'' But attorney Gloria Allred, with a watchful eye for chauvinism chauvinism (shō`vənĭzəm), word derived from the name of Nicolas Chauvin, a soldier of the First French Empire. Used first for a passionate admiration of Napoleon, it now expresses exaggerated and aggressive nationalism. in any medium, wants more quality attorney roles for women in film. ``It seems like if they're there, it has to be for sex,'' she said. Civil rights attorney Stephen Yagman bristles when movie lawyers get in witnesses' faces during questioning. ``It never, ever, ever happens like that,'' he said. L.A. ATTORNEYS' MOVIE PICKS Of six Los Angeles attorneys polled, five said ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' (1962) was the best legal movie they had ever seen. The sixth, Stephen Yagman, liked ``Judgment at Nuremberg'' (1961). Here's why ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' was their favorite: ``I was graduating from college when it came out (and) it was inspiring. It was about fighting the good fight for the just cause, plus there was great acting.'' -- Gloria Allred, civil rights attorney ``I admire the relationship between the father and daughter and the (interplay) between the social, political and personal aspects of civil rights ligitation.'' -- Mark Rosenbaum, ACLU ACLU: see American Civil Liberties Union. legal director ``I liked rooting for Atticus Finch. It was just a great story and I like the idea that a heroic guy pursuing justice can make a difference.'' -- Jim Hahn, city attorney ``Because of Elmer Bernstein's score.'' -- Nora Manella, U.S. attorney ``It gives a realistic look at the legal system.'' -- Gil Garcetti, district attorney CAPTION(S): 6 Photos, Box PHOTO (1) THE WINNER: ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' (1962, starring Gregory Peck) OTHER FAVORITES: (2) ``Anatomy of a Murder'' (1959, starring Jimmy Stewart) (3) ``Inherit the Wind'' (1960, starring Spencer Tracy) (4) ``Judgment at Nuremberg'' (1961, starring Maximilian Schell) (5) ``The Verdict'' (1982, starring Paul Newman) (6) Law professors Paul Bergman, left, and Michael Asimow critique Hollywood's treatment of attorneys in their book, ``Reel Justice.'' John McCoy/Daily News BOX: L.A. ATTORNEY`S MOVIE PICKS |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion