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- Issue 24: Summer edition ☀️
Objection overruled
“If we are to have faith in justice, we need only to believe in ourselves and act with justice.” -Frank Galvin (The Verdict)
Happy Fourth! I hope you all had a great holiday. Is it me or does it feel strange to have the Fourth of July not attached to a weekend? I digress. Now that you’ve survived the holiday travel, and stuffed yourself full of BBQ, take a moment to enjoy a film that captures the drama and tension of the justice system; one that holds up to this day. The verdict on the The Verdict (1982) is in. This is one of the best legal thrillers ever produced. And that’s saying a lot since the director, Sydney Lumet, also directed 12 Angry Men (1957). It should be criminal that one director is responsible for two such iconic and indelible movies. And with that, it’s time to render a verdict on Sydney Lumet. You are charged with causing me to use the word “verdict” more times in this paragraph than in my entire life up until this issue. However, taking into account mitigating circumstances; namely directing a stellar film featuring the aforementioned overused word in the title, your sentence is as follows: being recognized as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Case adjourned.
-John
Moving Forward
Episode 473: Summer movie series: The Verdict (1982)
Catch this week’s episode on Spotify.
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2024 Summer movie series
The Verdict (*****)
Big screen legal dramas seem to be a thing of the past. Today, they’re mostly relegated to television and streaming. 1982’s The Verdict is a throwback to a bygone cinematic era. Yet it is a film that stands up to modern scrutiny and will make you long for when Hollywood produced intelligent, thought provoking films. Like The Rainmaker (1997), The Verdict doesn’t shy away from the technicalities of civil litigation. Instead, it dives head first into them, giving viewers an accurate primer on the rules of evidence, civil procedure, and the cat wrangling that lawyers on both sides must do to litigate a trial with massive stakes at play.
The stellar cast is headlined by Paul Newman and James Mason portraying two legal titans whose intellectual sparring within the courtroom is reminiscent of soldiers on a battlefield. Newman shines as Frank Galvin, a once hotshot plaintiff’s lawyer who fell from grace from a legal scandal who attempts redemption by taking on a seemingly impossible case that pits him against a prominent law firm, a biased judge, and a powerful defendant backed by the Catholic church. Opposing him is Ed Concannon, masterfully portrayed by Mason who nearly steals the show. Concannon is a seasoned defense attorney whose steely stare and biting courtroom style is exactly what you would want in an advocate if you were caught in the crosshairs of a plaintiff’s lawsuit. Add to that solid performances from fantastic supporting actors who play their parts brilliantly, in and out of the courtroom. Notably, Joe Seneca excels in a small role as Dr. Thompson, an earnest expert witness for Galvin. Thompson is a decent man who is undaunted at doing and saying the right thing despite being picked apart by Concannon in an uncomfortable scene that can aptly be described as the courtroom equivalent of “death by a thousand cuts.”
If you’re thinking about a legal career, particularly as a litigator, this movie is a must watch.
The Verdict (1982) was directed by Sydney Lumet on a budget of $16M, achieving a $54M box office. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including best picture, director, actor, supporting actor, and adapted screenplay.
Cast:
Paul Newman as Frank Galvin
James Mason as Ed Concannon
Charlotte Rampling as Laura Fischer
Jack Warden as Mickey Morrissey
James Handy as Kevin Doneghy
Roxanne Hart as Sally Doneghy
Joe Seneca as Dr. Thompson
Lindsay Crouse as Kaitlin Costello
Edward Binns as Bishop Brophy
Milo O’Shea as Judge Hoyle
The Verdict (1982) usually pops up on Max but is not currently streaming as of the air of this episode. Check your local library. You can also purchase The Verdict (1982) on physical or digital media from Amazon (affiliate paid link).
2024 Summer movie series
The legal career roadmap in film
The Paper Chase (1973) - law school [MF 344].
The Firm (1993) / The Rainmaker (1997) - early legal career [MF 392].
The Verdict (1982) - mid-career [MF 473].
Inherit the Wind (1960) - late career [MF 346].
12 Angry Men (1957) - a jury’s point of view [MF 432].
Available now at my bookstore on Pangobooks
Celebrate Independence Day with one of the founding fathers 🇺🇸
Quirky reads 📚
Some great books to fill your summer hours.
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Transformers, Vol.: Robots in Disguise by Daniel Warren Johnson (***)
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Resources
Teach a man to fish, you know the rest (if you don’t, check these out).
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Books
I wrote most of these so spruce up your home library and look smart in the process.
The Poshmark Guide for Individuals and Small Businesses (Paperback, Kindle, Audible)
The Poshmark Guide for Individuals and Small Businesses (Apple audiobooks)
I Am a Professional Metalhead (audiobook) (Audible affiliate link) written by Angelo Spenillo, narrated by John Lim
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