Spring Break is on the horizon, a time of some relaxation before thinking about final exams. So why not take advantage of the Moritz Law Library’s selection of legal movies? We have something for every taste:
- Do you enjoy comedies with legal themes? Try Legally Blonde, Wedding Crashers, or Liar Liar.
- Would you prefer a based-on-the-book classic? How about Runaway Jury or Bleak House (we have two versions, one starring Gillian Anderson and one starring Diana Rigg).
- Prefer historical fiction? Then try The Crucible (set during the Salem witch trials) or Hart’s War (set in a World War II POW camp).
- Didn’t get a chance to celebrate Presidents Day? We have John Adams, Lincoln, and Young Mr. Lincoln.
- Need a news series to binge watch? We have The Good Wife, Law and Order: Trial by Jury, and, on the lighter side, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.
- Finally, you might like to try a courtroom classic such as Adam’s Rib or Inherit the Wind.
- Stephanie Ziegler recommends Suspect, a mystery set during a murder trial in which a public defender (Cher) represents a homeless Vietnam veteran (Liam Neeson). Law students might enjoy spotting the ethical violations committed by multiple characters, but it’s still a fun and suspenseful ride. She is also a fan of Witness for the Prosecution, based on the short story by Agatha Christie.
- Paul Gatz recommends A Man for All Seasons, a classic retelling of the conflict between Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield) and Henry VIII (Robert Shaw), regarding the King’s divorce from his first (of six!) wives. The film won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor, and was ranked #43 on the British Film Institute’s list of the Top 100 British Films.
- Susan Azyndar recommends Woman in Gold, the very recent film about a Jewish refugee (Helen Mirren) who attempts to recover her family’s painting, which was stolen by the Nazis, with the help of her lawyer (Ryan Reynolds). Mirren was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance.
- Matt Cooper recommends the crime drama series The Wire, which had been nominated for multiple Emmy and NAACP Image awards for writing and acting. The library just ordered the complete series…it should be here soon! He also recommends Electoral Dysfunction, a nonpartisan documentary hosted by political humorist Mo Rocca.