...And Justice for All

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...And Justice for All

R

Released Oct 19, 1979

2h 0m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Satirical drama in which an idealistic lawyer who tries to win cases for clients trapped in a hypocritical and corrupt legal system finds himself defending a venal and self-righteous judge accused of rape. The judge wrongly assumes the lawyer's ideals and disdain for the courts will drive him to get an acquittal, despite the evidence and the loathing they have for each other.

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Critics Consensus

A volcanic Al Pacino holds court in this histrionic legal drama, the star grounding a tonally imbalanced script with the conviction of his impassioned performance.

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Robert Osborne

The Hollywood Reporter

With Al Pacino starring and Norman Jewison directing, the Joe Wizan presentation for Columbia release socks across an often scathing, surprisingly funny and constantly terrifying scan of today's judicial system

Oct 21, 2019

Full Review

Nathan Rabin

AV Club

Justice is seldom as deep or trenchant as it wants to be, but there's abundant pleasure to be gleaned from skating along its surfaces.

Rated: B+

Jan 24, 2013

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Variety Staff

Variety

Attempts to alternate between comedy and drama, handling neither one incompetently, but also not excelling at either task.

Jan 24, 2013

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Phoenix Staff

Boston Phoenix

Al Pacino, noisy and effective, yet totally out of control, as a disillusioned Baltimore lawyer, gets to grandstand shamelessly; he gives the movie what little power it has, but the performance is all hollow showmanship.

Rated: 1/4

Sep 23, 2024

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Bernard Drew

Gannett News Service

Some scenes are grim and tragic, some pure farce, some manifestations of paranoia of daily life in these times, but Jewison has not found the glue to meld them together. His anxiety ridden film is too often hot and cold running water.

Sep 22, 2024

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

The codification of Pacino’s movie star persona, the first time he started treating that magnificent head of hair as a co-headliner and when his squeaky Michael Corleone whisper got gruff.

Jan 22, 2024

Full Review

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Kyle M

While there are films with insightful glimpses delving into their designated subjects, this outrageously empathetic look of unflinching tension into legal proceedings is one of the most admirably gripping pictures that emotionally captivate from stellar performative convictions with thought-provoking, piercing honesty, climaxing through one of Al Pacino’s amazing performances at an untouchable level. (A-)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/07/25

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Mikey B

Part satire part drama, the movie never figures itself out. Pacino hyperacting. Some good scenes, but the story seems lost

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

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Alain E

I don’t care who directed this and if Pacino is trying to stay afloat playing the leading role. A legal dramedy! To be avoided.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/02/25

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Christian K

Pacino really is incredible here and a true man of the people in this tough look at a rigged system and its effects on those in and around it. Love the structure in this as it focuses the majority of its runtime on its lead and building the world, there are only several scenes dedicated to the primary case of the film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/13/25

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Ionut I

The first half of the movie is a hard and misplaced story that only makes sense to the once that really do want to inquire in Al Pacino's fight in the justice system, but after digesting it, the second half, packed with intriguing plots , makes the viewer understand that in alpacino's character, the defense is doing a injustice by defending someone who is guilty starting its redemption arc

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/30/25

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Rami A

For those only familiar with the courtroom scene, I recommend watching the full movie. It's worth it. It features one of Al Pacino's best performances and a well-written script. Al Pacino's acting showcases a range of emotions, including humor, fear, rage, and sadness across all the scenes that require them. In my opinion, he should have won an Oscar for it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/15/25

Full Review

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Norman Jewison

Director

Al Pacino

Arthur Kirkland

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Synopsis

Satirical drama in which an idealistic lawyer who tries to win cases for clients trapped in a hypocritical and corrupt legal system finds himself defending a venal and self-righteous judge accused of rape. The judge wrongly assumes the lawyer's ideals and disdain for the courts will drive him to get an acquittal, despite the evidence and the loathing they have for each other.

Director: Norman Jewison
Producer: Norman Jewison, Patrick J. Palmer
Screenwriter: Valerie Curtin, Barry Levinson
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 19, 1979, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Runtime: 2h 0m

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