...And Justice for All

R

Released Oct 19, 1979

2 hr. 0 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

83%

35 Reviews

Tomatometer

80%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Alec B

It has fair points to make however the movie deals with so many extreme examples of systemic and individual failures in such a short period of time that it feels less like serious indictment of the legal system and more like a histrionic rant.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Jelisije J

A very good court room drama that is a mixture of a comedy of Al Pacino character having one of the worst couples of months as a defense lawyer that you will ever see in film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/24

Full Review

Narciso R

Wildly funny, hysterical at times, what acting. Great cast, inspiring. NRJ.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/24

Full Review

Crey Fish S

If you look up reviews for …And Justice For All, it's no secret this film's script is all over the place. Is it a drama? Nope it's a screwball comedy but no please stick around, it's a drama again. This can work in films where the the comedy is set from the beginning and feels aligned with the story. This is not the case here. But none of this would matter as much if the direction gave this film some focus - really highlighting the meaning behind the film. Instead we get handheld camera movement in prison, wacky wide and point of view shots for comedy, and standard dramatic coverage for those moments where Al Pacino really gives it his all - coverage of a script in its first draft. However, within this mediocre, tonally imbalanced movie lies a brilliant Al Pacino performance. This film needed a director's cut because that ending fucking ruled before it decided to finish on another cheap gag.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Most of Al Pacino’s movies are average, never outstanding.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/19/23

Full Review

Sarthak B

"Mr. Kirkland! You're out of order! You're out of order. You're out of order! The whole trial is out of order!" I have no words to define what I just saw. This film was the true definition of cinema. In the words of the great Martin Scorsese himself, this is something that is going to stay with me so that a few years later, when I watch it again, it'll be different for me. There'll be more to learn. There isn't a definitive story to this film but rather a bunch of stories wrapped up that are connected by the life of a man named Arthur Kirkland who is a lawyer. Things are a bit confusing and seem scattered at the start, but once everything starts to make sense and is well established, the payoffs to it just never stop. The hard-hittings the film aims to provide just don't stop (trust me, I was riveted by some of the horrifying realities I saw in the later half of the film). The acting is just phenomenal. Al Pacino has never been better and I just love him in this. He's great throughout the runtime but all he needed was two scenes in the film to prove he's worthy of the crown for a king. One at the very end during the final trial and one in a parking lot before the 3rd act began. All other performances are also great but none of them as good as Pacino's because, quite frankly, he was running a one-man show here. Jeffrey Tambor in particular stood out amongst the supporting cast the most. I just wanna say that even though this film will feel like it's not going anywhere, just wait for the first act to end with all it's establishment stuff no matter how boring and pointless it may feel. When the second act begins, you will get an idea of what's actually happening and where the film will ultimately go but still it'll be a bit unclear and you might just want to drop it midway. But as soon as the third act begins, the film picks up and never stops to throw those hard punches at you and trust me, you will never have had a feeling of this much satisfaction after investing this much time into a film. Truly an exhilarating experience, something I'll never forget.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/11/23

Full Review

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Norman Jewison

Director

Al Pacino

Arthur Kirkland

Jack Warden

Judge Francis Rayford

John Forsythe

Judge Henry T. Fleming

Lee Strasberg

Grandpa Sam

Jeffrey Tambor

Jay Porter

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Robert Osborne

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

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

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

Jan 24, 2013

Full Review

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

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

And Justice For All is an excessive film. It has a lot to say and sometimes loses its breath, chokes and stutters. But it is good, and at times excellent. [Full review in Spanish]

Jan 17, 2024

Full Review

Michael Clark

Epoch Times

...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL is a blistering satirical commentary on the American judicial system in general and specifically the correctly perceived two sets of rules for society's haves and the have-nots.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 31, 2022

Full Review

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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
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

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