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Night Falls on Manhattan

Play trailer Poster for Night Falls on Manhattan R Released May 16, 1997 1h 54m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
72% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
New attorney Sean Casey (Andy Garcia), a former policeman, has been unexpectedly tapped to prosecute a case against drug dealer Jordan Washington (Shiek Mahmud-Bey). Washington's lawyer, Sam Vigoda (Richard Dreyfuss), claims that there is a police cover-up against his client. However, Casey wins the trial and soon becomes county district attorney. It's then that he finds evidence that there may have really been corruption in the force, and it could involve his father, Liam (Ian Holm).
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Night Falls on Manhattan

Critics Reviews

View All (32) Critics Reviews
Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: B- Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Globe and Mail Rated: 2.5/4 Apr 12, 2002 Full Review Mike Clark USA Today Its maker's best since 1988's Running on Empty and maybe even '82's The Verdict. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Ian Kane Epoch Times It is a thought-provoking experience, which might unsettle some, but that’s precisely what makes it worth watching. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 3, 2024 Full Review Emilie Black Cinema Crazed Night Falls on Manhattan is a modern-day classic with solid writing, direction, acting, cinematography, and just about everything else, making for a very well-rounded film that is easy to rewatch this many years later. Rated: 4.5/5 Apr 30, 2024 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews It’s only as the picture progresses into an admittedly unpredictable yet comparatively less-than-enthralling midsection that one’s interest begins to flag... Rated: 3/4 Jul 20, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (69) audience reviews
Zach B The speech Sean Casey (Garcia) gives the incoming class of city district attorneys in the waning moments of the film is worth the price of admission alone, and Ron Liebman is pure gold as Morgenstern. This is a who's who of actors you associate with the Big Apple. One of my favorite NYC dramas because it explores family, integrity, and ambition with characters you fall in love with. 4.5 stars. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/21/24 Full Review KB B This was a an enjoyable movie with good acting and plot. Andy Garcia and Richard Dreyfuss were both superb as usual. It's definitely worth the watch. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/01/24 Full Review Alec B It's overstuffed with plot, characters, and speeches (so many, many speeches). Like most of Lumet's later work the film plays like a poor imitation of his earlier and better morality thrillers. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/13/23 Full Review Ross F Sidney Lumet directed. NYC. Cops. Attorneys. Nostalgia and courtroom drama. If you like Law & Order, you'll like this. Plus, Richard Dreyfuss as defense attorney. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/03/23 Full Review Arthur D Very good show! This movie was engaging, had drama, and some unpredictability. The main actors gave solid performances and played their part convincingly. The story went along smoothly with some unexpected twists and turns. Everything was brought together for the conclusion with some thought provoking questions to ponder. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/17/22 Full Review Audience Member I was pretty entertained and interested for most of this suspenseful legal drama that opened with a fairly captivating first fifteen minutes. The story takes a few different turns and gives the conflict multiple facets, connections, or dimensions from which to both present and explore it from. Lumet yet again adapts and brings to life a story focused on the seedier, rotten, and often less acknowledged underbelly of New York, utilizing the city as another cast member, to create the right element and emotional aesthetic throughout his films. I always am thankful for a James Gandolfini sighting and while he was definitely next in the running I have to give the MVP to Ron Leibman who brought a larger than life personality to his role as DA Morgenstern that I was totally eating up. A few other familiar faces from The Sopranos series were featured as well including Dominic Chianese as the judge. This certainly felt indicative of the mid 90s suspense drama that, while sometimes blander and more quaint looking watching today, can still offer a comforting feeling of nostalgia, even if I have never seen the actual film before. 6.5/10 Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Night Falls on Manhattan

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Cast & Crew

Night Falls on Manhattan

Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Washington Surrenders Unscathed Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Washington Surrenders Unscathed 2:13 Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Tiny White Sneakers Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Tiny White Sneakers 2:00 Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Nail the Son of a Bitch Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Nail the Son of a Bitch 2:04 Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - You're Garbage! You're Nothing! Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - You're Garbage! You're Nothing! 1:46 Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Everybody's Innocent Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Everybody's Innocent 1:31 Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Send Back-Up, Come Heavy Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Send Back-Up, Come Heavy 2:12 Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - They're Coming On After You Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - They're Coming On After You 2:10 Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Case Closed Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Case Closed 2:12 Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Do You Hear Me?! Night Falls on Manhattan: Official Clip - Do You Hear Me?! 2:13 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis New attorney Sean Casey (Andy Garcia), a former policeman, has been unexpectedly tapped to prosecute a case against drug dealer Jordan Washington (Shiek Mahmud-Bey). Washington's lawyer, Sam Vigoda (Richard Dreyfuss), claims that there is a police cover-up against his client. However, Casey wins the trial and soon becomes county district attorney. It's then that he finds evidence that there may have really been corruption in the force, and it could involve his father, Liam (Ian Holm).
Director
Sidney Lumet
Producer
Josh Kramer, Thom Mount
Screenwriter
Robert Daley, Sidney Lumet
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 16, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.9M
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1), 35mm
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