Wednesday, September 20, 2017

MOVIE DIALOG OF THE DAY ― A CIVIL ACTION (1998)

Connection with the previous post (THE MANHATTAN PROJECT): John Lithgow co-starred in both films.

RATINGS: IMDB ―6.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes ― 60%, ME ― 75%


Judge Walter J. Skinner: [beginning the preliminary proceedings] Now the matter before us seems to be a simple one.
Jan Schlichtmann: Your honor I'm sorry but I don't think it's simple.
Judge Walter J. Skinner: May I hear it?
Jan Schlichtmann: No, because the true intention is to place me under a cloud of impropriety in your court room right from the beginning, what they're saying with this motion is that they know the law and I don't that their real lawyers and I'm not they're just trying to humiliate me.
Judge Walter J. Skinner: You are a personal injury lawyer are you not? I think you'll survive that.
Jan Schlichtmann: You see? Its starting already.Judge Walter J. Skinner: No you've started already.
Jan Schlichtmann: No I'm on the defensive and their the defendants.
Judge Walter J. Skinner: Do you think I can at least hear this motion before you tell me what it's really about?
Jan Schlichtmann: Of course.

Trivia (From IMDB):

Based on a true story.

During the phone conversation in the radio booth, a confused Schlictmann asks Anne Anderson, "Is this Rikki?" Rikki Klieman is a real-life lawyer and former love interest of Schlictmann's in the true-to-life book. Since 1999, she's been married to Boston's former police chief William J. Bratton, who also headed the LAPD and the NYPD.

The real Jerome Facher was thrilled at the way he was portrayed by veteran actor Robert Duvall.

Steven Zaillian adapted the screenplay with nobody else but Robert Duvall in mind for the role of Jerome Facher.

Several scenes described in the book are reproduced in the film, such as Facher's asking for the hotel pen at the settlement conference, Schlictmann's meeting with Eustis at the Harvard Club in New York, Gordon's attempts to keep the firm solvent (even purchasing lottery tickets and giving money to televangelists) and Riley's behavior at his deposition.

Will Smith was first choice to play the lead.

Marlon Brando turned down the role of Jerry Facher.

The film cast includes three Oscar winners: Robert Duvall, Kathy Bates and Sydney Pollack; and four Oscar nominees: William H. Macy, Kathleen Quinlan, John Lithgow and John Travolta.

Multiple characters make subtle fun of Mr. Cheeseman's name, emphasizing CHEESE-man. James Gandolfini calls him Chessman after his deposition, subtly implying he is merely a pawn. This is reinforced later when Facher (Duvall) refers to himself and Schlichtman (Travolta) as Kings. Several shot set-ups also emphasize the chess-theme being played out in court.

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