MAJOR SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW...
One of my favorite films about justice, police corruption, ethics, family bonds, with a terrific cast led by Andy Garcia as Sean Casey - a new attorney who finds himself on a career making case and then launched into the DA's chair. The excellent supporting cast sees James Gandolfini as a cop (in standard Gandolfini mode - showing just how bad his teeth are); Ron Liebman chewing scenery as the pre-Casey DA, Morgenstern/Morgy; Paul Guilfoyle (CSI) in a small role; Colm Feore (Changeling) as a too-tight Harvard ADA; little Commie shyster Richard Dreyfus playing "little Commie shyster" defense attorney Sam Vigoda; Lena Olin as Peggy Lindstrom, assistant to Vigoda and to-be lover of Casey (she's smart and a great actress and beautiful - but wow, that is one heckuva big vein in her left temple); Bobby Cannavale in a non-speaking role, sitting third chair for Dreyfus at the trial; and the powerhouse performance by Ian Holm as Andy Garcia's Pop, playing a cop and James Gandolfini's partner.
Slow jazz sets the tone for this somber drama. The film starts as a police bust gone bad; or, as Morgy says, "A fuckup of historical proportions." When the trial for the bust begins, Morgy recruits Casey to head the trial, partly to get the sympathy vote (his pop was shot during the bust), and partly to groom him. Says Morgy, "You know the street, kid." Casey: "I know the street." Garcia adds such depth to such simple dialogue - it really makes you pull for him.
I like the pace of this film. It seems like it's gonna be a cop drama; but the bad guy turns himself in early on. Then it seems like it's gonna be a courtroom drama; but the trial is over with an hour to go. Which is when the movie really starts to grab you as it emerges as a political story, a heartbreaking family drama, and an ethics class.
Ron Lieberman had an amazing scene, when Sean went to visit Morgy at the nursing home. At the end, Sean says humorously, "I'd kiss you, but you're an ugly bastard." Sean leaves, Morgy half-cries. Heartbreaking.
Andy should've received an Oscar nomination for this role. He "nailed it" during the trial, especially with the climax: "Did any of the blood get on your tiny white sneakers?" He shone during his campaign speech: "You need to know that law applies to everyone equally... There will be only one standard - did that person break the law? If I am elected, the law will exclude no one." Ah, I'm in heaven. I love the scene where Gandolfini's Joey asks Sean to get him on the rat list with a deal; Sean flinches (with disgust) when Joey tries to touch him, and says, to his face, "You might as well be selling dope yourself!" And to his pop, "Don't tell him he's a scum bag??!!?? That he's a disgrace??!!??" Excellent - Sean has ethics and balls. And Andy owns the half-cry - watching a grown man feel something so deeply, so painfully, that the tears flow, but he fights them back, too - at his pop's hospital bed; in his dealings with Peggy; and especially when he tells Pop that Joey's dead: "It's bad news, Pop"... All so heartbreaking - I cry every time.
On the warrant issue, I've never been a big fan of the current laws, and I'm completely fine with the judge's and Sean's actions, in the preservation of justice. I know Sean feels that it was the moment he stepped into grays; but from my book, he's still on the top of the honorable chain.
And Ian should've WON the supporting Oscar for this role. "I swear to you on your mother's grave, I'm clean." Such a strong scene. After Pop confesses the warrant issue to Sean, Sean reaches to touch him, and now it's his pop's turn to flinch - but this time out of guilt. And when he's sitting in the judge's chair, after Sean tells him about Joey? Heartbreaking again! How did Ian not get nominated?
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