A Civil Action Movie Review 1998

Low-key courtroom thriller doesn't contain many thrills. Travolta is Jan Schlichtmann, a flashy lawyer who freely admits that he's an ambulance chasing weasel. When a grieving mother (Quinlan) approaches him with a case accusing two corporate conglomerates of causing an outbreak of leukemia among children, Jan smells a big payoff. As the case drags on (and his firm falls deeper into debt pursuing it), his perspective changes and he begins to seek justice for the lost children. Robert Duvall steals the show as the homespun Harvard lawyer representing one of the companies. Based on a true story.

Distribution

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-1120, Toll-free: 800-723-4763, URL: http://www.bvhe.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 115 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Anti-Heroes, Ethics & Morals, Law & Lawyers, Justice Prevails...?, Order in the Court, True Stories, Corporate Shenanigans

Screenplay

Steven Zaillian

Cast

James Gandolfini, John Travolta, Robert Duvall, Kathleen Quinlan, Tony Shalhoub, Zeljko Ivanek, John Lithgow, William H. Macy, Bruce Norris, Sydney Pollack, Peter Jacobson

Cinematography

Conrad L. Hall

Director

Steven Zaillian

Music

Danny Elfman

Producer

Scott Rudin, Robert Redford, Rachel Pfeffer, Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Buena Vista

Awards

Screen Actors Guild 1998: Support. Actor (Duvall).