Crackle Blog

117 years ago today the Pledge of Allegiance was first published in a children's magazine as part of a cross promotional event designed to sell flags to schools. Today in another attempt to combine patrotisim and free commerce we present the following landmark film "based" on this classroom chestnut. It's the Al Pacino tour de force known as ...And Justice For All. Directed by seven time Oscar nominee Norman Jewison, and nominated for two Oscars on it's own, if you're a film buff and you haven't seen this yet, you need to go back to learning school. Here's the study guide run down:

7. The trailer. Always remember that a trailer is designed to grab you by the short and curlies and drag you into the drama. This trailer has scenery chewing, gun play, a crossdresser, what sounds like a wildly confused child, and well... just watch:

6. That line. It's sitting at the top of this piece, and even if you never knew where it was from, you've heard it parodied a billion times, including on Friends, Will and Grace and The Simpsons (tweaked to: "You're out of order! The whole freakin' system's out of order!"). If you're going to laugh at it, know why you're laughing.

5. These actors. Sure, I can trumpet a litany of Oscar winners even in a turkey like Ishtar, but the great thing about this flick is that it's a collection of people you just wouldn't expect to see playing off Pacino. There's The Larry Sanders Show's Jeffrey Tambor... with "hair." Everyman actor Jack Warden, who interestingly enough happens to be one of only two actors to appear in all three Problem Child films. (The other? Gilbert Gottfried.) Then there's Chicago Hope's Christine Lahti, The Soprano's Dominic Chianese, Craig T. Nelson from Coach and cop show regular Thomas G. Waites. This film also happens to be actor Sam Levene's last film, a 40 year character actor who may best be known for the Hemingway adaptation The Killers. Oh, and Pacino even got an Oscar nod for it.

4. It's funny. As mentioned above, this movie gets parodied a lot, but keep in mind that it probably has more in common with Night Court than one of Pacino's other legal films. A number of the actors here are known for their comedy chops, and they get the chance to show them off. Pacino plays the straight man, and he does it well. Jack Warden gets a number of choice lines including, "Sixteen years of marriage and my wife still won't eat Chinese food. It's crazy! Especially since we met in a Chinese restaurant."

3. It's serious. For lack of a more imaginative term, this is a "dramedy." This movie is similar in tone to an Aarron Sorkin piece or a legal drama drawn from the pen of David E. Kelly. There's humor but there's a point to it all, it's sharp, and if you're not paying attention it'll take your eye out. In particular watch for the scenes with Pacino and his legendary acting teacher Lee Strasberg (playing his grandfather no less); the chemistry is palpable and the scenes are touching.

2. The writers. The screenplay was nominated for one of the film's two Academy Awards. Written by the then husband and wife team of Valerie Curtin and Barry Levinson. By looking at this writing team you can almost trace back the origins of the movie. Curtin is a respected comedy writer who happens to be the cousin of SNL alumni Jane Curtin. Levinson worked with Mel Brooks on classics like High Anxiety, directed Mickey Rourke in Diner and produced shows like Homicide and Oz. Not to mention this movie takes place in Levinson's favorite setting, his hometown of Baltimore.

1. That scene. The final courtroom scene that this film is known for was filmed in the first take. Hard to imagine if you watch it. I'll bet Pacino studied - and you should study too.

Okay now, watch ...And Justice For All, then stand up and recite...

CJ – Crackle Blog Editor