The cover story of the August issue of the ABA Journal, published by the American Bar Association, is entitled “The 25 Greatest Legal Movies.” The ABA is the largest voluntary professional organization in the world. Yet for those non-members who wish to receive their cinematic Juris Doctor, fear not!
The editors have created a relatively whimsically-designed (we’re talking lawyers here, remember) version of the article on the ABA Journal’s website.
Like members of most any vocation portrayed onscreen, litigators tend to cringe at the inaccurate portrayal of their trade, especially courtroom scenes. And while there are a few cringeworthy winners, the top 25 list (with 25 honorable mentions) was thoughtfully compiled with the help of a jury that includes a few practicing lawyers (one with an eloquently written film blog, apparently) and a respected judge among an impressive group of academics. Of course, nothing could have prevented the growing list of “How could you leave off . . .” complaints in the comments section of the site.
I have compiled a short list of foreign-language law-related movies. (Look in the center column, and at its permanent home, here.) While outside the scope (no legalism intended) of the ABA article, the cinematic window into other cultures’ systems of and attitudes toward law is a fascinating one. In addition, here are my list of equally honorable mentions that didn’t make the ABA list of 50:
Dancer in the Dark. I’ll watch this Dogme/Musical hybrid, born of the minds of Lars von Trier and Björk, over and over again before I care to revisit the likes of Chicago. Gritty hand-held realism tempered by outrageously staged musical dream set pieces. And bring a hankie. Beautiful.
The Sweet Hereafter. As with all Atom Egoyan movies, there is a lot happening under the surface of this tale of a personal injury lawyer (Ian Holm) who rolls into a small town after a tragic bus accident.
The Winslow Boy. This David Mamet adaptation of the story of a notorious trial set in early 20th century England provides a fascinating insight into the British system of solicitors, barristers, and “the Crown.”
Serial Mom. Lest we take the subject too seriously, we can always expect John Waters to skewer the sacred institution of the courts, along with celebrity, suburban culture, and the list goes on.
And finally, these are even further outside the description of “legal movie,” but are a welcome provocation against any notion that we can take our system of laws and justice for granted:
• Gattaca,
• Minority Report,
• Existenz,
• Code 46,
• A Clockwork Orange,
• 1984, and
• Dogville.
Here are this morning’s Oscar-nominated films, alphabetically. The nominees for foreign language film and documentary feature are compiled at the end of the list. (Short format nominees are listed in a 
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