Investigation/Trial movies
#1
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Investigation/Trial movies
I love investigation/trial movies. Movies like A Few Good Men, JFK, Shutter Island, Rules of Engagement, Zodiac, Memento, Insomnia, most of Zero Dark Thirty would fall into this category as well. I know I'm missing a ton, but I just love movies where people are investigating something. I don't need a lot of action or anything...I like the process of people figuring out a problem or a mystery--interviewing people, searching for clues, etc. Even though the films aren't great, I like the mystery parts of Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code as well.
I guess I'm kind of describing "film noir" but I was looking for some more modern examples too.
Any suggestions for me?
I guess I'm kind of describing "film noir" but I was looking for some more modern examples too.
Any suggestions for me?
#2
Re: Investigation/Trial movies
Probably something like 12 Angry Men. I still haven't seen it, but did see some of my friends perform it in high school.
Recent examples:
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Michael Clayton
Possibly The Ides of March. It isn't a strict investigation, but has that political intrigue stuff going on.
Recent examples:
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Michael Clayton
Possibly The Ides of March. It isn't a strict investigation, but has that political intrigue stuff going on.
#3
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Re: Investigation/Trial movies
Probably something like 12 Angry Men. I still haven't seen it, but did see some of my friends perform it in high school.
Recent examples:
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Michael Clayton
Possibly The Ides of March. It isn't a strict investigation, but has that political intrigue stuff going on.
Recent examples:
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Michael Clayton
Possibly The Ides of March. It isn't a strict investigation, but has that political intrigue stuff going on.
#4
Re: Investigation/Trial movies
Man I should pick up the Criterion one of these days. Also you should check out the episode "Operation Ann" of Parks and Rec, funny stuff with clues in that one. In fact I'm going to watch that again now.
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Investigation/Trial movies
Anatomy of a Murder is probably THE courtroom drama film, and pretty graphic for 1959...though the "haha the judge said 'panties'!" scene is laughable.
#9
DVD Talk God
Re: Investigation/Trial movies
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313542/
Uhhh, Runaway Jury (2003). Has got a fantastic cast:
John Cusack
Dustin Hoffman
Gene Hackman
Rachel Weisz
Bruce Davison
Jeremy Piven
Class Action (1990): Also with a solid cast
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101590/
Gene Hackman
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Laurence Fishburne
Uhhh, Runaway Jury (2003). Has got a fantastic cast:
John Cusack
Dustin Hoffman
Gene Hackman
Rachel Weisz
Bruce Davison
Jeremy Piven
Class Action (1990): Also with a solid cast
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101590/
Gene Hackman
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Laurence Fishburne
#10
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Re: Investigation/Trial movies
The Lincoln Lawyer
Frequency
The Client
Conspiracy Theory
The Pelican Brief
State of Play
To Kill a Mockingbird
A Time to Kill
You might like Brick. I find it a bit overrated though.
Frequency
The Client
Conspiracy Theory
The Pelican Brief
State of Play
To Kill a Mockingbird
A Time to Kill
You might like Brick. I find it a bit overrated though.
#12
Re: Investigation/Trial movies
I love investigation/trial movies. Movies like A Few Good Men, JFK, Shutter Island, Rules of Engagement, Zodiac, Memento, Insomnia, most of Zero Dark Thirty would fall into this category as well. I know I'm missing a ton, but I just love movies where people are investigating something. I don't need a lot of action or anything...I like the process of people figuring out a problem or a mystery--interviewing people, searching for clues, etc. Even though the films aren't great, I like the mystery parts of Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code as well.
I guess I'm kind of describing "film noir" but I was looking for some more modern examples too.
Any suggestions for me?
I guess I'm kind of describing "film noir" but I was looking for some more modern examples too.
Any suggestions for me?
NIGHT OF THE GENERALS (1967) - Omar Sharif plays a German officer in WWII investigating a series of murders of prostitutes in which the chief suspect is a Nazi general played by Peter O'Toole. Interesting reunion of the two stars of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. Fascinating storyline, too, with a postwar coda that's pretty striking.
Last edited by Ash Ketchum; 02-03-13 at 09:46 AM.
#14
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Re: Investigation/Trial movies
Nuts (1987) with Richard Dreyfuss, Barbara Streisand and Leslie Nielsen
A high-class call girl kills a customer in self-defense. To avoid scandal, her parents try to have her declared mentally incompetent. Not helping matters is that she is very distrustful of everybody, including her court-appointed attorney, and is very disruptive during her court hearings.
A high-class call girl kills a customer in self-defense. To avoid scandal, her parents try to have her declared mentally incompetent. Not helping matters is that she is very distrustful of everybody, including her court-appointed attorney, and is very disruptive during her court hearings.
#16
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Re: Investigation/Trial movies
Thanks for the recommendations. I've seen some of them but haven't even heard of many of the movies listed. I'll make sure to check it out.
And Shannon Nut, I agree with you about Star Trek 6. Parts of that movie definitely fit with what I'm looking for.
And Shannon Nut, I agree with you about Star Trek 6. Parts of that movie definitely fit with what I'm looking for.
#17
DVD Talk Legend
#18
Re: Investigation/Trial movies
Here's some other ones:
Suspect
Jagged Edge
Black Widow
Body Heat
A Civil Action
Erin Brokovich
The Insider
The Chamber
The Life of David Gale
Fracture
Bad Lieutenant - Port of Call: New Orleans
Law Abiding Citizen
Fallen
8MM
Legal Eagles
The Star Chamber
The Gingerbread Man
The Mothman Prophecies
Blown Away?
Arlington Road
Hardcore
The Exorcist III
Suspect
Jagged Edge
Black Widow
Body Heat
A Civil Action
Erin Brokovich
The Insider
The Chamber
The Life of David Gale
Fracture
Bad Lieutenant - Port of Call: New Orleans
Law Abiding Citizen
Fallen
8MM
Legal Eagles
The Star Chamber
The Gingerbread Man
The Mothman Prophecies
Blown Away?
Arlington Road
Hardcore
The Exorcist III
#21
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Re: Investigation/Trial movies
Reversal of Fortune
Judgment at Nuremberg
Murder in the First
The Accused
Breaker Morant
The Paradine Case
Let Him Have It
Gideon's Trumpet
Judgment at Nuremberg
Murder in the First
The Accused
Breaker Morant
The Paradine Case
Let Him Have It
Gideon's Trumpet
#22
Senior Member
Re: Investigation/Trial movies
How about Hitchcock's 1947 The Paradine Case? It's known as one of his weakest films, but even bad Hitchcock is pretty damn good. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Actually quite a few of his movies can be considered mystery/investigation films, but this is the only one off the top of my head that really focuses on the trial portion.
If you go more towards a "wrongly accused man on the run" type investigation...well then Hitchcock has that covered quite nicely with many great films. 39 Steps is one of my all time favorites, and of course North By Northwest is a can't miss.
If you go more towards a "wrongly accused man on the run" type investigation...well then Hitchcock has that covered quite nicely with many great films. 39 Steps is one of my all time favorites, and of course North By Northwest is a can't miss.
#23
DVD Talk Limited Edition