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Rating: 
Summary: A great idea for a book, but messed up by authors' poor job
Review: A great idea for a book, but the book is messed up by the authors' silliness and self-indulgence. Had the authors just dealt with their topic, it would be five stars. Instead,the book suffers from two major problems. First, almost every paragraph is replete with childish "inside" jokes, sophomoric asides (invariably Lefist where they are politifal), imbecilic puns and similar self-indulgent stupidity, apparently included to show how clever the authors are. Instead, all this junk just distracts from any discussion and generally leaves the reader grinding his teeth in annoyance. Second, there are serious and repeated errors in the descriptions of the movie plots. Did the authors actually watch all the films discussed, or did they rely on others (grad students, perhaps?) for some of the material? My conclusion is that the topic is well worth a book, and its a shame the authors made such a mess of this one.
Rating: 
Summary: If you love legal dramas you must read this book.
Review: As a co-author of this book, I'd like to respond to the review written by Reader from Los Angeles. I'm sorry the reader didn't like our attempts to be humorous. However, I can assure the reader that my co-author and I saw, researched, and analyzed each and every one of the films discussed in the book. If there are errors, we'd appreciate hearing from the Reader so they can be corrected in a subsequent edition.
Rating: 
Summary: The co-author of Reel Justice responds to the critics.
Review: As a co-author of this book, I'd like to respond to the review written by Reader from Los Angeles. I'm sorry the reader didn't like our attempts to be humorous. However, I can assure the reader that my co-author and I saw, researched, and analyzed each and every one of the films discussed in the book. If there are errors, we'd appreciate hearing from the Reader so they can be corrected in a subsequent edition.
Rating:
Summary: A popular film guide with real substance.
Review: As a lawyer, I did not expect that a book on movie trials, aimed at a popular audience, would have much substance. But I was very pleasantly suprised. The authors, two law professors, do an excellent job of pointing out the numerous errors Hollywood makes when it tries to depict a trial. (Most non-lawyers would be surprised, for example, to learn that *My Cousin Vinny* is much more realistic than *The Verdict.*) The authors' discussions go into real (but not tedious) depth about not only the errors in the way judges, lawyers, etc., behave on film, but also the mistakes scriptwriters make in creating tactics and legal theories for their characters. In addition, the authors helpfully explain what would (most likely) *really* happen in many filmed situations. Because the authors treat each movie at length, this is not an exhaustive filmography. However, all the biggies are here, and the book also contains usefully organized indexes. This would be a great selection for lawyers, film buffs, or anyone who has to serve on a jury.
Rating:
Summary: If you love legal dramas you must read this book.
Review: Courtrooms are the scenes of many of our greatest dramas, both on film and in real life. So it's no surprise that a book reviewing the legal and dramatic merits of dozens of law-related movies is a great read. You learn a lot about the law through the authors' explanations of what famous trial scenes in the movies were based in actual law or not. And you get lots of insights into the making of many excellent movies. Not only did I enjoy this book enormously, I've also used it as a guide for what movies to rent.
Rating:
Summary: What is the law really?
Review: Few can escape an active filmgoing life without a twisted view of the law. For as many accurate depictions of courtroom behavior as there are in films, there must be dozens that are not even close. Objections that are baseless and would be laughed out of a real court are routinely sustained in films, for example, while thoroughly objectionable conduct, such as attorneys routinely arguing rather than questioning during examinations, goes unchallenged. Law professors Michael Asimow and Paul Bergman have taken their legal skills and their love of films and combined them in what is a relatively unique film and video guide. While they do adopt the trappings of more familiar video guides (such as rating films on a scale up to four gavels), they provide far more considered reviews than one is likely to find in any other guide (with the notable exception of Roger Ebert's). Both authors are professors at the UCLA School of Law, and they use their considerable contacts at the school to the greatest possible advantage, drawing on the years of learning of nationwide experts in various fields of law. "Reel Justice" is both a celebration of the filmed courtroom battle and an examination of the law underlying the films. All too often, the authors expose the legal lunacy in films, pointing out just how egregiously in error the film is. Where a film is correct, they dutifully point that out, too. Though there may be spots in which the layperson finds the going tough, "Reel Justice" is generally accessible to those without a J.D., and it demystifies the legal system that Hollywood strives so valiently to mystify. Probably, though, the best use for the book is after one sees the movie. (Indeed, the authors pull no punches and reveal many endings, though always with a warning to the reader.) In a time when actual courtroom dramas are more accessible to the general public, whether through the televised criminal trial of O.J. Simpson or through Court TV, a station devoted almost exclusively to televising trials, "Reel Justice" can be a valuable tool for helping a reader separate fact from fantasy. The most serious limitation of "Reel Justice" is that it covers so few films. The depth of the reviews, however, necessitates such a limited selection. Moreover, the rating system serves as an excellent means of seeking out the truly sublime films out there (though there are a few that are not readily available on video).
Rating:
Summary: What is the law really?
Review: Few can escape an active filmgoing life without a twisted view of the law. For as many accurate depictions of courtroom behavior as there are in films, there must be dozens that are not even close. Objections that are baseless and would be laughed out of a real court are routinely sustained in films, for example, while thoroughly objectionable conduct, such as attorneys routinely arguing rather than questioning during examinations, goes unchallenged. Law professors Michael Asimow and Paul Bergman have taken their legal skills and their love of films and combined them in what is a relatively unique film and video guide. While they do adopt the trappings of more familiar video guides (such as rating films on a scale up to four gavels), they provide far more considered reviews than one is likely to find in any other guide (with the notable exception of Roger Ebert's). Both authors are professors at the UCLA School of Law, and they use their considerable contacts at the school to the greatest possible advantage, drawing on the years of learning of nationwide experts in various fields of law. "Reel Justice" is both a celebration of the filmed courtroom battle and an examination of the law underlying the films. All too often, the authors expose the legal lunacy in films, pointing out just how egregiously in error the film is. Where a film is correct, they dutifully point that out, too. Though there may be spots in which the layperson finds the going tough, "Reel Justice" is generally accessible to those without a J.D., and it demystifies the legal system that Hollywood strives so valiently to mystify. Probably, though, the best use for the book is after one sees the movie. (Indeed, the authors pull no punches and reveal many endings, though always with a warning to the reader.) In a time when actual courtroom dramas are more accessible to the general public, whether through the televised criminal trial of O.J. Simpson or through Court TV, a station devoted almost exclusively to televising trials, "Reel Justice" can be a valuable tool for helping a reader separate fact from fantasy. The most serious limitation of "Reel Justice" is that it covers so few films. The depth of the reviews, however, necessitates such a limited selection. Moreover, the rating system serves as an excellent means of seeking out the truly sublime films out there (though there are a few that are not readily available on video).
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book on "celluloid law."
Review: This is a generally well written and informative book that does well what it sets out to do. The legal analyses are nothing if not jurisprudentially educational, and indeed, for any movie listed within, these synopses will probably provide you with a much more thourough and insightful critique than you would get with Siskel, Ebert et.al. A particularly good gift for any lawyer who loves the cinema.
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