matthew mcconaughey - a time to kill
tom cruise - a few good men

Who owns the best quote.


There is your answer.

Mcconaughey

Matthews speech at the end was one take.

lincoln lawyer
a time to kill
amistad

what other movies has he played a lawyer

Matt wins.

Tom's big scene in A Few Good Men is overshadowed by Jack's awesomeness.

The real question is...

Franklin

Or

Bash?

I strenuously object to this thread.

He plays a lawyer opposite Jack Black in "Bernie". If you love Texas, check it out.

[This message has been edited by Rossg_2 (edited 5/15/2012 12:25a).]

Charlie Day taught me everything I know about bird law.

+1 Charlie Kelly

Clearly we are both lawyers here....

A hummingbird is legal tender.

neither of them hold a candle to joe pesci as vincent gambini

who sweats the most?

Come on, McSip needed a law student to show him how to cross-examine an expert witness with past opinions, and called her "brilliant". He also failed to vet his own expert witness, who got crucified on the stand. Also, he violated Rule #1 in jury argument, asking the jurors to stand in the shoes of the victim or accused.

Caffey, on the other hand, had realistic perspective (it didn't matter what he knew, it only mattered what he could prove), continuously put the paper-lawyer (Demi) in her place, and led both Kendrick and Jessup into a trap they could not escape from.

He was also a good negotiator in Jerry Maguire.

Cruise wins.

(My opinions are based on realism of the script, not portrayal of the actor, so I may not be answering the OP's question)

Now, Pramala, I know it's scary up there in that witness box but, t'ain't no need to fear me... BAAA-KAWWWWK! I'm sorry. I thought you was corn.

"Mr. Simpson, don't you worry. I watched Matlock in a bar last night. The sound wasn't on, but I think I got the gist of it."

"Work on Contingency?
No, Money Down!"

Lionel Hutz's "What color tie am I wearing" defense is the most brilliant legal strategy I've ever seen.

[This message has been edited by Sex Panther (edited 5/15/2012 9:29a).]

Hibbert - Well, only one in two million people has what we call the evil gene. Hitler had it. Walt Disney had it. And Freddy Quimby has it.

Hutz - Thank you doctor. I rest my case.

Judge - You REST your CASE?!

Hutz - WHAT? Oh, I thought that was just something people said. Case closed.

As for the who played a lawyer better, I'm going with Cruise. The decision to press the witness was realistic. The criminal defense attorney mentality about drowning the prosecutor in paperwork was realistic. The friendship between Cruise's character and Bacon's character was realistic. The way he smashed Demi for being a dumbass was realistic when her client went full dummy on the stand.

Incidentally, I thought the Lincoln Lawyer was the most accurate portrayal of a legal situation I've read. Didn't see the movie though.

MW, you're a lawyer right?

Yep

Id agree with mw. You can't handle the truth dramatics aside, he set the witnesses up perfectly.

Ummm...Al Pacino in ...And Justice For ALL?????

"YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER!"

Both movies are in my top 20 of all time list.

SLJ makes "A Time to Kill."

question for you lawyers...

Is A Time To Kill realistic at all? Any way he would actually get off if that happened in real life that way?

Meh. It's called "jury nullification" and basically it's an argument that amounts to "COME ON, DUDE. REALLY?" wherein you try and make the jury overlook the fact that your client is in the wrong. It can be effective with the right attorney.

As far as that case goes, there were a ton of legal problems with the way he made his argument. You can't ask a jury to put themselves in the shoes of the victim because it asks them to vote for sympathy over the law. The whole bit about "now imagine that she's white" really has nothing to do with what SLJ's character did, which was storm into a courthouse and murder dudes with an AK47.

In fact, if I remember correctly, they plead temporary insanity, and at no point does McConaghey's character even reference how or why he was insane. In fact, the DA gets him to admit on the stand that he knew they were going to die, that he's glad they're dead, and he's happy that he did it.

In short, no. Based on how it was defended, dude should not have gotten off. Didn't he shoot a cop as well??

Does Ben Affleck in "Good Will Hunting" qualify for this award?

quote:

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Chuckie: Since this is obviously not my first time in such altercations, let me say this: [rubs thumb and fingers together, signifying cash] Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.
[The executives are silent]
Chuckie: At the current time I am looking at a number of different fields from which to disseminate which offer is most pursuant to my benefit. What do you want? What do I want? What does anybody want? Leniency.

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quote:

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He knows what I'm talking about. A retainer. Nobody in this town works without a retainer. You think you can find someone who does, you have my blessin'. But I think we all know that person isn't going to represent you as well as I can.

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quote:

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Let me tell you something. You're suspect. [He stands, slowly approaches Executives.] Yeah, you. I don't know what your reputation is in this town, but after the **** you tried to pull today, you can bet I'll be looking into you. [Takes money off the table]. Now the business we have heretofore you can speak with my aforementioned attorney. Good day gentlemen, and until that day comes, keep your ear to the grindstone.

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I'd want either Keanu Reeves from Devils Advocate or Benicio Del Toro from Fear & Loathing...

quote:

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Dr. Gonzo: Sounds like big trouble. You're going to need plenty of legal advice before this thing is over. As your attorney, I advise you to rent a very fast car with no top. And you'll need the cocaine. Tape recorder for special music. Acapulco shirts. Get the hell out of L.A. for at least 48 hours. Blows my weekend.
Raoul Duke: Why?
Dr. Gonzo: Because naturally I'm going to have to go with you. And we're going to have to arm ourselves... to the teeth!

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quote:

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SLJ's character did, which was storm into a courthouse and murder dudes with an M16.

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FIFY

[This message has been edited by Hobo Zombie (edited 5/15/2012 2:00p).]

MW--he also made an argument about his expert's credibility (something about his relationship with his wife) based on facts that never came in during the trial.

Really, although it's a comedy, my cousin vinnie is one of the best, most realistic legal movies out there.

quote:

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SLJ's character did, which was storm into a courthouse and murder dudes with an M16.

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That's even more ridiculous, then.

Most underrated attorney: Elle Woods

"Do you understand what subject matter jurisdiction is? I didn't think so."

Gregory Peck played the an awesome lawyer, though perhaps not the most effective one.

quote:

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Gregory Peck played the an awesome lawyer, though perhaps not the most effective one.

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My thoughts exactly! Atticus Finch is a decent human being but an incompetent lawyer.