He was never going to win that case, right?

"Now imagine she's white" should be an entire course in law school.

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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

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This is all well and good, but that's writing. The delivery is what I think the OP was talking about.

So what you're saying is the script for AFGM was better than the script of ATTK. Fair enough.

The better DELIVERY was MM, hands down.

Not to take away from TC. But when you compare him to Jack in those scenes, even Cruise starts to pale....

Caffey never got to close, so using MM's "white" argument is unfair.

But as someone else said, if it is all about delivery, then both lose to the great Vincent LaGuardia Gambini.

Everything from "Everything that guy said is bulls***" to his Yankee "kill 'em with kindness" cross-examination techniques were great and expertly delivered. Law school advocacy classes still show My Cousin Vinny for cross examples.

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Caffey never got to close, so using MM's "white" argument is unfair.

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Ahhh, good point. Didn't think about that.

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"Now imagine she's white" should be an entire course in law school.

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Dont they already get 12hrs of that sh-t in undergrad?

I'm no lawyer, but as other have said, the verdict in ATTK seems wildly illegal.

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So what you're saying is the script for AFGM was better than the script of ATTK. Fair enough.

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Fair point.

I'm still going with Cruise, though. Incidentally, this is my favorite exchange from that movie

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Capt. Ross: Corporal Barnes, I hold here the Marine Outline for Recruit Training. You're familiar with this book?
Cpl. Barnes: Yes, sir.
Capt. Ross: Have you read it?
Cpl. Barnes: Yes, sir.
Capt. Ross: Good. Would you turn to the chapter that deals with code reds, please?
Cpl. Barnes: Sir?
Capt. Ross: Just flip to the page of the book that discusses code reds.
Cpl. Barnes: Well, well, you see, sir code red is a term that we use, I mean, just down at Gitmo, I don't know if it's actually...
Capt. Ross: Ah, we're in luck then. Standard Operating Procedures, Rifle Security Company, Guantanamo Bay Cuba. Now I assume we'll find the term code red and its definition in that book. Am I correct?
Cpl. Barnes: No sir.
Capt. Ross: No? Corporal Barnes, I'm a Marine. Is there no book. No manual or pamphlet, no set of orders or regulations that lets me know that, as a Marine, one of my duties is to perform code reds?
Cpl. Barnes: No sir. No book, sir.
Capt. Ross: No further questions.
[as Ross walks back to his table Kaffee takes the book out of his hand]
Kaffee: Corporal, would you turn to the page in this book that says where the mess hall is, please.
Cpl. Barnes: Well, Lt. Kaffee, that's not in the book, sir.
Kaffee: You mean to say in all your time at Gitmo you've never had a meal?
Cpl. Barnes: No, sir. Three squares a day, sir.
Kaffee: I don't understand. How did you know where the mess hall was if it's not in this book?
Cpl. Barnes: Well, I guess I just followed the crowd at chow time, sir.
Kaffee: No more questions.

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Neither one.

Joe Pesci

EOT

Cruise wins, but only due to Sorkin's script.

Not only was this guy a great defense attorney who got his clients acquitted, he also was a part-time prosecutor who could get the real killers to confess during the very same proceedings.

Cruise, mainly because it was my first introduction to the some of realities of the legal system:

• Many cases don't go to court
  
• Many lawyers don't want the case to go to court
  
• Paper work is a weapon
  
• Sometimes justice and the law don't mix or at least is highly nuanced. The jury's decision about them Unbecoming of an Officer and the soldier for life Harold agreeing is probably one of the best, if not depressing, endings ever.

You're a lousy freaking softball player, Jack!

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Paper work is a weapon

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This is one of the truest statements ever with regard to the legal system.

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Paper work is a weapon

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Doc review is the friend of attorneys in need of billable hours.

my cousin Vinny gets my vote

[This message has been edited by nai06 (edited 5/17/2012 10:08a).]

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my cousin Vinny gets my vote

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Are you suuuurrrre?

How can you be so sure?

I'm positive!

Cousin Vinny had too many youts for my taste.

Though I guess Wikipedia might have me change my tune.

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Cousin_Vinny[/url]

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Lawyers have praised the accuracy of My Cousin Vinny's depiction of courtroom procedure and trial strategy.[4] At least one legal textbook uses the film as an "extremely helpful introduction to the art of presenting expert witnesses at trial".[5] Criminal defenders, professors, and other lawyers use the film to demonstrate voir dire and cross examination.[4] United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has cited My Cousin Vinny as an example of the principle that a client can choose his own lawyer.[6] In 2008 the ABA Journal ranked the film #3 on its list of the "25 Greatest Legal Movies",[2] and in 2010 ranked Pesci's character as #12 on its list of "The 25 Greatest Fictional Lawyers (Who Are Not Atticus Finch)".[7]

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Hell, I used his "their case is like a playing card" argument once in an opening statement.