MovieChat Forums > From the Hip (1987) Discussion > Worst legal movie ever!

Worst legal movie ever!

posted 17 years ago by reelniceboy
24 replies | jump to latest

I saw this when it came out in '87 and at the time thought it was the worst legal film ever. I saw it was airing tonight so I thought I'd revisit it to see if I held the same opinion 20 years later. Without a doubt, my judgement was right on the mark, though there have been twenty years of some pretty bad bad films since then, and it still stinks above all others. I'll go further: this is one of my Top Ten Worst Films Ever -- in any category!

I came to IMDB in particular tonight to find out who wrote and directed this abomination, and was amused to find that David E. Kelley was involved in it. Though Kelley has made a lot of money, he's one of the worst writers and series creators. His shows are a joke, and so it was no surprise to see he was part of this crap. Some folks here excuse the over-the-top courtroom hi-jinks, and the silliness of how everyone including judges and his law firm caves in to anything he wants, but this is just a waste of time. It's shocking that any of these guys ever worked again after this fiasco. Very sad.

[–] mkspringowski 16 years ago

The theatrics are entertaining but only that! They would never allow this to take place in a real courtroom. Also, is this a criminal trial or civil trial? I came in in the middle of it. This site says civil but he's arguing from "beyond a reasonable doubt" (Criminal) rather than "by a preponderance of the evidence" (Civil). I'm not even an attorney and I know that! You do have to admit, the theatrics alone make you wish that things like that could take place in a courtroom! John Hurt is always good as the lunatic. He has a psychological menace that is tremendous.

[–] jimpoz 16 years ago

There are two trials in the movie: one civil, one criminal.

[–] lrc-7 11 years ago

You are absolutely right that "From the Hip" is entertaining, but this nonsense could never happen in a real courtroom. Most legal films are a turnoff because I know they are based on nonsense. Practicing law in real life is an eye opener.

lrc-7

[–] estcst-3 8 years ago

Most films are nonsense that could never happen in a real life setting. That's why people go see them. If people really wanted to see the legal system in action as it really is they could go to the local courts and sit in the gallery.

[–] stang99 16 years ago

Far from it, there are plenty of worse movies, the only thing that really annoyed me was nelson nostril flaring in every scene

[–] gourlay 16 years ago

It's a comedy. Lighten up.

[–] reelniceboy 16 years ago

It's a comedy. Lighten up.

But it's not funny...

[–] rpzowie 16 years ago

Give me a break. It was hilarious. It also addresses a question: what does an attorney do when his conscience doesn't want him to acquit a client he knows is guilty?

[–] wolfinspirit 16 years ago

I agree. Parts of this movie had me rolling on the floor laughing. It may not have been the biggest crime or courtroom thriller - but it wasn't supposed to be. It is a comedy. I loved Judd Nelson and John Hurt's characters (among others).

[–] mobcal22 16 years ago

You're an ass, it was mildly entertaining at worst. If you want to see the worst movie of all time, check out "Open Water 2: Adrift". So painfully bad, it's good.

[–] pbl1 16 years ago

i agree...its crap. but is it really worse than "legal eagles"

What the $%*& is a Chinese Downhill?!?

[–] crockett_john 8 years ago

Hot Dog!

I haven't seen that movie in 30 years.

---
I'm just expressing my opinion.

You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas.

[–] dan-800 15 years ago

You are WAY off the mark. At his best, David Kelley is one of the most brilliant writers on television. Admittedly, at his worst he can be pretty horrendous. But his shows are NOT crap. In fact, about half of them ("Picket Fences", "Boston Legal", "The Practice", "Ally McBeal"'s first seasons) are some of the best TV ever created. The other half - not so much. But nothing he's made comes close to the inanity of any of the sh*t I've seen recently. And at least Kelley makes things that are different.

Now, as for his FILM career - it's pretty p*ss-poor. But in all honesty, this movie - while completely ludicrous - is at least entertaining. And if you think it's among the worst films ever made, then you obviously haven't seen any of the following:

Armageddon
Manos: The Hands of Fate
Alone in the Dark
Hobgoblins
Glitter
Batman and Robin
Santa Claus: The Movie
Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders
Jack Frost (ANY of the three different movies with the same name)
Spawn

"From The Hip" is an actual movie. Those listed above are aberrations of nature. Please don't confuse the two.

[–] peaceandpenguins-1 14 years ago

I refuse to believe that Armageddon is anywhere near the worst movie ever. It may take a childlike suspension of disbelief to understand the science, but the acting was amazing and it made me a Bruce Willis fan. Don't hate on Bruce Willis...ever.

I will concede the point for the rest of your list, though I think Batman & Robin has a couple of redeeming qualities.

[–] juviejay 13 years ago

I pretty much agree with dan--800.

To the OP, millions of fans world wide, along with dozens of critics and the committee that nominates and awards Emmys disagree with you.

While his movies aren't outstanding, David E. Kelley's work in television is.

The Practice is probably the best legal drama ever written. And Ally McBeal or Boston Legal is probably the best legal comedy.

Kelley's style is to write dramedy, and that's what From the Hip is. It has both comedy and drama. Maybe this works better in television, and maybe Kelley hadn't perfected it yet (this was his first script), but there are definitely some very humorous and some very dramatic moments in this film.

Peaceandpenguins, I like Bruce Willis too, and I do enjoy watching Armageddon, but his best work is in the original Die Hard, The Last Boyscout, and the show Moonlighting. Moonlighting was fantastic. If you like David E. Kelley at all, you'll probably like Moonlighting. Same style of sexual tension, witty banter, and breaking of the fourth wall.

She's not naked. She's holding a gun...strategically.

[–] ethermusic1981 9 years ago

Bruce Willis (the man, not "the onscreen legend") is a complete dickhead and I can no longer take him seriously or give him accolades. I've heard way too many stories of him being a class-A jerk (Okay...The only exception to this rule is his role in Pulp Fiction).

Armageddon is pure cinema fluff garbage. It's definitely in the top worst of all blockbuster-types of all-time, that's for sure.

[–] Zorro-3 12 years ago

Santa Claus: The Movie.

Why did you have to remind me?

[–] averagejoeman2013 13 years ago

Sorry but "A Time to Kill" was about the worst legal movie ever made. And as far as worst movies ever, how could "Mystery Men" ever NOT be considered the worst ever? Pretty bad though since Jeanine G's best performance ever :)

"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." - Albert Einstein

[–] dunbar7 12 years ago

"Eyes Wide Shut" is the worst movie ever made, hands down. Tell me I'm wrong.

"She's, like, a biscuit older than me..."

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] fluffhead8 11 years ago

dunbar7:
You are wrong.

http://kentroversypapers.blogspot.com/2006/03/eyes-wide-shut-occult-symbolism.html

[–] dunbar7 11 years ago

You're right, I'm wrong G.O.R.P is the worst movie ever made.

"She's, like, a biscuit older than me..."

[–] tabbycat 8 years ago

Worst legal movie ever ... hyoerbole much?
I can throw a rock in any direction and hit three courtroom expos worse than this.
I'll start with Legal Eagles, one of Hollywood's greatest embarassments ever of any genre.