Customer Reviews

Class Action [VHS]

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an extraordinary drama in which father and daughter (both lawyers) with big emotional issues have a face-off in the courtroom.
Aside from a very well-constructed plot and competent direction by Michael Apted, the performances delivered by the actors are quite impressive. The supporting cast is very good, especially Jan Rubes (Alexander Pavel).
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio shows great maturity in a challenging role - and the fact that she is stunningly beautiful does not hurt.
And what about that Gene Hackman? What a brilliant actor. Watching him feels like a real privilege. Don't you miss the chance of doing it.

There are really two kinds of lawyer films out there; the kind that is about the trial and the kind that is about the lawyers; this film is about the lawyers and the family drama of a father and daughter pitted against each other in a class action lawsuit. The film is well constructed and acted, though there is the occasional corny dialoge in the father-daughter scenes that could have been written much stronger.

The father (played by Gene Hackman) is a crusading support-the-little-guy type, but he is not without his warts and particularly not without the consequences of his giant ego. Hackman is perfect in this role and gives his character the depth it deserves. Mary Elizabeth Masterantonio plays the daughter and is really the center of the film since it is her evolution more than Hackman's that drives the plot. She more than holds her own against a much more experienced actor and gives the film credibility.

There are a few witty remarks in the film but I can't say that the dialogue crackles; since this is not an action film, the dialogue is how the film moves along, so that's a shame. But the plot is enthralling and takes a few unexpected twists at the end; combined with the solid cast (this was shot so long ago that Fred Dalton Thompson was not yet a senator and Lawrence Fishbourne is listed as Larry) it makes the film engaging and certainly worth the low price of this DVD.

The DVD itself is disappointing and carries no special features to speak of (trailers for this film and other movies DO NOT count as special features, at least in my opinion). The only reason to get the DVD versus the tape is that it's easier to find and will hold up better over time.

The bottom line is that this is a solid, well acted film whose David versus Goliath, Inc theme rings even more true in the post-Enron universe than it did when the film first came out.

Best courtroom drama movie I have ever seen. Performances of Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio are superb as father and daughter attorneys on opposite sides of an automobile accident case. The story pits big-corporation corporate attorney (Mastrantonio) against small-time scrappy class-action attorney (Hackman). But the highlight is the intra-family dynamics between father, mother, and daughter, which are superbly developed as the tension of the lawsuit case unfolds. The screenwriting is excellent, handling characters from attorneys to family to scientists, plus powerful revelations in the final courtroom scene. You will say, "Wow" at the end.

This is one of the best movies that I have watched. My college instructor compared it to some instruction he was doing in class. Five of 25 students had seen the movie and agreed that it was a perfect example of what we were studying. I was trying to purchase it so that all the class could view it.

This is a very enjoyable movie, and one of the best in the legal drama genre. Gene Hackman is typically brilliant, mixing humor and anger in the most believable and human way. This was the first time I saw Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who proves herself a very capable actress, never once seeming overpowered by Hackman. She's also stunningingly beautiful (which has nothing to do with acting, but it doesn't hurt). Laurence Fishburn also puts in a powerful supporting role, as does the city of San Francisco, which always looks beautiful and inviting on film and this is no exception. The only thing missing is a DVD version. It's almost become a cliche to ask, with all the garbage that's released on DVD, how can so many great movies languish for so long on VHS, utterly ignored by the studios? Who knows. But if you still own a VCR, this movie is highly recommended.

Gene Hackman has had a wonderful career filled with hit movies. This movie is not as well known as some, but it is very good. It has morality, intrigue, and a surprising but fulfilling ending. I recommend it.

This is a movie where all of the actors made the parts believable. The suspense was built up gradually and the surprise ending left me with a good feeling.

I love a movie with a twist at the end. I also loved the complicated relationships - just like every family. How refreshing to find a good movie where everything doesn't get blown up!

Viewed: 8/06
Rate: 9

8/06: Class Action contained a great story and strong acting performances by Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. It is a very complex film to watch with high rewards of pleasure for watching, and the ending is just great. Class Action is directed adroitly by Michael Apted, who has a nice resume of films. The story is unbelievably great, and yes...the writing, that's a stellar work. I loved how the conflict is so real when there is the father-daughter lawyers on the opposing sides to emerge out in Class Action. That brought out the stuff of greats in the past pictures. Exactly what makes a film works is the elements of the story. It turned out to be so darned interesting in Class Action that everything else fell into place, and the length of the film didn't matter anymore. That's the spirit of a film: making the picture totally watchable. Both Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio deserved a good deal of credit. It's sad that films like this don't get recognized very well. I am very glad to gain a glimpse in the early acting performance of Laurence Fishburne, and he is a phenomenal actor when he does this type of work. Class Action is truly a great lawyer and relationship picture while the conflict presented in the picture made them even better and strong performances abound.

"Class Action" is a film I first saw on VHS back in the '90s. I've always felt it was a very underrated film. I asked my new wife if she'd ever watched the film and she'd never heard of it. I was surprised to find that I could get it on DVD at such a great price. Thanks Amazon!!!