Product Details

• Actors: James Garner, Edward Kerr, Gina Gershon, Mary-Louise Parker, Brian Doyle-Murray
• Directors: Glenn Jordan
• Writers: Billy Ray
• Producers: Glenn Jordan, Cindy Lovelady, J. Paul Higgins
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: New Line Home Video
• VHS Release Date: July 27, 1999
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0780625587
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #218,263 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The best film satires are not necessarily to be found in the theaters, where only independent filmmakers have the courage to risk alienating the ticket-buying audience. Cable TV has proven to be fertile ground for many a sharp-tongued script and Legalese is as smart and acerbic as they come. James Garner is deliciously conniving as a high-profile criminal lawyer who secretly presides over a high-profile murder trial like he's the Wizard of Oz, whispering directions into the ear of his fresh-faced assistant (Edward Kerr) while monitoring the surrounding media circus from his multimedia eye-in-the-sky office. Gina Gershon is the Hollywood starlet and Apple industry poster girl whose scandalous murder charge sends the tabloid media (led by the predatory talk-show titan Kathleen Turner) into a headline frenzy ("Rotten to the Core" proclaims one muckraking TV show). Mary-Louise Parker is at her best as Garner's ambitious assistant, a savvy, sexy, self-assured junior partner developing her feral instincts when Kerr awakens her slumbering idealism. The sharp, cutting screenplay skewers their relationship with tawdry media sensationalism and camera-hogging legal tactics, but loses the conviction of its cynicism in a satisfying if too cozy happy ending. Until then, it's a nasty little poisoned pastry of a film, served up thick and juicy and oh-so tart. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What more can I say?, January 9, 2000

By 

Jill Patrick (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Legalese [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a deliciously wicked satire of legal eagles and their media counterparts. The cast is flawless, not limited to Gina Gershon who skewers her sex-pot image by being both victim and preying mantis (watch the opening sequence -- it's schtick to die for). James Garner just keeps getting better with age. The script is sharp as a tack, the performances and direction right on target. I'll be adding this to my collection!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A VERY DEPRESSING LOOK AT OUR LEGAL SYSTEM!, May 12, 2006

By 

Kenneth Kapel "Leftist American" (Chicago,Il, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Legalese (DVD)

I am a fanatic Gina Gershon fan and her being in the cast of "Legalese" is the ONLY reason I purchased it.This film which also stars James Garner(excellent,as an ethically challenged Hollywood lawyer) and Mary-Louise Parker(in a very sexy and beautifully played role,as an aide to Garner).Gina as sexy actress Angela Beale is accussed of murder and Garners' law firm handles her defense.The three leads are fine,but this film depicts the utter curruption that the American legal system has fallen to.In fact,ALL aspects of American society are shown as being totally currupt.GINA WAS GREAT,but the film VERY depessing.The picure quality of the DVD was fine.