Rewatchables Reference

• The final courtroom scene ('You're out of order!') – unanimous pick.
• Also: the opening scene (Aggie/jail), Pacino and Lee Strasberg scenes, Pacino/Christine Lahti flirting.
• Tambor telling Pacino about Fleming's rape charge (hysterical laughter), helicopter scene/crash, plate throwing scene.

• Late 70s soundtracks with saxophones and congo beats.
• Pacino's improvising (Lee Strasberg told him 'learn your lines, darling').
• Barry Levinson's first Baltimore movie (Wire connection).
• The trans character (Aggie) handled sensitively for 1979.
• Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Lahti, and Craig T. Nelson's film debuts.

• Jack Warden on the ledge with Baltimore in the background (real stunt with harness).
• Wesley: Pacino and Christine Lahti walking by the waterfront with Baltimore's Domino Sugar plant.

• The crazy theme song / jazz score in the beginning (Dave Grusin).
• Gospel/choir song at the end credits.
• Minimal needle drops overall.

• The judge (Forsythe) just tells Pacino 'I did it' – is that realistic?
• Wesley and Sean think it's pure arrogance, not a scheme.

• The Metallica album '...And Justice for All' overwhelmed Google results for this movie.
• The crazy long opening credits (late 70s convention).
• Tambor shaving his head – not shocking anymore in 2023.
• Christine Lahti's character is underwritten / a device (Wesley's pick).
• Jeff McCullough being a white guy getting screwed by the system in Baltimore in 1979.

• Bill: This is Pacino's second-best performance ever (behind Godfather Part II).
• Wesley somewhat agrees – calls it 'the full package Pacino'.
• Sean strongly disagrees – puts Dog Day Afternoon and both Godfathers above it.
• Wesley's hot take: the Godfather's greatness has conferred automatic greatness on Pacino's Part I performance that doesn't hold up to scrutiny.

Pacino was supposed to be in 'Kramer vs. Kramer' (first choice), bowed out for this movie.

• Craig T. Nelson – 'not really ready to be in a championship round fight' with Pacino.
• His opposing-counsel scenes are too TV-movie-like.

• Thomas Waites (Jeff McCullough) – also got fired from 'The Warriors' for being annoying.
• Dominic Chianese (Uncle Junior) is the runner-up.

• Replacing Christine Lahti: Bill suggests Meryl Streep (busy with 'Kramer vs. Kramer'), Jane Alexander, or Margot Kidder.
• Wesley thinks Kidder would overwhelm the part; Lahti's understated presence works.

• Everything filmed in Baltimore.
• Pacino practiced the 'you're out of order' scene 26 times.
• Jack Warden firing a pistol in court was based on a real judge in Texas.
• Coffee cake scene took 26 takes; Warden threw up from eating too much.
• Barry Levinson quote about courtroom research: 'truth and justice aren't necessarily the same'.

• Pacino: No – Godfather Part II.
• Jack Warden: Somewhere around 'Shampoo'/'Heaven Can Wait' era, mid-70s.
• Tambor: No – Arrested Development/Transparent.
• Christine Lahti: No – Chicago Hope.
• Norman Jewison: No – Moonstruck (Wesley's pick).
• Courtroom meltdowns: This movie or Jessup ('A Few Good Men').

• Why didn't they show Arthur punching Fleming?
• No black lawyers in 1979 Baltimore (or any courtroom month movies).
• John Forsythe's plan to get the lawyer who punched him is a bad strategy.

• Would be an HBO show about the inner workings of the Baltimore court system, produced by Barry Levinson.
• Wesley notes The Night Of is a modern version.

• Was Pacino always going to tip over into the mistrial, or was it Forsythe's courtroom comment about the victim that pushed him?
• What was that outdoor covered pool thing Forsythe's character had?
• What happened to Jack Warden's character?

• Dog Day Afternoon (Pacino double).
• Diner (Baltimore double).
• Devil's Advocate (Pacino lawyer double).

• Wesley: Aggie's wig.
• Sean: The suitcase Pacino hits the car with.

• Don't trust the American justice system.
• Wesley's more optimistic take: keep fighting – the system is the only one we've got.

Al Pacino – unanimous.