And in this case, he doesn't even know he's mentoring let alone changing. He's Walter Matthau, a rather chauvinistic supreme court justice, none too happy to discover that they have chosen a woman, the troublemaking Jill Clayburgh, as the next supreme court justice and the very first woman after the death of one of the elder members. Ironically made the same year that Ronald Reagan chose Sandra Day O'Connor, the first real life female supreme court justice, this is quite interesting for its view of the old boys club facing changes, both in fiction and in real life at the same time.
While their relationship at first is very antagonistic, it quickly becomes close because they playact several cases, with one questioning a witness, then vice versa. They begin to confide in each other and in spite of differing political views, they begin to become very good friends. But with Matthau facing health issues and Clayburgh discovering the truth about her late husband's business practices, both of their futures on the supreme Court are tested and they must rally to support each other a nice view of how the federal law should work.
It would be nice for those of us outside the political realm to think that this is how our supreme Court actually works with people of different political viewpoints coming together and looking at all of the sides involved in individual cases. This touches on several different issues including censorship and illegal business practices, and while thecharacters that Matthau and Clayburgh do not see eye to eye on all the issues, it's obvious that a respect is being built in spite of that.
This adaption of the Broadway play could probably not be revived but it is an interesting look back at the Reagan era and how the court has changed. Matthau and Clayburgh play very well off of each other and it's nice to see a film with this where the leading players do not need to become romantically involved. Barnard Hughes as the head of the supreme court provides some like humor and veteran actress Jen Sterling in her last film is a nice surprise as math house wife who decides to leave him when she realizes that he doesn't consider their marriage as important as his career. Under the direction of Ronald Neame, this is a very nice adaption of a hit Broadway play really opens it up with real Washington DC locations.
While their relationship at first is very antagonistic, it quickly becomes close because they playact several cases, with one questioning a witness, then vice versa. They begin to confide in each other and in spite of differing political views, they begin to become very good friends. But with Matthau facing health issues and Clayburgh discovering the truth about her late husband's business practices, both of their futures on the supreme Court are tested and they must rally to support each other a nice view of how the federal law should work.
It would be nice for those of us outside the political realm to think that this is how our supreme Court actually works with people of different political viewpoints coming together and looking at all of the sides involved in individual cases. This touches on several different issues including censorship and illegal business practices, and while thecharacters that Matthau and Clayburgh do not see eye to eye on all the issues, it's obvious that a respect is being built in spite of that.
This adaption of the Broadway play could probably not be revived but it is an interesting look back at the Reagan era and how the court has changed. Matthau and Clayburgh play very well off of each other and it's nice to see a film with this where the leading players do not need to become romantically involved. Barnard Hughes as the head of the supreme court provides some like humor and veteran actress Jen Sterling in her last film is a nice surprise as math house wife who decides to leave him when she realizes that he doesn't consider their marriage as important as his career. Under the direction of Ronald Neame, this is a very nice adaption of a hit Broadway play really opens it up with real Washington DC locations.