Night Falls On Manhattan

Justice does not always follow the strict letter of the law.
This 1997 film is based on a novel by James Daley and directed by Sidney Lumet, who also wrote the screenplay. It's a fast-moving police procedural with constantly shifting questions about the law, political favors and what is really right and wrong. There are quite a few obstacles in the path of righteousness, but in the end I was satisfied with the conclusion, which shows that justice does not always follow the strict letter of the law.

Andy Garcia stars as a young assistant district attorney whose father, Ian Holm, is a cop who's been injured in a shootout with a drug dealer, played by Shiek Mamud-Bey. Ron Liebman, the District Attorney, lets Garcia prosecute the case, which seems to be simple. But the defense lawyer, played by Richard Dreyfus, introduces the concept of police corruption. And so, even though the outcome of the case is clear, other issues come into play, especially since the young prosecutor's own father might be involved.

The film moved fast, the plot...

STRUGGLES OF CONSCIENCE
It seems like it was Andy Garcia week here on the Icelandic movie channel. Tonight this movie and another night Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead. Night Falls is a solidly good film. Garcia is great as a new attorney who is more seasoned than his fellow public attorneys because he is the son of a lifelong cop and has been a cop himself for many years. He studied law at night and became an attorney the hard way. When a surveillance operation on a drug dealer (on which his father has been working) goes awry, and Garcia's father (played by Ian Holm) is shot, the attorney general asks Garcia to try the case personally. The case is won easily, and Garcia beings a quick celebrity. He runs for election to become attorney general and wins. The subplot is the defence attorney (Richard Dreyfuss) for the drug dealer (who shot Garcia's father) introducing evidence that would potentially expose corruption in the police department. The case involving the stakeout proved that more than one...

Overlooked, Masterpiece
This film was totally overlooked at the Oscars, especially Andy Garcia, (who seems to get overlooked a lot) and the brilliant directing of sydney Lumett. The screenplay in this film is great, and so is the story,(very realistic). I highly recommend this movie as I'm sure anyone would appreciate all the fine performances.

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