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A Civil Action
1998 115 min United States of America PG-13 12+
★7.0
Drama
Director: Steven Zaillian
📖 Based on the novel
«A Civil Action»
byJonathan Harr
Trailers
Description
Jan Schlickmann is a cynical lawyer who goes out to 'get rid of' a case, only to find out it is potentially worth millions. The case becomes his obsession, to the extent that he is willing to give up everything—including his career and his clients' goals—in order to continue the case against all odds.
Budget:
$70M
US Gross:
$56.71M
Worldwide:
$56.71M
Starring
John Travolta
Actor
Robert Duvall
Actor
Tony Shalhoub
Actor
Awards
Screen Actors Guild Awards 1999
— Best Supporting Actor
Academy Awards 1999
— Best Supporting Actor
Academy Awards 1999
— Best Cinematography
Screen Actors Guild Awards 1999
— Best Supporting Actor
Key opinion
A Civil Action is a grounded, performance-driven legal drama that favors methodical realism and psychological character development over traditional courtroom thrills. While some viewers appreciate its craftsmanship and focus on moral ambiguity, others find its slow pacing and procedural focus to be somewhat lackluster.
| Acting | John Travolta delivers a nuanced and transformative performance that anchors the film's emotional and moral trajectory. | |
| Direction | Steven Zaillian’s direction eschews mainstream thriller tropes in favor of a restrained, realistic, and character-focused approach. | |
| Adaptation | The film’s faithful commitment to procedural minutiae and the reality of legal proceedings provides a high level of authenticity. | |
| Pacing | The deliberate and methodical pacing rewards viewers interested in legal craftsmanship, but others find the narrative to be plodding and insufficiently engaging. |