LEGAL EAGLES
US, 1986, 116 minutes, Colour.
Robert Redford, Debra Winger, Daryl Hannah, Terence Stamp, Brian Dennehy, Christine Baranski, Roscoe Lee Browne.
Directed by Ivan Reitman.
Legal Eagles is a pleasant romantic, screwball comedy of the '80s - with the touch of the thriller and the court drama. It is interesting in its attempt at reversal of roles (though Robert Redford still seems to be the hero). His Tom Logan has all the pratfalls and the nervousness. Debra Winger, on the whole, appears as the self-assured lawyer. Daryl Hannah is, as often in her films, an ambiguous character of good and evil. There is a very strong supporting cast with a good role again for Brian Dennehy as well as for Terence Stamp.
The film was meant to echo the partnerships of the stars of the '30s and '40s like Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. The pairing of Redford and Winger does not quite have this same effect.
Direction is by Ivan Reitman who worked with the Saturday Night Live cast members like John Belushi and Bill Murray. His most successful film was Ghostbusters. The musical score is by Elmer Bernstein.
1. Pleasing comedy? Drama? Battle of the sexes? Background of crime, courts, law? Enjoyable and satisfying blend?
2. The use of New York City, its look, buildings, apartments, galleries? Style? The '80s? The pace of the comedy and the thriller sequences? Musical score and songs? A contemporary and chic look?
3. The songs, love touch? The creative art with 'Put Out The Fire' composed and sung by Daryl Hannah?
4. The title? The focus on law, performance, ideas and ideals, clash, careers? Collaboration?
5. New York, 1968? Chelsea, her relationship, with her father, her age, the party, her seeing the personalities? The painting, the initials? The role of Taft and Forrester? Seeing the killing? Setting the tone?
6. The introduction to Tom Logan: Robert Redford, presence, appearance, style? At work, wife, Jennifer - and her comments on his behaviour and attitudes (and echoes of Kramer vs Kramer)? D.A., the bosses etc.? The initial encounter with Laura, her insistence? Speech and interruptions? The case and Chelsea? Being followed? The questions about the case and Laura's insistence? Their working together, the leads, the interview with Forrester and the questions about the painting? Taft and his warehouse? The encounter with Cavanaugh? Police help? The information about Brock? The visit to Taft's warehouse and the explosion? The search for the truth? Logan and Laura working together, their sparring, the battle of the sexes? The further deaths? Chelsea's role? Her art? The confidence trick about the insurance? Chelsea, the night with Logan, the repercussions and publicity? Taft's death and Chelsea's presence? Forrester's death? The cars in the street and the crashes? The continued work with Laura, the case, the evidence? The gallery and the fire, the rescue? The struggle with Cavanaugh and the truth? The questions about Logan's further career, D.A. - and his working with Laura?
7. Laura and her reputation, Debra Winger's presence and style? The strong professional woman? The court case, the protest, her working for Chelsea? Gathering the evidence, the neatness and efficiency of her work? Contact with Cavanaugh? Interrogation of Forrester, Taft? Searching for the files, the explosion in the warehouse? Her reaction towards Chelsea and Chelsea's relationship with Logan? The deaths, the partnership? The build-up to the gallery fire? The future with Logan?
8. Chelsea and her background, the deaths, the arrest, her personality, revenge? Taft and Forrester and the lies? Her skill as a performing artist, 'Put Out The Fire', its impact? The night with Logan and the notoriety? The deaths of Taft and Forrester? The information, the revenge, the final rescue?
9. Cavanaugh and the police, his information, the files, help? His continued turning up? The irony about Brock? His engineering everything? The confrontation in the gallery, the fire and his death?
10. Forrester and Taft, their status in society, conspiracy, smooth style, criminal deals, their deaths?
11. The spectacular effects - especially as regards fires in the warehouse and in the gallery?
12. The courtroom sequences, the to-ing and fro-ing of the cases? Lawyers, the judge? The enjoyment of court sequences? The presentation of the police and authorities and their attitudes towards Logan and Laura?
13. The background of domestic relationships, family, sparring?
14. An enjoyable blend of the battle of the sexes, the mystery thriller, courtroom drama?
