“A Civil Action” is a legal thriller about a personal injury attorney who takes major companies to court for environmental pollution near a small Massachusetts town where people have been dying of cancer and other illnesses. Due to poor direction and screenwriting by Steven Zaillian, this movie never lives up to its potential, and really seems to be a mere recitation of court transcripts. It is based on the 1995 non-fiction book of the same name by Jonathan Harr.
John Travolta delivers a lackluster performance in the lead role, as he has done in motion pictures in recent years. The supporting cast also gave us more uninspiring offerings including Robert Duvall, James Gandolfini, Dan Hedaya, John Lithgow, William H. Macy, Kathleen Quinlan, Tony Shalhoub, Stephen Fry, Syndey Pollack, David Thornton, Jay Patterson, Daniel von Bargen, Paul Ben-Victor, Ned Eisenberg, Mary Mara, Peter Jacobson, Bruce Norris, Zeljko Ivanek, and Denise Dowse. Kathy Bates makes an uncredited cameo as a judge in the final scene.
“A Civil Action” was a flop at the box office for producer Robert Redford, Touchstone Pictures, Wildwood Enterprises Inc., Paramount Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, and The Walt Disney Company. Robert Duvall was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
A Civil Action (1998)
cinema
My Review
“A Civil Action” is a legal thriller about a personal injury attorney who takes major companies to court for environmental pollution near a small Massachusetts town where people have been dying of cancer and other illnesses. Due to poor direction and screenwriting by Steven Zaillian, this movie never lives up to its potential, and really seems to be a mere recitation of court transcripts. It is based on the 1995 non-fiction book of the same name by Jonathan Harr.
John Travolta delivers a lackluster performance in the lead role, as he has done in motion pictures in recent years. The supporting cast also gave us more uninspiring offerings including Robert Duvall, James Gandolfini, Dan Hedaya, John Lithgow, William H. Macy, Kathleen Quinlan, Tony Shalhoub, Stephen Fry, Syndey Pollack, David Thornton, Jay Patterson, Daniel von Bargen, Paul Ben-Victor, Ned Eisenberg, Mary Mara, Peter Jacobson, Bruce Norris, Zeljko Ivanek, and Denise Dowse. Kathy Bates makes an uncredited cameo as a judge in the final scene.
“A Civil Action” was a flop at the box office for producer Robert Redford, Touchstone Pictures, Wildwood Enterprises Inc., Paramount Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, and The Walt Disney Company. Robert Duvall was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.