"It's not about money..."  

A CIVIL ACTION (PG-13) 

Reviewed January 9, 1999 - Check out the A Civil Action Website.

Based on an actual case, A Civil Action tells the story of personal injury lawyer Jan Schlichtmann (John Travolta).  A partner at a small legal firm in Boston, Schlichtmann accepts a case involving an unusually high incidence of childhood leukemia deaths in the small town of Woburn.  The cause?  A contaminated water supply.  The culprits?  R.W. Grace Corp. and Beatrice Foods, two huge multinationals with very deep pockets.  In a classic David and Goliath legal scenario, Schlichtmann and his partners (Tony Shalhoub, William H. Macy) pursue the case with their own funds, going up against adversaries such as seasoned attorney Jerry Facher (Robert Duvall) as well as the firm's compounding debt as litigation costs skyrocket.  It's an uphill battle all the way, but with eight children dead it's a battle Schlichtmann finds himself unable to walk away from, and one that eventually changes his life. 

Yes, it's a great story...but does it translate well on film?  Well, yes and no.  At the hands of director Steven Zaillian (Searching for Bobby Fischer), A Civil Action feels like a more subtle, textured, and realistic portrayal of legal maneuvering than what we usually see on film and television.  The process is slow, complex, highly political, and always grounded in concerns about the almighty $$$$$.  Unfortunately, it is also less "dramatic" and emotionally satisfying than what we are used to.  Right and wrong, good decisions and bad decisions, all of these distinctions are blurred in this film, making it difficult to know who or what to root for at any given moment.  The result is a less compelling drama than you'd expect, and one that often simmers when it should boil. 

Still, credit goes to both Robert Duvall and William H. Macy for some strong performances in this film, and of course to John Travolta for handling a complex role with a fair amount of restraint.  A Civil Action doesn't offer the explosive, suspenseful courtroom drama that has made the genre so popular in today's media, but it is nevertheless a fairly interesting look at the world of Jan Schlichtmann, and a story that many will no doubt enjoy.

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

Eoakwell@BTInternet.com gives this movie  stars: "Well acted, but is quite boring" (12/12/00)

David Rogers gives this movie  stars: "HaHaHa! MST3K (Mystery Science Theater 3000) could have done alot with that guy named Cheeseman!" (5/6/00)

anonymous entry gives this movie  stars: "The acting was good, but the movie was boring and stupid." (3/2/99)

ronin_1981@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "This movie was very provocative. There was'nt a moment in this movie where I wasn't interested." (1/11/99)