Legal Eagles

source: Legal Eagles

This film isn't too bad for cheap Hollywood film making. It starts out decent enough, but then goes way out of balance and loses its momentum to become only something barely enjoyable, and only a film to catch late at night. I saw it again after the first time, just to see how it is all put together in such a rambling and inconsistent way. Redford is definitely underused here, but what we see of him is just enough to make us like him. He plays an assistant DA, although we lose complete sympathy in him when he sleeps with Hannah so suddenly. I don't know what Reitman was thinking, but he must have not had any respect for a character who is supposedly an avid admirer of truth. But if he can get a piece of a__ then all the better I suppose. Winger is a young attorney who is cute to look at before her pre-Bertolluci fiasco soft * role in "Sheltering Sky". Hannah is just plain dull and fetid, she sits around and has groping eyes as if saying, "What about me, and my daddy's art?" There's enough holes in the plot to drive Godzilla's underpants through, but we must not let that bother us. So many of these wacky films were made by credible stars in the 1980's, that it has become a cliche and a genre in itself. The plot concerns a shoddy business dealing, and it is uncovered by the pair of attorneys. There's really not much action and suspense, but again, catch this if you can one late night when nothing else is on TV. Be sure to order a pizza and some cases of spring water. Enjoy the ride.

Legal Eagles The reason no one dates personal injury lawyers is because they only want to promenade in front of businesses with icy sidewalks. Luckily, the lawyer in this comedy-thriller is sleeping with a client, not a colleague. Assistant D.A. Tom (Robert Redford) decides to help attorney Laura (Debra Winger) defend Chelsea (Daryl Hannah) against charges she stole a painting from an art dealer (Terence Stamp). Adamant her father gave her the painting before his suspicious death - and destruction of his art collection - Chelsea not only convinces Tom but seduces him as well. But when a dubious cop (Brian Dennehy) uncovers the entire collection intact, it threatens Tom's career and his life. Crackling with comedic repartee, a fiery May/December romance and an unpredicted adversary, Legal Eagles may be clichéd but it's not without its charms. Incidentally, if you're going to sleep with anyone in the court system - make it a judge. Yellow Light vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

With a stellar cast and mediocre plot, this movie is well executed and the acting skills of the leads raise the movie above it's material on paper. Redfor seems to be enjoying himself and the writers gave each character little human quirks that can't help but make you smile. In one seen, Redford, playing a lawyer is sharing an office with "Kelly" his new partner after he gets caught shaking the sheets with D. Hannahs character and he is moving from chair to chair in the small office finally stating, "I'm a pacer", someone who needs to walk back and forth in order to think clearly. There is an opening scene with a 60's party that has a Warhol feeling" to it that I enjoyed, as I grew up in those times. And while it plays only a small part in the movie, it brought back a flood of good memories for me. (Anyone remember "The Electric Circus?") D. Hannah gives a completely 80's reminiscent piece of performance art that is very pych. connected to the wounded character she plays, and if you wait for the credits, you find she played a big part in authoring the piece. Basically, its the types of movie that is not even in your top ten or twenty, yet you can't help but enjoying it each time you watch it, and you are pleased to see it on the schedule when it is. Kind of a "non-guilty guilty pleasure", I can't help but enjoy the cast, the full of holes plot and poor continuity, (the faux pas of timing and lighting are mentioned in other reviews.) Even Redford's little girl in the movie is one of those kids you have even and enjoy, but can't recall her name. there is an early character role played by Christine Baranski who either got some work done or simply learned how to use her assets better later in her career. Just watch with an excepting, open mind and you may not only enjoy it, but it may be a cult favorite at some point. *note-my wife is a wall st. attorney and absolutely hates the film as do many other lawyers we know. why? Who knows? Maybe they're strung too tight to let go and enjoy the simple ride.

For fans of romantic comedies or legal dramas, you should probably look elsewhere and avoid watching Legal Eagles. Robert Redford and Debra Winger are partners in a law firm who have very different styles in the courtroom. Bob is charming and pandering, and Debra is strict and plays by the rules. When they join forces to defend Daryl Hannah, who's accused of murder, there's no telling what might happen! Yes, it really is as bad as it sounds. It's not serious enough to stand up against real courtroom dramas, and it's too silly and predictable to stand up against classic romantic comedies. If you liked Laws of Attraction, you might like this one, but I couldn't stand either of them. Yes, Robert Redford is very handsome, but I'm not a fan of either of the actresses, so I wasn't rooting for either side of the love triangle. You've got dozens of other movies to choose from to see his gorgeousness. Do so.

It's far from perfect but 'Legal Eagles' is quite nostalgic and entertaining. The story is very contrived especially with so many plot holes and the characters aren't fully fleshed out either but it has a very noire style approach and does keep you in suspense. The humour also works quite well. On the technical side it's a decently made film, nothing too flashy which is good. I also liked the presentation of the art world. No matter what one says about 'Legal Eagles', for me the highlight is easily Robert Redford and a very cute Debra Winger. Both actors are spellbinding, delivering subtle and charming performances. As performers, they just look so comfortable with each other. Their chemistry is amazing and their scenes, especially their on-screen banter, are a delight to watch. Daryl Hannah's role is sketchy but she looks sizzling and I enjoyed her sequences with Redford and the scene where she demonstrates her art. Brian Dennehy is wasted. Terence Stamp is adequate. So yes, it's got its flaws but how can you not enjoy it for Redford and Winger?

**SPOILERS** Even though in the movie "Legal Eagles" Robert Redford as Tom Logan is a top-notch assistant D.A who's a shoo-in to get himself elected as the New York City District Attorney he's also an absent-minded stumble-bum. Who's constantly dropping things around, and on himself,in the home and office as well as always forgetting to take his keys out of his cars ignition when he parks and locks it. Redford or Tom Logan solves that very annoying problem later in the film by smashing in his car's side-widow with a garbage can. Being picked to prosecute the case against young Chelsea Deardon, Daryl Hannah, in her being indited for the attempted robbery of a painting, from a Mr. Forrester's ,John McMartin, apartment. Chealsea through her defense-attorney Laura Kelly, Debra winger,claimed that the painting by her late dad Sebastian, James Hordle, was left to her by him as a birthday present on the evening that his loft and gallery went up in flames. It's also brought out that that painting, together with scores of other Deardon works, was reportedly destroyed in the fire. Laura gets Tom to listen to her clients story pointing out how could Chelsea steal something that wasn't supposed to exist? Tom is also amazed that not only does Forrester have the "destroyed" painting but, that according to Chelsea, that the back of the painting has an inscription on it by it's artist dedicating it to her. The next day as both Tom and Laura go to talk to Forrester about these strange inconsistencies their both shocked to hear from him that he's dropping all charges against Chelsea. Wanting to inspect the painting to see if there's an inscription on the back of it proving that Chelsea's father left it over to her Tom & Laura find out that the painting was just sold to the Taft Gallary which is owned by a former associate of the late Mr. Deardon Victor Taft,Terrence Stamp. What at first looked to be a fraudulent case of art manipulation turns out later to be a case of robbery arson and murder that goes back some 25 years. There's a genuine chemistry between Robert Redford and Debra Winger in their scenes together without them ever engaging in anything more then discussing the case that their handling. And the gorgeous and leggy, if a bit spaced-out, Daryl Hannah as Chelsea makes you forget what's going on in the film,like she did Tom,whenever she was on the screen or in his bedroom. We begin to realize later in the film that someone is trying to pin a number of murders, Taft & Forrester, on Chelsea and then with her taking the rap for them get what he's really after: the painting left to her by her dad which is now estimated to be worth millions but who can that person be? The ending of "Legal Eagles" leaves you a bit confused to what Chelsea really had to do, if anything at all, with the death of Forrester and possibly Taft, who was also her secret lover. Since we assumed up to that point that the case was already solved with the bad guy in the movie ending up in flames and underwater. Since Chelsea was so unpredictable and unstable you had, like both Tom & Laura, to take whatever she said with not just a grain but an entire truck-load of salt.

Come on, you have to admit that this film has a good cast with Debra Winger, Robert Redford, Daryl Hannah, and others in supporting roles like Christine Baranski. I like the fact that it was shot in New York City and not on location somewhere. No offense, Toronto or Vancouver but the backdrop does a good job. Remembering a time when the twin towers was still alive and kicking downtown. I liked the combination of Winger and Redford even though they disliked each other on the set according to rumors. Daryl Hannah plays Chelsea who seeks her father's art from crooked businessmen. She does an adequate job and proves that she's not just a pretty face. Daryl always plays shy very well but in this case, Chelsea is not shy at all. She is a bit rebellious and a performance artist with a fascination for fire. She teams up with Winger's character and later with Redford in more ways than can be said to prove her innocence and get justice served.

When it comes to Robert Redford and comedy/romance movies, I get a little soft and like it more than I should. However, this film makes it hard to even show some, no any kind of pleasure. First off, the movie wasn't funny. If you count Robert Redford in shock and cute love moments in the movie funny, buy another funny bone. Secondly, when you watch a movie, RELAVENCE is important. Yes, the first scene of the movie was important, but who the hell wants to see that? It was so boring. Tom Logan's daughter and mother didn't really play any good parts in the movie, they were just in the way. And com'on people, a police man giving a naive lawyer some paperwork? Ugh, I can go on about other things, but it'll just frustrate me even more. Mostly, what bothers me is that Daryl Hannah character and the love Logan and Kelly should've have. You don't show a girl beaten down (emotionally) and then make it seem so easy. I mean com'on, Logan was in his well 50's and this chick is 26? Thats fine (I guess) but showing her as a little girl in the movie doesn't really make you want to have her banging anyone. This girl was a victim, period. Her promiscuity just ruins the whole film, and I say this because it should have been kelly whom logan should be interested in. By doing this, it makes the movie more organized. I mean sure, have her be a little saucy, but to go all the way with her was uncalled for. If I were kelly, I would even touch the ODB after what he did. yah yah yah, you're saying... ITS JUST A MOVIE BLAH BLAH BLAH. Yes it is, but if I wanted to see nothing more than a man @#^#$ a young girl and potentially do another one, I go into my neighbors collection of pornos.

As rival attorneys in New York City, Robert Redford and Debra Winger aren't exactly Tracy and Hepburn (he's too wishy-washy and callow, she's too flighty), but they do get to loosen up a bit from prior roles, creating an amusing give-and-take relationship while defending performance artist Daryl Hannah on murder charges. Plot is so haphazardly constructed that it was re-worked for the TV version and still nobody could figure it out. Redford and Winger get out of a bomb-laden warehouse just in the nick of time, but how they do it will have smart viewers crying foul. There are other problems, not to mention a strange, off-putting show put on by Hannah where she appears to go up in flames, but the charisma of the players is just enough to carry this heavy vehicle to a happy conclusion. The outtakes at the finale are charming, as is Rod Stewart's song "Love Touch". **1/2 from ****