How others will see it. Some well-respected names went into this movie, Newman, Mason, and Lumet chief among them. Knowledgeable classic film fans will pick up on these names, and expect a classy courtroom drama. Which they receive, and the happy ending puts a warm glow over the proceedings.
They'll like it, as will most old-timers. Who won't like it? Lawyers and doctors, who generally come out as unethical. Those who prefer action, comedy, or romance to drama might lack sufficient patience.
How I felt about it. In the film's beginning, Paul Newman gets soused and trashes his own office. Jack Warden stops by, and tells him that this is it, he'll provide no more help.
Not an auspicious moment for Newman's legal career. Luckily for him, he drinks less and less as the film moves along, and instead of feeling sorry for himself, he fights the power of the mean judge and crafty defense lawyer, Mason.
The problem is, it is difficult to believe that washed-up drunk Newman is the same guy as never-say-quit fighter Newman. Despite his "wash my hands of it" speech, Warden promptly pitches in full-time to help Newman win his court case. Warden's earlier speech, then, doesn't ring true either.
On the bright side, Warden probably didn't mean it when he said, "No more help." What he really meant was, get your act together or else. Newman then held up his part of the bargain.
Would a legal team in real life go to the lengths to win that they do in TV, buying off witnesses, paying pretty lawyers to seduce and inform on opposing lawyers, couching evidence from witnesses, etc? Yes and no. Lawyers coach witnesses. The rest is Hollywood fiction. At least I hope so.
Could a prosecution witness doctor (Lewis Stadlen) be bought off with cash and a paid vacation? I doubt it. It doesn't fit his character, plus if his payoff is revealed, it is witness tampering, surely a felony in 1982 as well as today.
Charlotte Rampling feels guilty about her spy work for the defense, especially since she probably likes Newman. This is uninteresting. Apology not accepted. Now go enjoy your plush new office.