ABA Journal’s 25 Greatest Legal Movies

The ABA Journal asked a jury of 12 lawyers, law professors, writers, and a judge to come up with the 25 best movies about lawyers and the law. I read the results in the most recent issue, which was in the mail at work today. I’ve seen very few of those listed, but have wanted to see several of them, most notably #1. Here is the list in full.

1. To Kill A Mockingbird
2. 12 Angry Men
3. My Cousin Vinny
4. Anatomy of a Murder
5. Inherit The Wind
6. Witness For The Prosecution
7. Breaker Morant
8. Philadelphia
9. Erin Brockovich
10. The Verdict
11. Presumed Innocent
12. Judgment At Nuremberg
13. A Man For All Seasons
14. A Few Good Men
15. Chicago
16. Kramer vs. Kramer
17. The Paper Chase
18. Reversal of Fortune
19. Compulsion
20. And Justice For All
21. In The Name Of The Father
22. A Civil Action
23. Young Mr. Lincoln
24. Amistad
25. Miracle On 34th Street (1947 version)

Out of those 25, I’m embarrased to say I’ve seen all of 2 (12 Angry Men and Amistad). I’ve seen about half of Philadelphia and the last 30-40 minutes of Anatomy of a Murder, but nothing of the others. I’ve somehow lived 25 years and never read or watched To Kill A Mockingbird, and I really want to see The Verdict, A Few Good Men, A Man For All Seasons, Reversal of Fortune, and In The Name of the Father.

Thoughts? Comments?

Best of 2008 so far

We’re nearly done with July and the year is almost seven-twelfths finished, and though I’m probably a month late on this, now feels like a good time to do a “best of the year so far” recap.

My top movies of 2008 so far:
1. The Dark Knight
2. Iron Man
3. Wanted
4. U2 3D
5. Wall-E

Worst movie of 2008 so far:
Smart People

Most disappointing movies:
Prince Caspian
Indiana Jones and the Kindgom of the Crystal Skull

Most forgettable movies:
Vantage Point
Nim’s Island

Books I’ve read in 2008: [by this time last year I'd read close to a dozen books, but for some reason I've been slow and uninspired in my reading]
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
The Mysterious Affair At Styles by Agatha Christie
The Ghost Writer by Philip Roth (currently reading)

Best albums bought in 2008 so far:
Coldplay – Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – The Swell Season
Sufjan Stevens – Seven Swans

Concerts seen in 2008:
Five Times August, Stephen Speaks
Dashboard Confessional, Five Times August
Death Cab For Cutie, Rogue Wave

My top 5 most-played tracks over the past 6 months:
1. Sufjan Stevens – He Woke Me Up Again
2.(tie) Mute Math – Noticed
2. Nada Surf – See These Bones
4. John Mayer – Belief
5. Coldplay – Viva La Vida