Paper Chase: Amazon.ca: James Bridges, Timothy Bottoms, Lindsay Wagner, John Houseman, Graham Beckel, James Naughton, Edward Herrmann, Craig Richard Nelson, Bob Lydiard, Lenny Baker, David Clennon, Regina Baff, Blair Brown, Irma Hurley, Bill Moher, Richard Whelan: DVD

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Here's a movie that should convince anyone that law school is not for them--particularly Harvard Law School. Timothy Bottoms leads a group of would-be shysters through their first year at Harvard--which amounts to endless studying and backbiting as they try to memorize whole books at a sitting. As the grueling routine begins to get to them, each reacts to the stress in different way. Bottoms's character becomes consumed with winning the attention and approval of the school's crankiest teacher, the crusty Prof. Kingsfield, the role that won "newcomer" John Houseman an Oscar. Alternately funny and harrowing, it makes law school look like the academic equivalent of coal mining. --Marshall Fine

Description

Expecting only the basic pressures of attending Harvard Law School, a serious, hard-working student (Timothy Bottoms) finds himself the fearful adversary of the school's most imperious, sarcastic professor (John Houseman). Their relationship grows even more complex when the boy discovers that the girl he's in love with is the professor's daughter (Lindsay Wagner). Edward Herrmann and James Naughton co-star in this moving, intelligent drama.

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Customer Reviews

29 Reviews

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
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4.5 out of 5 stars (29 customer reviews)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Bogus Hollywood Moment: Throwing Grades into Sea, Nov 5 2003

By

James P. Hunt (Oklahoma City, OK USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paper Chase (DVD)

Yeah, great film, holds up well over the years. But no Harvard law student would have thrown his unopened grades into the ocean. Particularly one that was as dedicated and competitive as Hart. It would be like a lawyer trying a case and leaving the courtroom before hearing the verdict. One can understand and, in a mercenary way, perhaps admire Hart if he pretended not to care about the grades for the sake of impressing his erratic, anti-establishment/anti-hippy girlfriend. She doesn't make much sense, but she is cute and alluring. But to actually throw the grades into the sea? No.

Apart from that, the scenes of the workings of law school are pretty terrific. The characters of the study group are, for good and bad, very similar to people you actually find at law school. Particularly Bell. (By the way, did anyone notice that Hart's 3rd year advisor was Thirtysomething's Miles Drentell? He is exactly the type that would say, "Grades matter.") Yet, like lawyers themselves, they're not on the whole really awful people. Ford, the quintessential Harvard prepster, bails out James Naughton's character in class and even goes so far as to say that the subject is very difficult to understand. Hart himself is obviously very decent. And Kingsfield is meant to be feared, but moreover respected and admired.

So the romance is a bit unrealistic, but nothing approaching Ally McBeal silliness. That aside, it's a solid film worth seeing more than once.

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5.0 out of 5 stars An Educational Experience, May 7 2001

By

AntiochAndy "antiochandy" (Antioch, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paper Chase (VHS Tape)

The closest I ever got to Harvard Law School was a graduate class in education law at UC Berkeley. The class was taught by a silver-haired Jesuit, who stood ramrod straight behind his podium at the front of the class and proceded in a manner not unlike John Houseman's Professor Kingsfield. It was only a pale shadow of what is depicted in "The Paper Chase", but it was very enlightening. The way this movie vividly brings back my student days, both the fun and the hard work, is one of the reasons I like it so much. It also shows what people can accomplish.

The plot involves a love affair between Hart, a student who idolizes Kingsfield, and Kingsfield's daughter. It has its funny moments, but is somewhat predictable. What elevates this movie is the psychological study of how the different students respond to their situation, some finding it within themselves to persevere while others fall by the wayside. The film also benefits from strong acting, particularly by John Houseman, who is the quintessential Professor Kingsfield. He is outstanding.

This is an excellent flick. It delivers a dramatic portrayal of an intense academic experience, while delivering some very funny moments along the way. Sort of like real life, sometimes. The TV series spawned by this movie was also quite good, and it's too bad it didn't last longer on its major network. Anyway, both college students and former college students will find a lot to relate to here. Those whose background isn't academic, though, will also find "The Paper Chase" quite entertaining. Highly recommended.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Anyone who's been to law school should watch., Mar 2 2001

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"flintoid" (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paper Chase (VHS Tape)

The amazing thing about this movie is that every single character reminds you of a student in your 1L class, no matter where you went to law school. There's always one guy who is a rote genius but can't hack it as an analyst. There's always some guy who writes a 200-page outline. There's always some guy who thinks his study group is too special to let academic pedestrians get a free ride. And then there's you in the middle. I'm in law school, but I don't think I would know that without this movie.

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