Does "... And Justice for All", a movie full of moments where the characters verbalize the ideas that viewers are meant to reflect on, fall under the "preachy" category? Well, only a couple of times. For the most part, the commentary that's expressed through the dialogue matches the context of each scene. It doesn't feel forced or unnatural. And there weren't other ways to convey the messages purely through visuals. At least it doesn't seem to be the case at first sight. Al Pacino and Jeffrey Tambor's performances are very good, and a bunch of characters are sympathetic, even if they're not on screen much. The overall story is smart, gripping and unpredictable, but it starts to feel inconsistent during the last part. You see, it's a serious exploration of what's wrong with the American judicial system with only the occasional dose of black humor. It goes to some dark places and it culminates on an inspiring climax... which is followed by a satirically goofy ending. On the other hand, the presentation of the movie is inconsistent from beginning to end, which ironically makes it consistent. Dave Grusin's music score feels out of place to the point where it ruins the emotional impact of certain scenes. At times, it has a funky sound, and so does Zack Sanders's theme song ("Something Funny Goin' On"), which plays during the end credits while we watch a silly freeze frame.

 

8/10