Product Description A hilarious doc exploring the influence of the law and lawyers on American Culture while following six characters as they do whatever it takes to become lawyers themselves. The film features legal luminaries, politicians, well known comedians, celebrity lawyers and other notables including actor and comedian Eddie Griffin, OJ attorney Robert Shapiro, CNN s Nancy Grace, Court TV s Catherine Crier, Novelist Scott Turow, Legal commentator Alan Dershowitz, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, Clinton Adviser Vernon Jordan, renowned trial lawyers, Joe Jamail, Mark Lanier, Jacoby & Meyers, Comedy Central s Michael Ian Black and ABC s John Stossel among others! Review At once a damnation and a defense of lawyers, Eric Chaikin's film-fest favorite is a worthy successor to his Scrabble-fanatic doc Word Wars. Once more, with compassion and wit, he focuses on those for whom life is an endless pursuit of minutiae. He has a handful of law students commingling with TV talking heads (John Stossel, Nancy Grace), best sellers (Scott Turow), stand-ups and actors (Michael Ian Black, Eddie Griffin) and familiar faces (Alan Dershowitz, Robert Shapiro) to lay out a case for and against law school. It's fascinating and not a little heartbreaking, this portrayal of people, some who want to help, others who wouldn't mind just laying down a little hurt. --Robert Wilonsky, Dallas ObserverSpeaking of walking, Eric Chaikin s A Lawyer Walks Into A Bar... sounds like the start of a joke, but it s anything but. Of course, there s natural suspense to whether all six will pass the test or not and Chaikin intersperses the film with testimonials from such notable names as Alan Dershowitz, Vernon Jordan, Scott Turow and Nancy Grace. However, Chaikin brings the humanity out of this half dozen wannabe sharks and ultimately, they re the real stars of the film. --PremierePick of the Week! --Ebert & Roeper at the Movies P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); About the Actor Sam Garret, Tricia Zunker, Donald Baumeister, Magda Madrigal, Meagan Meadows, and Cassandra Hooks are all law students trying to pass the 2006 California Bar Exam. About the Director Eric Chaikin (Director/Producer) most recently helmed Word Wars: Tiles and Tribulations on the Scrabble Circuit, which premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, aired as part of the Discovery/Times Channel's "Screening Room" series, had a successful theatrical run distributed by Seventh Art Releasing, and was nominated for a Documentary Emmy. He is a Cognitive Science major from Brown University and originally hails from Staten Island, NY. After making this film, he has no plans to become a lawyer. See more
P**N
Hilarious, Informative, Shocking...
I saw the film at the SXSW film festival and had no idea what to expect. This film does an amazing job of exploring the culture of law and litigiousness in America, while diving into the lives of some cast members studying for the Bar Exam. You'd think this might be somewhat dry on the surface, but I was hooked in from minute one. I really found myself rooting for, and against, some of the characters in the movie. If Hollywood made more of these kind of movies, I'd be in the theater every week.I'm not a lawyer, but if you are one, you have to see this film. And if you're studying to become one - this is a must see, without question. My sister-in-law just took the bar exam and I made her drive to a film festival in California to see the film. It was a real eye-opener for her; she got an immediate taste of what it was going to be like. I personally had no idea it was such a stressful/comedic/horrifying/insane experience. There's a poor guy in the film that has taken the exam more than 40 times. There's also reference to some guy that got so frustrated with the exam that he burned down the state bar's offices.Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. The cameos by the likes of Scott Turow and Nancy Grace and Alan Dershowitz were incredibly insightful and provocative, regardless of where you stand on the issue of litigation in this country. There are a couple of segments with famous attorneys that will blow your mind. The lawyer in Texas, Joe Jamail, deserves his own movie. Very, very entertaining film.
C**S
For a particular audience
As a student contemplating law school this is a very good program. I wouldn't call it "lurid" as the product description promises. The title however is apropos, because this documentary is very focused on passing the bar exam. There are discussions about the popular perception of lawyers, not much else about actual law practice.
A**N
Was a good reminder to STUDY for the Bar
It was a combo documentary about the profession in general and a small insight into 6 students who were getting ready to take the 2006 California Bar Exam. Honestly, if you are like me and are getting ready to take the Bar exam, all the crap about the profession was pretty pointless. I mean, I already went to law school so there's nothing you're going to tell me that's new, that I'm going to care about, or that's going to make a difference. The portions on the students though was interesting. I am a re-taker myself having failed "X" amount of times and I really could sympathize with several of them, Sam especially. I remember that feeling, constantly refreshing your computer to see if you passed or failed and after having seen the movie and the reactions of those who failed, it was a wake-up call to study and do what I need to do to pass this time because I never want to feel that way again.
D**N
Great movie
If you are interested in law and passing the bar watch this movie it was really good liked it a lot and would buy for sure.
L**T
Great for students going into law
I have relatives finishing law school and preparing for the bar exam. Great movie to show the experience. Try it.
C**M
Really enjoyed this film! ***
I'm not even a lawyer but my law student buddy took me along on a jaunt to a festival in Newport,CA and I have to say it's pretty good. The suspense created by the sheer hell of preparing for the CA bar coupled with the interesting and often thought provoking slants on lawsuits and America's appetite for them keeps you in your seat.
S**E
I loved this doc
A Lawyer Walks Into A Bar follows potential lawyers as they prep for California's bar exam. I loved this doc. It was refreshing to see people succeed who weren't your lawyer archetype; and an informative look into the mental grind of prepping for the bar exam.
D**J
Great dvd for aspiring lawyers
This is a great movie for aspiring lawyers especially for the state of California. Here you will see how tedious, agonizing yet ultimately rewarding, the bar preparation is. This portrayed several bar hopefuls including one who had taken the bar exma at least 43 times.
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