[5]
Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (The Abyss, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves) star as an estranged father and daughter, both lawyers, who find themselves as opposing counsel on a court case involving automobile manufacturer negligence. Despite her bitterness for Hackman’s character, Mastrantonio is forced to conspire with him after she learns her own team is hiding evidence to exonerate the auto company. As the court case transpires, father and daughter are naturally brought closer to reconciliation.
Class Action is directed by Michael Apted, whose previous films include much more engrossing titles like Coal Miner’s Daughter, Thunderheart, and Firstborn. Here he struggles to marry a compelling family story with a dull courtroom drama. Hackman and Mastrantonio light up the screen with their combative scenes outside the courtroom, but the film gets dragged down by perfunctory trial sequences that yield no tension or surprises. One almost wishes the family story was removed from the courtroom storyline and transplanted somewhere else entirely. But if you’re a fan of these actors, Class Action might still be worth checking out.
With Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix), Colin Friels, Joanna Merlin, Donald Moffat (The Thing), Jan Rubes (Witness), Jonathan Silverman, and Fred Thompson.