L'affaire Chelsea Deardon

You don't get actors like Redford and Winger anymore. The subtleties in their facial expressions, the humanness of their characters are evident in each move they make and each action. In a sense, there is no 'acting', since the storyline, the characters and the flow reach a natural confluence. The only character that makes me feel a bit uncomfortable is Daryl Hannah's Chelsea - the performance artist. Brian Dennehy is also a little underutilised, but the movie is really a swinger for both Winger and Redford who make their attraction and talent as attorneys believable.

I've seen this movie about 5 times over the years and I never get sick of it. Though I know the plot, each time I find myself watching the actors rather than predicting the storyline. Its just great and really, so easy to watch and enjoy. There is humour, old fashioned romance, good IL' bad guys vs good guys, a bit of blood and gore and a lot of fine art thrown in. I highly recommend it!

Legal Eagles

The reason no one dates personal injury lawyers is because they only want to promenade in front of businesses with icy sidewalks.

Luckily, the lawyer in this comedy-thriller is sleeping with a client, not a colleague.

Assistant D.A. Tom (Robert Redford) decides to help attorney Laura (Debra Winger) defend Chelsea (Daryl Hannah) against charges she stole a painting from an art dealer (Terence Stamp).

Adamant her father gave her the painting before his suspicious death - and destruction of his art collection - Chelsea not only convinces Tom but seduces him as well.

But when a dubious cop (Brian Dennehy) uncovers the entire collection intact, it threatens Tom's career and his life.

Crackling with comedic repartee, a fiery May/December romance and an unpredicted adversary, Legal Eagles may be clichéd but it's not without its charms.

Incidentally, if you're going to sleep with anyone in the court system - make it a judge. Yellow Light

vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

Come on, you have to admit that this film has a good cast with Debra Winger, Robert Redford, Daryl Hannah, and others in supporting roles like Christine Baranski. I like the fact that it was shot in New York City and not on location somewhere. No offense, Toronto or Vancouver but the backdrop does a good job. Remembering a time when the twin towers was still alive and kicking downtown. I liked the combination of Winger and Redford even though they disliked each other on the set according to rumors. Daryl Hannah plays Chelsea who seeks her father's art from crooked businessmen. She does an adequate job and proves that she's not just a pretty face. Daryl always plays shy very well but in this case, Chelsea is not shy at all. She is a bit rebellious and a performance artist with a fascination for fire. She teams up with Winger's character and later with Redford in more ways than can be said to prove her innocence and get justice served.

As rival attorneys in New York City, Robert Redford and Debra Winger aren't exactly Tracy and Hepburn (he's too wishy-washy and callow, she's too flighty), but they do get to loosen up a bit from prior roles, creating an amusing give-and-take relationship while defending performance artist Daryl Hannah on murder charges. Plot is so haphazardly constructed that it was re-worked for the TV version and still nobody could figure it out. Redford and Winger get out of a bomb-laden warehouse just in the nick of time, but how they do it will have smart viewers crying foul. There are other problems, not to mention a strange, off-putting show put on by Hannah where she appears to go up in flames, but the charisma of the players is just enough to carry this heavy vehicle to a happy conclusion. The outtakes at the finale are charming, as is Rod Stewart's song "Love Touch". **1/2 from ****

It's far from perfect but 'Legal Eagles' is quite nostalgic and entertaining. The story is very contrived especially with so many plot holes and the characters aren't fully fleshed out either but it has a very noire style approach and does keep you in suspense. The humour also works quite well. On the technical side it's a decently made film, nothing too flashy which is good. I also liked the presentation of the art world.

No matter what one says about 'Legal Eagles', for me the highlight is easily Robert Redford and a very cute Debra Winger. Both actors are spellbinding, delivering subtle and charming performances. As performers, they just look so comfortable with each other. Their chemistry is amazing and their scenes, especially their on-screen banter, are a delight to watch.

Daryl Hannah's role is sketchy but she looks sizzling and I enjoyed her sequences with Redford and the scene where she demonstrates her art. Brian Dennehy is wasted. Terence Stamp is adequate.

So yes, it's got its flaws but how can you not enjoy it for Redford and Winger?