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A Civil Action Reviews

1998

60
from 1367 members

Jan Schlichtmann, a tenacious young lawyer, is confronted with the litigation of a lifetime in this unbelievable real-life story. Several families in the small town of Woburn, Massachusetts, have suffered the tragic losses of their children to the rare cancer known as leukemia. After having their claim rejected by most law .. Read more

Starring	John Travolta, Robert Duvall, Stephen Fry, James Gandolfini
Director	Steve Zaillain
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of A Civil Action
View all critics' reviews (6)
- Engrossing, muted drama, taken from a true story, that is as much concerned with the cost of the awakening of an individual's social conscience as the case itself.
- 30520
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:41
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of A Civil Action
View all members' reviews (14)
- - 3
  - 0
  Not bad at all
  
  A very interesting story, not your typical drama court.
  
  Report this review
- 116442
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  
  [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Chantal
  - 1037 reviews
  - London
  - 21 Jun 2005 at 15:33
Most recent members' reviews of A Civil Action
View all members' reviews (14)
- - 0
  - 0
  HARVARD WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE
  
  When John Travolta and Robert Duval appear together in a movie it is almost a certainty to have class. This true story of law in the United States is no ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1088145
- - Burnhamite
  - 271 reviews
  - BURNHAM
  - 02 Feb 2012 at 21:30
- - 0
  - 0
  Enjoyable Legal Underdog Story
  
  I love John Travolta as an actor and this did not disappoint from a lead character's point of view. It was an entertaining film but perhaps story wise too ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1018710
- - Sporty
  - 72 reviews
  - Kent
  - 18 Jul 2011 at 11:16
- - 0
  - 0
  A Civil Action
  
  An excellent film. John Travolta is always good, can be mean, but can play nice. It was based on a true story too. Lots of actors in it that you will recognise ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 952118
- - a customer
  - skegness
  - 09 Jan 2011 at 12:27
- - 0
  - 0
  Very watchable film
  
  Similar story to Erin Brockovich, very watchable but not as good in my opinion as Erin Brockovich...
  
  Report this review
- 772517
- - a customer
  - Milton Keynes, England
  - 18 Jun 2009 at 00:07
- - 0
  - 0
  Ok
  
  Hired this for the week thought it was ok, one to watch on a rainy day
  
  Report this review
- 743325
- - blackaj69
  - 96 reviews
  - Glasgow
  - 15 Apr 2009 at 12:14
- - 0
  - 0
  A Civil Action.
  
  Travolta plays a personal injury lawyer, The film follows a trial of 12 dead kids who got leukemia possibly from contaminated drinking water that was polluted ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 432989
- - Cornetto
  - 959 reviews
  - Lancaster
  - 23 Apr 2007 at 21:18
- - 0
  - 0
  excellent
  
  best legal drama i watched in a long time!
  
  Report this review
- 432082
- - a customer
  - cornwall
  - 20 Apr 2007 at 23:27
- - 0
  - 0
  Action
  
  Not bad watch it if you have time to fit it in I say.
  
  Report this review
- 187231
- - Sarah Watson
  - Lancashire
  - 25 Dec 2005 at 13:20
- - 0
  - 0
  Watchable courtroom drama!
  
  Good acting,good story based on a true story..got to the point a bit of humor, good guys versus bad guys.
  
  what's not to like.
  
  Report this review
- 119840
- - a customer
  - berks
  - 01 Jul 2005 at 18:48
- - 3
  - 0
  Not bad at all
  
  A very interesting story, not your typical drama court.
  
  Report this review
- 116442
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Chantal
  - 1037 reviews
  - London
  - 21 Jun 2005 at 15:33
View all members' reviews (14)

- - 3
  - 0
  Not bad at all
  
  A very interesting story, not your typical drama court.
  
  Report this review
- 116442
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  
  [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Chantal
  - 1037 reviews
  - London
  - 21 Jun 2005 at 15:33
- - 1
  - 1
  Mediocre to good ...
  
  Mediocre to good courtroom drama of the Erin Brokovicz variety. Some really good performances and a nice story make it a satisfyingly edgy movie to watch.
  
  Report this review
- 30140
- - Amitabh#1
  - CHIPPENHAM
  - 11 Mar 2004 at 00:54
- - 0
  - 0
  A movie well performed...
  
  A movie well performed an emotional rollercoaster which kept us engaged all the way through. Would you do the same thing???
  
  Report this review
- 49511
- - a customer
  - GLASGOW
  - 12 Oct 2004 at 10:01
- - 0
  - 0
  Watchable courtroom drama!
  
  Good acting,good story based on a true story..got to the point a bit of humor, good guys versus bad guys.
  
  what's not to like.
  
  Report this review
- 119840
- - a customer
  - berks
  - 01 Jul 2005 at 18:48
- - 0
  - 0
  Action
  
  Not bad watch it if you have time to fit it in I say.
  
  Report this review
- 187231
- - Sarah Watson
  - Lancashire
  - 25 Dec 2005 at 13:20
- - 0
  - 0
  excellent
  
  best legal drama i watched in a long time!
  
  Report this review
- 432082
- - a customer
  - cornwall
  - 20 Apr 2007 at 23:27
- - 0
  - 0
  A Civil Action.
  
  Travolta plays a personal injury lawyer, The film follows a trial of 12 dead kids who got leukemia possibly from contaminated drinking water that was polluted ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 432989
- - Cornetto
  - 959 reviews
  - Lancaster
  - 23 Apr 2007 at 21:18
- - 0
  - 0
  Ok
  
  Hired this for the week thought it was ok, one to watch on a rainy day
  
  Report this review
- 743325
- - blackaj69
  - 96 reviews
  - Glasgow
  - 15 Apr 2009 at 12:14
- - 0
  - 0
  Very watchable film
  
  Similar story to Erin Brockovich, very watchable but not as good in my opinion as Erin Brockovich...
  
  Report this review
- 772517
- - a customer
  - Milton Keynes, England
  - 18 Jun 2009 at 00:07
- - 0
  - 0
  A Civil Action
  
  An excellent film. John Travolta is always good, can be mean, but can play nice. It was based on a true story too. Lots of actors in it that you will recognise ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 952118
- - a customer
  - skegness
  - 09 Jan 2011 at 12:27

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Critics' reviews
- Engrossing, muted drama, taken from a true story, that is as much concerned with the cost of the awakening of an individual's social conscience as the case itself.
- 30520
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:41
- Steven Zaillian scripted Schindler's List, and wrote and directed Searching for Bobby Fischer. His follow-up is a legal... read more on Time Out
- 43685
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:14
- "...[A] gripping, expertly acted film....It tells a finely nuanced tale of right, wrong and the gray area in between..."
- 8241
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...A CIVIL ACTION has a lightness of touch uncharacteristic of the genre..."
- 8243
- - Sight and Sound
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...A CIVIL ACTION is a whale of a tale about justice gone wrong..."
- 8242
- - Rolling Stone
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...The case itself remains a grabber..."
- 8244
- - USA Today
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- A Civil Action
  
  Jan Schlichtmann, a tenacious young lawyer, is confronted with the litigation of a lifetime in this unbelievable real-life story. Several families in the small town of Woburn, Massachusetts, have suffered the tragic losses of their children to the rare cancer known as leukemia. After having their ...