“…And Justice For All” is a very eccentric piece of 1970s filmmaking that features one of Al Pacino’s greatest performances. He plays Arthur Kirkland, a Baltimore defense lawyer who navigates corruption in the legal system. Much like the film itself, Pacino oscillates from goofy humor to gripping dramatics. One scene features him cowering like a fearful child on a helicopter ride while another has him weeping with rage about a client who died by suicide. “…And Justice For All” reaches its famously unhinged climax where the young lawyer turns against the very man he is supposed to be defending. 

“My client, the Honorable Henry T. Fleming, should go right to f***ing jail!” Arthur Kirkland yells, setting off the pandemonium that follows. Pacino’s sharp, syncopated delivery of the line makes this shocking moment really land. His voice wavers between frustration and heartbreak, conveying just how much he cares about the law and doing what is right  — regardless of the bureaucracy surrounding the legal system. In his crazy tirade, Arthur Kirkland screams, “You’re out of order! You’re out of order! The whole trial is out of order! They’re out of order!” as officers drag him out of the courtroom. This scene leaves a lasting impression on viewers because it injects sheer chaos into the typically buttoned-up courtroom environment. It’s thrilling to see someone so passionately stand up for what is right, no matter the consequences.