“The Star Chamber” (1983) is a suspenseful legal thriller about a group of judges who take the law into their own hands. They form a clandestine “star chamber” to dispense justice against criminals who were acquitted due to legal technicalities. But when a mistake leads to the killing of an innocent man, the judges must confront their own morality. The movie is tense and gripping, with strong performances by its cast and surprising twists and turns.
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Review
The Star Chamber is an American thriller film released in 1983. The movie is directed by Peter Hyams and stars Michael Douglas, Hal Holbrook, and Yaphet Kotto. The plot of the film takes place in Los Angeles, where two judges on opposite sides of the bench find themselves working together to take down criminals who have slipped through the cracks of the justice system.
The movie begins with Judge Steven R. Hardin (Michael Douglas), a new appointee to the bench, facing a case that he knows his verdict will be not guilty due to faulty evidence. This sends him into a spiral of guilt and frustration towards the justice system. He then meets Judge Benjamin Caulfield (Hal Holbrook), who introduces him to a secret group called The Star Chamber.
This group consists of retired judges who have taken it upon themselves to enact their own form of justice when they feel that the legal system has failed its citizens. The panel meets in secret and decides who deserves punishment for their crimes and how that punishment should be carried out.
As Hardin becomes more involved with The Star Chamber, he becomes conflicted with their practices that border on vigilantism and lack transparency leading to mistakes such as killing an individual later found innocent.
The movie tackles ethical dilemmas like vigilantism and over-reliance on technology, themes commonly seen in Hemingway’s works. The flawed system also shows how people can go for extremes when even a small imbalance occurs.
Douglas truly shines as he goes through his character’s moral turmoil with genuine emotion and embodies the essence of Hemingway’s hero which is an honorable man caught up in immoral situations; someone who stands by their actions but at the same time has doubts about them.
Holbrook provided balance by being calm and collected, an embodiment of Hemingway’s hero counterpart – someone who has been through many troubles but still looks at life stoically.
The cinematography was exemplary in setting the tone of the movie. The film was shot using a lot of shadows and low light, giving the movie an intense feel. The score by Michael Small also contributed to this feel, making the film more suspenseful.
The ending scene was particularly gripping as Hardin confronts the remaining members of the Star Chamber. The dialogue is engaging, and it is well choreographed with expert dynamic editing.
Despite its critical acclaim, The Star Chamber did not perform well at the box office and failed to garner any nominations for awards. However, its popularity has grown over time, mainly due to its storyline and thought-provoking themes that are still relevant today.
As one of Hemingway’s heroes always stands up against injustice regardless of his life’s cost. This is also evident in “The Star Chamber” with Hardin’s nobility against an unfair system while going through self-reflection.
In conclusion, The Star Chamber is a gripping thriller that explores ethical dilemmas and societal issues that are still relevant today. Its excellent acting, cinematography, and score make it a must-watch for any fan of Hemingway’s work or anyone who enjoys thought-provoking movies.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 105
- Release : 1983-08-05
- Genre : Drama, Thriller
- Cast : Michael Douglas as Steven Hardin, Hal Holbrook as Benjamin Caulfield, Yaphet Kotto as Detective Harry Lowes, Sharon Gless as Emily Hardin, James B. Sikking as Dr. Harold Lewin
- Crew : Rick Simpson as Set Decoration, Bo Welch as Art Direction, Annette Benson as Casting Assistant, Ralph Gerling as Camera Operator, Patricia Norris as Costume Designer
- Popularity 9.337
- Budget : $8,000,000
- Revenue : $5,555,305
- Company : Frank Yablans Presentations, 20th Century Fox
- Summary : As violence escalates in Los Angeles and heinous murders are committed, Steven Hardin, a young judge of the California Supreme Court, must struggle with his tortured conscience and growing despair as he watches helplessly as the ruthless criminals brought before his court go free because clever lawyers find obscure loopholes in the law.
- Tagline : They meet. They judge. They execute.
