good message, decent yet uneven film I wasn't expecting to laugh at this film but there are some parts that are just plain hilarious. The plot goes all over the place which is a shame because if this film was made in a more solid fashion and took itself more seriously, maybe it could have been one of the greats. All the important elements are there- good acting, characters, humor, drama, etc... but the plotline doesn't gel like it should. There are too many ideas, or sub-plots if you will, thrown into the film. It seems almost as if the ideas in this movie could be split up and transformed into a few different law movies. Surprisingly, I was thoroughly entertained throughout the entire 120 minutes of the film; yet an uneven blend of comedy, cruelty, and drama makes it somewhat difficult to swallow. If the film's commentary on the injustices of the U.S. legal system are made evident to you, then you're set because this is definitely a "message movie". It's always good to see Al Pacino playing an honest, down-to-earth character. Be sure to mute your volume during the opening and closing credits unless you enjoy terribly cheesy disco soundtracks.