I've seen this one too many times to count, and it seems to be on one channel or another every other month or so, and every time the opportunity arises, I'll get sucked into it again. One of my favorite movies about a hit-bottom alcoholic ambulance chasing lawyer named Frank Galvin (not entirely his own fault, which you find out later) is given a chance to turn his life around thanks to a case handed him by one of his few remaining friends (the stellar Jack Warden). An easy no-brainer negligence case that is certain to settle out of court for a hefty sum. But Frank has a revelation, sees a way to redeem himself, and 'do the right thing' in the words of one of his expert witnesses, much to the consternation of his clients, his friend, the appointed judge (another great performance by Milo O'Shea) and the opposition. Outstanding cast, top to bottom, with James Mason as the tough opposing counsel in one of his best last roles (as Jack Warden says: "Good? He's the Prince of Fucking Darkness!!"), Charlotte Rampling outstanding as a complicated love interest for Frank, and Lindsay Crouse in a small but pivotal role as a surprise witness (the only actor who goes a little over the top, but I forgive it because its so effective). Marvelous spare and gritty screenplay by David Mamet, and wonderful direction by Sidney Lumet (I love how he plays with light and dark throughout - and my favorite scene, where Frank 'sees the light' while he is snapping polaroids of the hospitalized victim, and the camera stays on the undeveloped polaroids until they 'come into focus') but it is Paul Newman's performance that seals the case here, he's never been better, more subtle, and I'll probably watch it again, the next time I stumble across it on the tube, and notice something new to revel in.
Some other 'courtroom favorites': Inherit the Wind, ...And Justice For All, Witness for the Prosecution, Compulsion, Twelve Angry Men