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Class Action (1991) is an intense and riveting courtroom drama full of twists that is certainly among some of the best movies in this genre. Although this movie is a courtroom fiction, the case depicted parallels the Ford Pinto litigation with an almost sinister realism. By briefly describing the Ford story here, I will be presenting a very similar outline to the courtroom argument and the major plot for this movie. During the early production of the Ford Pinto model, it became a focus of a major scandal when it was discovered that the car's design allowed its fuel tank to be easily damaged in the event of a rear-end collision which often resulted in deadly fires and explosions. The problem was that the vehicle lacked a true rear bumper as well as any reinforcing structure between the rear panel and the tank, and in certain collisions, the tank would be thrust forward into the differential, which had a number of protruding bolts that could puncture the tank. This, and the fact that the doors could potentially jam during an accident (due to poor reinforcing) made the car a potential deathtrap. Ford was allegedly aware of this design flaw but refused to pay the minimal expense of a redesign. Instead, it was argued with cost-actuary analysis that it would be cheaper for Ford to pay off possible lawsuits for resulting deaths. This discovery of Ford's apparent gross disregard for human lives in favor of profits led to major lawsuits, inconclusive criminal charges, and finally a costly recall of all affected Pintos. Ford lost several million dollars and gained a very poor reputation for manufacturing "the barbecue that seats four." Now please watch the movie and judge for yourself if the "Meridian" automobile of this movie is one and the same to the "Pinto" of Ford Motor Company? Nonetheless, this superb story pits a corporate, castrating attorney, Maggie Ward (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), against a humanistic, grouchy attorney, Jedediah Tucker Ward (Gene Hackman), as daughter and father in a courtroom battle. The subplot centers around the family dynamics among father, mother, and daughter that are superbly developed as the force of the lawsuit thickens in the main plot. Jedediah's daughter, Maggie, has had a bad relationship with her father ever since middle school when she first witnessed her mother's emotional torments stemming from her father's promiscuity. From this bitterness, Maggie reduced her father to nothing more than a playboy who constantly cheated on her mother and emotionally neglected them both. Despite her long-term anger and unforgiving nature toward her father, Maggie followed in her father's footsteps making a career in law. However, due to these unresolved childhood issues and her neck-deep resentment toward her father, Maggie has intentionally become the mirror opposite of her father by working in a high-powered corporate law firm and adopting conservative political views. In playing the liberal father, Gene Hackman is his typically brilliant self mixing humor, wit, and anger in a most believable and natural manner. Mary Mastrantonio, without any doubt, proves herself in this movie as a very accomplished actress and not once is she seemingly overpowered by Gene Hackman. The supporting casts are also incredible and play very powerful roles in this movie, as does the city of San Francisco, which always looks so gorgeous and inviting on film and this is certainly no exception. The screenwriting and directing are excellent and provide all the characters with rich scenes, vivid roles, and superb conversational dialogue. The dramatic revelations in the final courtroom scene turn into a powerful twist that will leave you stunned, but with a natural high. email this review to a friend
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