This is a rock-solid legal thriller that holds up remarkably well. The dialogue crackles, the performances are strong, and the ethical questions it raises are genuinely meaty—not just courtroom theatrics but real discussions about power, truth, and what we owe each other.
The safety concerns are real but not disqualifying for the right age. The fatal hazing is disturbing, the language is pervasive, and there's a suicide in the backstory. But it's not gratuitous; it's integral to a story about institutional failure and moral courage.
The main knock is that it's not particularly imaginative—it's a well-executed genre piece, not a visionary work. And while it's aged better than many '90s films, it's still a talky, deliberate courtroom drama that some modern teens might find slow.
But for a 15-16+ kid who's ready for serious themes, this is genuinely enriching. It's a masterclass in argumentation, a compelling character study, and a film that trusts its audience to wrestle with hard questions. Just make sure they're actually ready for the content, because this isn't a Marvel movie with a body count—it's a serious drama about real moral stakes.





