The Goldman Case

“The Goldman Case” may turn off some viewers looking for flashier fare. My love of movies about process influenced my favorable response, but anyone who favors courtroom dramas will find much to enjoy.

“The Goldman Case” is a textbook example of courtroom drama, nothing more, nothing less.

Worthalter rightfully won this year’s best actor award at the Césars for playing Goldman as an irascible iconoclast with a hair-trigger temper who frequently transforms his own murder trial into a stage for bloviating rants — and yet remains sympathetic.

A compelling and immersive drama which attains a contemporary relevance without ever really trying too hard.

Lacks the serpentine intrigue of Anatomy of a Fall, and its emphasis on courtroom showboating and ostentatious arm-waving can be rather wearing. Still, as an account of a notable moment in French legal history, it’s undeniably compelling stuff.

I found myself completely gripped by the proceedings.

THE GOLDMAN CASE is a riveting courtroom drama from France, detailing a trial that caught national attention in a similar manner to the way that the O.J. Simpson trial did here.

At times the goings on resemble an episode of the Jerry Springer Show... It is a tense confrontation between extremes that seems ready to explode at any moment.

The lack of depicted backstory may render Goldman’s story (let alone his guilt or innocence) somewhat murky to viewers lacking any prior acquaintance. Still, it’s all engrossing, because he is such a fiery, filter-free personality...

The Goldman Case is an absorbing, well-acted and unfortunately still relevant examination of historical bias, painstakingly put together from reports and transcripts.