The Paper Chase | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

Audience Reviews

steve m I remember this from my college days, didn't think it was all that then, still don't. The guy does everything he can to get a good grade, then realizes it's not that important. So what is important? Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Another "product of its time" movie that I might have enjoyed viewing when I was 20 in 1973, but it seems pretty pointless now. Critics lauded Houseman's performance and he cashed in on it for at least a decade after - KaChing! Somewhat interesting to see the portrayals of how people lived and behaved half a century ago - the daughter of a Harvard Law School professor driving a Chevy Vega, a perennial candidate for "Worst Detroit Product Evah!" Overall, pretty slow moving especially the scene where our protagonist loiters in the empty lecture hall; poor editing IMO. Rather implausible ending and I don't just mean at the credits; the hotel scene is utterly ludicrous. I watched it only b/c I hadn't seen it Back in the Day and everybody raved about it then. Now, it's strictly a time-filler. Rated 1.5/5 Stars • Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Follows a class at HLS and the dynamics within. I love this film. The narrative is totally relatable (bar the HLS bit - I am not so smart), and the character growth is good and who can't relate to grade anxiety. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Well written & acted Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Required viewing in law school, with some accurate portrayals and important points made. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review dave s Early in The Paper Chase, Professor Kingsfield (John Houseman) tells his first-year law students that "you come here with a skull full of mush and you leave here thinking like a lawyer." Using the Socratic Method of teaching, he terrorizes, educates, and molds the malleable minds of his students. First year law student Hart (Timothy Bottoms) first sees Kingsfield as his nemesis before coming to understand the value of the professor's approach. Lindsay Wagner plays Susan, Hart's girlfriend, and serves as a sounding board for the frustrated and stressed Hart. Their relationship eventually becomes a distraction and unnecessary plot point when it is revealed that Susan is Kingsfield's daughter. Despite this, The Paper Chase is a smart film with engaging characters, highlighted by Houseman's Oscar-winning performance. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Paper Chase

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