1. The Accused (1988), directed by Jonathan Kaplan, is a drama involving the gang rape of Sarah Tobias and a district attorney intent on bringing the perpetrators to justice.
2. A Few Good Men (1992).
3. Presumed Innocent (1990).
Comments:
“Lots of legal thrillers in this decade, but my highest ratings go to The Accused and Death and the Maiden. After all the films of previous decades where the focus seems to be achieving justice for the male accused of rape or the male killer of his wife or daughter’s rapist, finally a focus on the rape victim herself with an unforgettable performance by Jodie Foster. The film also raises questions about the relevance/irrelevance of the victim’s sexuality and of bystander responsibility/culpability. Death and the Maiden’s compelling narrative raises profound questions about the ability of the law to provide justice for victims of torture and human rights abuses.” —Diane Waldman
“Presumed Innocent is wonderfully written, wonderfully acted, and goes straight to the heart of one of our most cherished legal principles. The movie does a wonderful job of demonstrating that the presumption of innocence vanishes once someone is accused. The Accused, in the title, raises questions about who ‘the accused’ is or are, in any rape case, a question that we as a society ought to examine.” —Christine Corcos