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Rating: 4 out of 5
College is supposed to be the best years of your life. I had a blast during my four years in college. With that, if you decide to go to the next level and get your master’s degree, then things get real. Expectations get a lot higher, and the amount of work seems to triple. If you decided to go to law school, medical school, or get that Ph.D., you are hitting the big time. Going to the illustrious Harvard law could even be your ticket to many things. As Elle Wood said, “it can’t be that hard?”
Even with all of that, have you ever had a professor you wanted to impress so much that no matter what you did, you were only a number in his or her role? Before we get into this review, let me tell you about a professor I had. It was a well-known professor who did two things. First, he gave a test on the very first class. The test was designed after the course. Whatever you got on the test could be your grade for the year, or you could take the class and get a higher grade. The second was that if you failed a test, he would staple a McDonald’s application to it and write, “you better start studying, or this is as far as you’re going to make it.” Shit was serious.
If you are looking for a movie about the stress of Harvard law, look no further than The Paper Chase. The film is based on John Jay Osborn Jr.’s 1971 novel The Paper Chase; it tells the story of a first-year law student at Harvard Law School and his experiences with a brilliant professor, along with the relationships he has with other class members and the girl he begins a relationship with. James T. Hart (Bottoms) is entering his first year as a Harvard law student. Hart comes from Minnesota and somewhat is the Harvard stereotype. After a rough first day of class, where the professor makes him puke, he is asked to join a study group of six disparate individuals who are all different, but all are aiming for success in their law studies. Hart’s most demanding class is Contract Law, taught by the testy and demanding Professor Charles W. Kingsfield, Jr. (Houseman). Although Hart is academically able to hold his own in class, he also has street smarts to ensure he receives the elusive good grade he wants. Hart’s mission for an excellent grade is interrupted when he embarks on a relationship with Susan Fields (Wagner), a young woman he meets. He soon learns there is more about her than he wants. As the class progresses, Hart changes his view from getting an excellent grade to wanting Kingsfield’s admiration.
This film might resonate with you if you have been to college or any higher education program. I think everyone would be able to resonate with the endless hours a college or even master’s program student will go through to get that good grade. Also, they might even remember the professor that seemed like a hard-ass, and it would be impossible to get an A in their class. The film also touches upon relationships with friends and the opposite sex.
The in-class parts of the film, it really shows the intensity of Professor Kingsfield. The man puts significant amounts of pressure on his students. He seems to never smile nor make any jokes. The class seems like an absolute dread to be in. When he walks in and asks for the facts of each case, if you get a minor detail wrong, he would move on and asks someone else. As you sat watching, it wasn’t fear that he exhumed but the expectation that you would not pass and that you were only a number and a figure on his board. Most of these scenes showed Hart and five other classmates answering the questions. Yet, Hart is the only one who wants his admiration, while others want to just pass the class and get out of town. You see how challenging the course was when the final exam came around. We all have studied for finals, but when Hart and Ford have to check into a hotel for three days and not leave, that is some serious business. Even after that, Hart still doesn’t look at his grade.
The two other parts of the story that will resonate are the study group and having a relationship. The study group consisted of Hart is invited to join a study group with five other students: Franklin Ford, the fifth generation of Fords at Harvard Law School; Kevin Brooks, a married man with a photographic memory but seems to severally lack analytic skills and feel for the class; Willis Bell (Craig Richard Nelson), an abrasive individual; Thomas Anderson and O’Connor. Things start well for the group, but as the story progresses, they begin to bicker. Brooks tries to commit suicide, and the others seem to go their separate ways.
The other major theme is trying to have a relationship. Hart, I understand that you want some major loving, but you played with homegirl’s emotions too much. First, you are banging your professor’s daughter. That would cause some major problems. Secondly, you should’ve known that you wouldn’t have enough time to do anything and when the pressure mounted, you broke up with Susan. When she tries to move on, you get upset and try again. Your relationship was toxic, and you were a cry baby half the time.
Timothy Bottoms as James T. Hart was meh to me. Even though he was the film’s star, he spent most of his time whining. Everyone wants an excellent grade, and you are in Harvard “freakin” Law. What do you expect it would be like? Lindsay Wagner as Susan Fields was freakin beautiful, but why did your character put up with Hart? What did you honestly see in him? He would break up with you and then get back together in an endless cycle for the semester. You already were in a relationship with one lawyer; no need to jump right back into it.
The BOSS of the whole film was John Houseman as Charles W. Kingsfield Jr. Homeboy was the epitome of a hard-ass college professor with HIGH expectations. Houseman didn’t change his mannerisms or tone throughout the whole movie. He always seemed disappointed in his class no matter what answer they gave.
The Paper Chase is one of those films that will remind you of your college years with a demanding ass professor. Even though this one revolves around a law student, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to relate. The cast was okay, but John Houseman as Charles W. Kingsfield Jr. stole the show. Get a major reminder of what college was like when watching this film.
