Steve Zaillian, screenwriter of Schindler's List, has written and directed an atypical lawyer film. Based on a true story, this is far from the idealistic view of lawyers found in the works of John Grisham. Here we have a cynical (some would say realistic) view of the greedy and underhanded side of the legal profession.

Jan Schlichtmann (Travolta) is a big-time Boston lawyer who fights his cases for the money - morals come second (or third). When a case rears its head in the small town of Wobum, it is scarcely of interest to him - until he discovers that the corporations involved could be up for huge damage claims. The sweet smell of cash attracts him to the town, where he signs on to help the victims - parents whose children have died of leukemia after chemical dumping in the local water supply. Gradually Schlichtmann gains a conscience and soon finds himself fighting for justice, not just the cash.

This film could have been a fairly bland courtroom drama but Zaillian has written an excellent screenplay which concentrates on the characters more than the courtroom. Fine performances by Travolta and Robert Duvall (as an opposition lawyer) help to make this into an intriguing and extremely enjoyable film.