VIDEO-The Star Chamber

The Star Chamber is a 1983 movie starring Michael Douglas who plays the idealistic Judge Hardin who ends up letting guilty criminals go because of technicalities. This was a big deal back in the 70's and 80's which gave rise to vigilante movies like Dirty Harry and Death Wish. Racked by remorse and guilt for letting scum back on the streets, Hardin is approached by another judge--Hal Holbrook--to join a secret court or "star chamber" to right the flaws in the legitimate court system. Hardin accepts. Made up of nine judges, the star chamber rules on the guilt of the accused and dispatches a hit man to carry out the sentence.

The movie is very excellent at stoking our sense of outrage and injustice. Then, it sucker punches us when it is revealed that the two men Hardin wanted killed are actually innocent of their crime. Nevermind that they are fucking scum. Hardin goes to warn them, and the scum tries to kill him. I won't give away anymore of the story since I don't want to spoil the ending.

The movie is ambiguous. It leaves you thinking, but it doesn't resolve the issues to my liking. The ending seems unreal as well. This movie is due for a really good remake with less of a pat ending. It could have been done better. If you're going to get into moral complexity, don't go for a storybook ending.

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