You won't be disappointed!

Sadly Over-hyped

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Young judge Michael Douglas is frustrated with having to let scumbag criminals go on legal technicalities. Soon he's approached by his friend Hal Holbrook about joining a group of judges that meet in secret and decide to dole out vigilante justice to criminals who the legal system failed to prosecute.Mature, thought-provoking thriller with an excellent first half but man does it fall apart in the end. The basic problem is that the entire first half of the movie is spent building up to Douglas joining this group. So a lot of time is spent on making us emotionally invested in WHY this group is necessary so we're on board with Douglas. But then, almost immediately after joining, the movie pulls the rug out from under itself and Douglas regrets his decision. Then we get a pedestrian climax involving a chase and shootout in a warehouse. All of that passion shown towards caring about the victims in the first half is tossed out in favor of the movie suddenly caring more about some dirtbag drug dealers who are clearly guilty of a lot of terrible crimes but maybe not this particular one they're to be executed for. Sorry but emotionally it's a tough sell.The cast is terrific, with wonderful character actors in roles big and small throughout. The writing in the first half is also really good. But boy, the way it falls apart and so abruptly is such a downer. I'm still giving it a decent score of 7 because when it's good, it's great, but be forewarned that it's a movie that chickens out on its own premise.

This movie was made in 1983. I must have seen it on TV sometime in the nineties, and the central theme has stayed with me since then - in fact, even more so as time has passed. So I have just bought and viewed the DVD. It was relevant then, and probably a lot more so in 2016, when I write.People worldwide are rebelling against the "system": the Star Chamber shows part of the reason - the increasing gap between common sense justice and the way the law has been perverted almost to the extent that the victims of crime are almost made into the perpetrators by the judicial system.Douglas is, as always, excellent as the judge who is drawn into the clandestine group of likeminded judges acting, with the best of intentions, outside the law to provide a form of vigilante justice. In fact the film is well cast altogether.There are several slight holes in the story, not least of which is how the hit men are funded, but these don't detract in the slightest from the beautifully constructed plot. It draws you in, especially because you can sympathise with the utter frustration of the people involved in a way that is rarely seen nowadays.One or two scenes could be shortened to good effect - the car park chase isn't up to Bullitt standards and probably slows the overall plot down rather than helping it along, and the finale warehouse chase is a little overdone.Overall, though, a film that should be compulsory watching for anyone debating how society is being allowed to disintegrate partly because of, rather than despite, the law.

This forgotten little movie is not a masterpiece , but definitely a thought provoking movie that is worth your time . What is law and what is justice ? Is there a difference between them ? Which one is more important ? Can someone take justice in his own hands ? If the system fails to protect the innocent should we ignore the system ? This movie asks all this important questions and wants you to come out with your own conclusions . It does not force you to one point of view. For example it's about to the viewer to decide if the ending is a happy or sad one.Michael Douglas gives a great performance as a judge torn between his duties and desires . Hal Holbrook repeats his role from "Magnum force". If you seen it , you know what to expect . Same goes for Yaphet Kotto who plays a cop in the same way as in "Across 110th street" . Still , the give a solid performances . It's a little strange and sad that Kotto has so little screen time here and he seems wasted. I also have to applause the actors who played two thugs . They were really creepy.The screenplay for most part is intelligent , especially when it comes to complicated law issues . Only the ending seems a little clumsy. It kinda turns this serious drama/thriller into action movie , but thankfully doesn't destroy it. And the cops here are suspiciously very intuitive at times . "The Star chamber " has some cool photographed sequences like the chase at the beginning and the falling of one character near the end. Overall , if you want to spend your time on intelligent entertainment this movie is a nice choice. I give it 4/10. It's more of a drama , so don't expect action or thrills.

I am amazingly surprised that no user has pointed it out. Nearly every one realized that STAR CHAMBER was very similar to MAGNUM FORCE. Correct. Every one speaks of Hal Holbrook. OK. But no one tells that Holbrook played in MAGNUM FORCE too, and in a very similar character as this one. One of the lead of a vigilante police force who wanted to wipe all criminals out. Are they blind or what? Besides, I must admit that I prefer Ted Post's most famous feature, starring Clint Eastwood. Peter Hyams gives here a correct film, but he has done much better. See CAPRICORNE ONE, for instance.I will finish this comment in pointing out that this kind of topic was very common in the late seventies and early eighties.