Music Box (1989)

69% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(2,698 ratings)

Jessica Lange plays an attorney whose affable Hungarian-immigrant father Armin Mueller-Stahl is arrested. He is threatened with deportation for lying about his activities during World War II; part of the charge is that Mueller-Stahl was a Nazi collaborationist, guilty of wartime atrocities.… More Jessica Lange plays an attorney whose affable Hungarian-immigrant father Armin Mueller-Stahl is arrested. He is threatened with deportation for lying about his activities during World War II; part of the charge is that Mueller-Stahl was a Nazi collaborationist, guilty of wartime atrocities. Absolutely convinced that her father is being railroaded by a revenge-seeking Hungarian communist government, Lange handles Mueller-Stahl's defense, expertly blowing huge holes in prosecuting attorney Frederic Forrest's case. But in doing her own research, Lange discovers that her father has spent a lifetime paying off a blackmailer. Why? In contrast to the fervency of his earlier Z, Costa-Gavras refuses to make things easy by proselytizing in The Music Box (nor does screenwriter Joe Esterhas indulge in his usual right-between-the-eyes fervency). Everything in the film is offered on the same calm, collected level, making the ultimate horror of the story all the more effective. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 6 min.
Directed By: Costa-Gavras
Written By: Joe Eszterhas
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Mystery & Suspense

On DVD: May 20, 2003
Studio: TriStar Pictures

Critic Reviews

Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
...a stand-alone example of a full-bodied courtroom drama.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Failed to be affecting.
Dan Callahan, ToxicUniverse.com
Jessica Lange's performance is the only thing Music Box has going for it.
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
The script by Hollywood's controversial writer Joe Eszterhas is strictly edge of the seat material.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

Not sure how I came across this movie to put on my list but I am glad I did/ Armin Muller-Stahl plays as usual an excellent part of a father who is accused of WWII war crimes. Living in the United Sates he is faced with being sent back to Hungary. Jessica Lange plays the daughter who… More
Not sure how I came across this movie to put on my list but I am glad I did/ Armin Muller-Stahl plays as usual an excellent part of a father who is accused of WWII war crimes. Living in the United Sates he is faced with being sent back to Hungary. Jessica Lange plays the daughter who is a lawyer and has decided to defend her father. Why Jessica Lange is not listed in the cast on this page is beyond me, another Flixster goof? A twist at the end, that I will not give away, but that all can see coming after about the 1st hr. Even though Jessica was awarded a Oscar for her performance, I can't give more then 3 1/2 stars, that doesn't mean this film is not worth watching at least once. If your a WWII Buff you might rate it higher
Ross C

Yet another boring 80s courtroom drama with wooden acting, which fails to make me care about the characters or bring any suspense to the case.
jay n

a little slow moving but fine acting and a good story make it worthwhile.
Leo L

Good movie.

Cast

            Jessica Lange as Ann Talbot

            Armin Mueller-Stahl as Michael Laszlo

            Frederic Forrest as Jack Burke

            Donald Moffat as Harry Talbot

            Lukas Haas as Michael "Mikey" Talbot

            Cheryl Lynn Bruce as Georgine Wheeler

            Edward Blatchford as Young Man

            J.S. Block as Judge Erwin Silver

            Larry Brandenburg as John Staley

            Elzbieta Czyzewska as Melinda Kalman

            Toni Fleming as Housekeeper

            Ralph Foody as Pawn Broker

            Sol Frieder as Istvan Boday

            Nicholas J. Giangiulio as Loop Group

            Michael C. Gwynne
            
            Albert Hall as Mack Jones

            Gábor Koncz as Limo Driver

            Mitchell Litrofsky as Sandy Lehman

            Jane MacIver as Secretary

            Tom Mason
            
            Elizabeth Owens as Loop Group

            Dan Resin as Loop Group

            Michael Rooker as Karchy Laszlo

            Ned Schmidtke as Dean Talbot

            Michael Shillo as Geza Vamos

            Felix Shuman as James Nathanson

            Mari Töröcsik as Magda Zoldan

            Kevin White as Clerk

            Ellis Williams as Loop Group

            Margo Winkler as Irma Kiss

            Marta Sebestyen as Singer

            Andy Avalos as Weatherman

            Mimi Bensinger as Loop Group

            Leonard E. Boswell as Courtroom Guard

            Nicholas Christianson as Boy with Mikey

            Richard D'Angelo as Violent Protester

            Gyorgy Emod as Andras Nagy

            Agnes Gallwitz as Translator

            Zoltan Gera as Man in Budapest

            Tracy Grant as Servant

            Donnez Harris as Security Guard

            Erica MD Heit as Doctor

            Pauline Kaner as Reporter

            Tibor Kenderesi as Pal Horvath

            Magda Szekely Marburg as Judit Hollo

            Douglas Marcinek as Courtroom Guard

            Christiana Nicola as Maria

            George Pusep as Vladimir Kostav

            Owen Rice as Courtroom Reporter

            Magda Sass as Translator

            Tom Skilling as Weatherman

            Mark Steggerda as Courtroom Guard

            Tom Stienke as Sports Announcer

            Megan Warner as Secretary

            Mary Goldberg
            
            George Carson
            
            Anne Gartlan
            
            Joe Guzaldo as Joe Dinofrio

            Pam Dixon Mickelson
            
See full cast

Music Box (1989)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

Ross C

jay n

Leo L

Cast

Trailers & Clips