Surely, the Supreme Court has to be the ultimate expression of the competitive nature of our American society. Heroes when their decisions jibe with our own, fools when they diverge, watching how the Supreme Court's actions shape and alter our own personal lives has to be the greatest spectator sport out there. It's a palpable feeling of anticipation when a decision has been reached by the court on some vast legal issue; you can't help but get caught up in the excitement, regardless of your take on that particular issue, as you grapple with the knowledge that this announcement, in one fell swoop, may perceptively alter the way we actually live our lives. Perhaps it's also that notion of a final stopping point, the so-called "court of last resort," that's such an awe-inspiring (and bedevilling) notion to a nation full of individualists who don't particularly like it when somebody tells them, "this is it; this is the final word." Of course, there's never a final word on any great social issue, but the monumental decisions handed down by those various nine justices weave a thread ranging from legal activism to indifference, through the very beginnings of our nation, right up to today.

Producer Mark Zwonitzer's 2007 documentary, The Supreme Court, is a four-disc, four hour look at the history of the Court from its inception at the Constitutional Congress in 1787, to its role today as the final arbitrator between government and government, and government and the individual. It's a history that I found I knew very little about. I've heard the names of the big cases, and knew most of the names of the famous jurists who have sat on the bench, but The Supreme Court skillfully condenses over two hundred years of legal history into an easily understood, enjoyable documentary that should be of interest to historians and regular viewers alike.

Written by Zwonitzer (who penned the first two parts), and Richard Ben Cramer (who took on the last two hours), and directed by Thomas Lennon, The Supreme Court moves quickly for its four hour running time. It's in no way bogged down in technical legalese; this beautifully shot look at the Court distills complicated legal issues down into terms we can all understand. Complex concepts like "judicial review" and "liberty of contract" finally really made sense to me as catalysts in the social and legal history of our nation. Using historians, academics, lawyers, as well as interviews with Supreme Court justices, The Supreme Court is lavishly illustrated with historical stills, paintings, newsreels, and vintage TV footage, giving the film a professional gloss that's rare for these types of documentaries.

What The Supreme Court does very well is humanizing these legendary figures by placing them in their correct historical context. Most of these jurists were just names in a book to me, but The Supreme Court brings these giant figures of American history to life. In The Supreme Court, people such as John Marshall, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Stephen J. Field, Felix Frankfurter, John Marshall Harlan, Hugo Black, Warren Burger, Earl Warren, and William Rhenquist are shown to be perhaps more influential, more powerful than the presidents that served during their tenures. It's a fascinating look at a body that's shrouded in mystery, and a history that I found exciting and fascinating.

The DVD:

The Video:
The 1.78:1 widescreen video image for The Supreme Court is flawless. Beautiful color, with perfect archival footage, and no transfer issues.

The Audio:
The English 2.0 stereo soundtrack is clear and strong. Spanish subtitles are available, as well as English close-captioning.

The Extras:
There are a few interesting extras on The Supreme Court's four discs. All of the discs contains some engravings and photographs of the various buildings and rooms that have housed the Supreme Court. There's also a gallery that has a collection of editorial cartoons dealing with the Court. The only problem? They're the same pictures and cartoons, just repeated on each disc. There are some cool DVD-ROM features that I accessed, including documents and manuscripts pertaining to famous cases, including the infamous Dred Scott suit. There were also charts and maps from the times.

Final Thoughts:
Beautifully put together, with a stimulating, comprehensive look at perhaps the most influential -- and least understood -- body of the U.S. government, The Supreme Court is an exciting, easily understood history lesson on "the court of last resort," that curious viewers, as well as history buffs, will enjoy. I highly recommend The Supreme Court.