From the Hip

From the Hip

Year: 1987

Runtime: 111 mins

Language: English

Director: Bob Clark

ComedyDrama

Ambitious apprentice lawyer Robin Weathers turns a routine civil suit into a media circus, earning a fast promotion despite his questionable tactics. Now, to prove his integrity, he must defend a college professor accused of murder, forcing Robin to confront his own morals and the cost of success.

From the Hip (1987) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In the high‑pressure world of a Manhattan‑based law firm, fresh‑out‑of‑law‑school Robin Weathers is desperate to prove he can do more than file papers. He craves the thrill of the courtroom, the roar of a jury, and the swagger that comes with being noticed. The firm’s polished corridors and its senior partners exude a cool, measured professionalism, but beneath that veneer lies a relentless chase for billable hours and high‑profile victories. When a seemingly mundane civil dispute lands on his desk, Robin sees an opportunity to catapult himself from anonymous associate to rising star, even if it means bending the rules and courting the media’s relentless appetite for drama.

The tone of the film blends sharp legal satire with the nervous energy of a young professional navigating a cut‑throat corporate culture. Robin’s flamboyant tactics and quick‑thinking bravado turn the case into a public spectacle, drawing both admiration and suspicion from colleagues and clients alike. His daring maneuvering earns him a rapid promotion, yet it also leaves a trail of questions about the cost of ambition and the thin line between cleverness and ethical compromise.

Just as his ascent seems secure, the firm assigns Robin a far more consequential defense: a celebrated university professor facing a serious criminal charge. The new case forces Robin to step out of the courtroom circus and confront the deeper moral weight of his profession. Alongside his steady‑hearted girlfriend Jo Ann, he must balance his hunger for success with a growing awareness that every victory has a price, and that integrity may be the most demanding client of all.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:43

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Ethical legal thrillers with intense pressure like From the Hip

High-stakes courtroom battles that force lawyers to confront their own corruptibility.For viewers who enjoyed the high-stakes moral conflict in From the Hip, this collection features movies about ambitious lawyers navigating complex cases. Discover similar stories of courtroom drama, ethical dilemmas, and the heavy cost of success in films that question the nature of justice.

tensemorally conflictedcunningcourtroom dramacynicalpressure-filledethical dilemma

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a fast-rising legal professional who initially achieves success through manipulation and media spectacle. This early win is challenged by a serious case, often involving a dangerous client, which forces a crisis of conscience and a tense ethical showdown that redefines their career and integrity.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on the legal system as a pressure cooker for moral decay. They feature a TENSE tone, FAST pacing, and HEAVY emotional weight, centering on protagonists who must choose between professional victory and personal redemption.

Movies about the dark side of ambition like From the Hip

Stories where ruthless ambition leads to a bitter moral reckoning.If you liked the story of Robin Weathers's rise and fall in From the Hip, this list features films about driven protagonists whose ambition leads to ethical compromise. Explore similar tales of cunning strategy, moral conflict, and bittersweet reckonings with the cost of success.

ambitiouscynicalmorally conflictedcunningpressure-filledbittersweetrise and fall

Narrative Summary

The plot centers on a protagonist's rapid climb to power or success, fueled by charisma and questionable ethics. Their initial victory is undermined by a situation that exposes the true cost of their methods, leading to an internal crisis and a bittersweet ending where they gain self-awareness but lose their innocence.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a common arc of a charismatic but flawed protagonist, a FAST pacing that mirrors their rapid ascent, a TENSE and CYNICAL tone, and a BITTERSWEET conclusion. The emotional core is the HEAVY weight of realizing that ambition has corrupted their integrity.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in From the Hip

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