"No one would take on his case... until one man was willing to take on the system."
Director: Jonathan Demme
Cast: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, Antonio Banderas
Philadelphia — Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
Now, explain it to me like I'm a four-year-old.
Context
Used repeatedly by Joe during consultations and court proceedings to break down legal jargon.
Meaning
Joe's catchphrase highlights his legal strategy of simplifying complex deception into undeniable truth. It cuts through the defense's obfuscation to reveal the core discrimination.
It was during this sorrow that love came to me. ... I am love! I am love!
Context
The scene in Andrew's apartment where he is connected to an IV, listening to opera with Joe.
Meaning
This translation of the aria La Mamma Morta serves as the emotional climax, revealing Andrew's inner world where suffering and divine love coexist.
In this courtroom, Mr. Miller, justice is blind to matters of race, creed, color, religion, and sexual orientation.
Context
The judge admonishing Joe Miller during a heated moment in the trial.
Meaning
An ironic statement of the ideal vs. the reality. The judge states what should be true, but the trial proves how difficult this is to achieve.
We don't live in this courtroom, though, do we?
Context
The immediate response to Judge Garrett's claim that justice is blind.
Meaning
Joe's rebuttal to the judge, acknowledging that outside the sanitized legal system, prejudice is a very real force that dictates people's lives.
What do you call a thousand lawyers chained together at the bottom of the ocean? ... A good start.
Context
Andrew joking with Joe, signaling a moment of bonding between the two attorneys.
Meaning
Andrew uses a self-deprecating lawyer joke to break the tension, showing his retained humanity and humor despite his suffering.
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