Movie review of 'The Judge': And the verdict is...
Dysfunctional family drama? Check. An exceptional cast? Check. Visually stunning scenery of the American Midwest? Check. Enticing legal plot? The aspiring lawyer in me is going to take a rain check on that one. Luckily, this movie is less about the courtroom technicalities and more about raw emotions that govern the various relationships in our lives. Very few movies deliver just what they promise to in the trailer and David Dobkin's The Judge is one of those rare cinematic works that'll stay with you long after you've shut off the television.
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Stretching at 2 hours and 20 minutes (still won't test your patience, I promise!), The Judge is the story of Henry Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.), a lean, mean, successful lawyer from Chicago (think Harvey Spectar from Suits) who is in the middle of a divorce and is the father of a young girl, Lauren (Emma Tremblay). He is forced to return to sleepy Carlinville, Indiana, the very town he put in his rear view mirror long ago, when his mother suddenly passes away which is where he reunites with his estranged father, the seemingly tough and disapproving Judge Joseph Palmer (Robert Duvall).
Things take a turn for the worse when Joseph Palmer is accused of a hit and run murder and Henry feels like he has no choice but to extend his stay and defend his father. The pinnacle of justice in the boring town is now an unlawful citizen. As the story unfolds, past events come to light explaining the cause for the bitterness between the duo and we're introduced to the rest of the cast.
You have Hank's older brother, Glen (Vincent D'Onofrio) who had a professional baseball career panned out until unexpected circumstances changed that and his younger brother, Dave (Jeremy Strong) who is cognitively challenged and obsessed with film-making. Hank also runs into his former high school sweetheart, Samantha (Vera Farmiga) who calls him "the most selfish and the most generous person" and so is forced to juggle all the people he left behind all at once.
Dramas are not my cup of tea but Robert Downey Jr. is. I started watching this movie for all the wrong reasons but that quickly changed. Witty and skillfully timed, the script plays out like a Jodi Picoult novel in which the legal aspect is only the backdrop of the captivating father-son drama and the moral conundrums which follow.
I feel a duty to defend this movie since the majority of critics have deemed it fairly average. I wouldn't say the script is unlike any other you've seen before but I also wouldn't say it's a cliche and not worth your time. The real glue that holds this movie together is the cast; it's the answer to the prayers of people asking "whatever happened to movies based on the premise of outstanding acting rather than explosions and special effects?"
The two Roberts' depiction of their respective characters is deeply moving. It's a refreshing change to see Downey Jr. hang up the Iron Man suit and looking dapper clad in well-tailored suits. We take this journey of character development with him, which is a pleasure: His potrayal of a father is heart-warming and that of a distraught son heart-breaking.
Downey Jr. shares engaging onscreen chemistry with Farmiga and Billy Bob Thorton as the justice hungry prosecutor will keep you engaged. Duvall hits a home run painting a believable picture of a parent who has taken the tough love approach in raising his children and showcasing the hard choices you have to make in that role. With the cast giving such immensely humanistic performances, my verdict is that it's guilty, guilty of provoking emotions we're likely to bury, in a good way.
Leo Tolstoy said, “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”. For me, watching this movie has given these words a whole new meaning. Paired with a handful of meaningful dialogues that will resonate with the audience and a complimenting soundtrack, the movie will hit close to home for many. There are moments that will make you smile, moments that will make you laugh and moments that will make you tear up. Be prepared to leave the cinema a different person than when you went in and to feel the urge to give your old man a big hug after you're done watching this masterpiece.
Overall score: 4.5/5
Directed by David Dobkin, produced by Susan Downey, David Gambino and David Dobkinand, and starring Robert Downey Junior, Joseph Palmer, Vera Farmiga, Billy Bob Thornton and Vincent D'Onofrio.