‘The Judge’ Review

By Golda Fonseca.

Judging by the title, we can anticipate with some certainty the kind of movie “The Judge” will be. A fantastic cast that will make for a very character-driven story, lots and lots of dialogue within the frame of a legal drama. Not everyone’s cup of tea for that matter, but precisely because of these condiments, is that the film does not disappoint.

Set in a small town in Indiana, the Judge Joseph Palmer (Robert Duvall), long time the arm of justice around town has been suspected of murder. It’s up to his son, prominent city lawyer Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.) to seek for the truth, solve the mystery while at the same time defending his estranged father in court. Not an easy task regardless his legal skills, especially since all he has attempted to do -and partially successfully accomplished- is try to forget where he’s come from and in the process forsaking his home and his family, although those undoubtedly played a big role in making him who he is.

The movie is smart, tender, funny at times and really goes deep into exploring different corners of the human character, if it’s possible at all to refer to human nature as a confined space or box. It digs up into the nature of interpersonal relationships, family bonds and dysfunctionality in a way that goes beyond the clichéd legal drama. As is, it’s very relatable; it tells a very human story of loss, guilt, regret, forgiveness and reconciliation. I would strongly argue that the legal drama is just the backdrop for the mainstream human drama that’s the beating heart of the movie. At one point, we lose sight of the “murder mystery” and all we care is that these broken, flawed, imperfect people, like everyone else, are able to make up with each other and enjoy themselves the time they have left on Earth with some amount of peace.

And this story is not told through visual and sound effects, but with the beautiful eloquence that the mastery of the spoken word can provide. It’s told honestly and we can see that in the journey that these characters embark on, slowly leaving aside their egos in order to reconcile with the truth. But like with every journey, the road sometimes is rocky, with ups and downs and bumps along the way. The search and affirmation of your own identity can be a very taxing process, humbling while stripping you down to the very bone. That’s why performance level is at an overall high in this movie. Although the plot centers on the relationship between father and son, across the board performances are sublime and every actor through their characters strive to tell their story with honesty and dignity. And we are thankful for that.

Awards season coming up, we’re sure “The Judge” will snatch some nominations; it’s definitely an Oscar-worthy film. Both main actors do an outstanding job, but personally I think the Judge’s role allows for more complexity and therefore Robert Duvall’s task is more challenging but at the same time more rewarding. We can only hope the Academy thinks likewise.

If you want to watch a movie solely about legal affairs, you’re probably better off choosing something different. However, if you don’t feel turned off by exploring the complications of human and family affairs, then go to the theater with your loved ones. This film will surely stir something in each one of you.

“The Judge” is now playing in theaters nationwide.

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures comes “The Judge,” which pairs two-time Oscar nominee Robert Downey Jr. (“Chaplin,” “Tropic Thunder”) and Oscar winner Robert Duvall (“Tender Mercies,” “Crazy Heart”), starring together for the first time on the big screen. The film also stars Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga (“Up in the Air,” “The Conjuring”) and Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton (“Sling Blade,” “Friday Night Lights”), and is directed by David Dobkin (“Wedding Crashers”).
In “The Judge,” Downey stars as big city lawyer Hank Palmer, who returns to his childhood home where his estranged father, the town’s judge (Duvall), is suspected of murder. He sets out to discover the truth and along the way reconnects with the family he walked away from years before.