The Judge

Review By: John Delia

This story may sound a little familiar, but the acting in The Judge far outweighs any other production of its kind.  It’s a first time acting collaboration between Robert Downey, Jr. and Robert Duvall giving fans absorbing and gripping performances that will leave a lasting tribute well after you have left the theater.  For the acting The Judge should be high on the list of both actors’ fans.

Estranged from his family since leaving high school, high profile defense lawyer Hank Palmer (Robert Downey, Jr.) is about to get an unwelcome call. His mother has died and he must go back to his home town for the funeral. While it doesn’t seem to be a problem to most, returning to his house where past memories are not of the highest regard, puts a damper on the solemn obligation.

Topping the list of bad memories are his challenges to avoid unearthing a past mistake involving he and his brother Glen (Vincent D’Onofrio), dealing with his mentally challenged brother Dale (Jeremy Strong) and his disparaging father Judge Palmer (Robert Duvall). The only ray of sunshine is getting to see his high school sweetheart Samantha Powell (Vera Farmiga). She’s the girl he left behind so many years ago when he left town for law school, but a problem lies hidden here as well.

When Judge Palmer, a powerful long standing member of the county court, gets accused of a hit and run accident that escalates to a charge of vehicle homicide a decision between setting aside family skeletons and choosing the best professional defense follows.  David Dobkin directs a conflicting battle between his two top characters.  Downey, Jr. and Duval spar throughout the two hour plus film, both winning a few rounds until the final showdown.

Downey, Jr. puts his heart into the film making Hank a tough cookie in the courtroom and a failure outside the legal walls. His brothers have put most of their grievances in the past, although Glen still has misgivings because he could have been as a professional baseball player.  Hank avoids the conflict that pushed him away from his homestead, but still would like the air to be cleared. It’s with this component of his performance that Downey, Jr. shows his best acting ability.

Equally as good, Robert Duvall puts on a very good show creating a memorable character that adds to his legacy of dramatic acting. As the staunch Judge Palmer and strict father of three boys, he’s unforgiving of mistakes, even if is his own children. It’s a tough barrier to break down for Hank and he’s at the point of just walking away again. While it’s a supporting performance for Duvall, it felt to me like a leading role. Turning in yet another unforgettable role to add to his 141 credited film appearances; Duval proves why he’s still at the top of his game.

But it’s not all a bed of roses for the hard working director having to deal with a script that has had recent play with a similar theme. Last year’s August: Osage County brings Julia Roberts as Barbara Westin back to her home following the death of her father and ends up bickering match with her mother over old wounds. In another release the same year, Are You Here features Zack Galifianakis as Ben Baker, a mentally challenged man who has to deal with a strong willed sister over the estate of his father following the funeral. With the two leaving a tinge of déjà vu, even with this stellar cast, it left me with some reservation.

The film also gets sluggish with side stories popping up involving most all the support characters. While they are amusing, it does detract from the real reason Hank has returned home.  If the film had been kept to a sensible 2 hours, it would have been a tighter story revolving around the conflicts in the courtroom.  After all, the cast includes Billy Bob Thornton as the prosecutor Dwight Dickham in the Judge’s case, and he puts on a show in every one of his scenes. Less of the superfluous spin offs and more action with Dickham would have been a good thing.

The Judge has been rated R by the MPAA for language including some sexual references. There are also some scenes that because of an importance to the plot get quite repulsive and humiliating as well.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Good acting performances suffer from too much of a good thing. (C+)