"The Judge" found guilty of high emotion
The Judge
Run Time: 141 minutes
Overall Grade: B+
Moving from a small town to a big city is a trend among many movies, including “The Judge." Big time Chicago Lawyer, Hank (Robert Downy Jr), returns to his hometown in Indiana to attend his mother’s funeral. Hank’s father (Robert Duvall), is the town’s Judge who is firm, but fair in his rulings. As Hank is about to get on a plane to leave his dysfunctional family, his father is suspected of a murder, which results in Hank’s brothers begging him to stay and help with the trial. Hank stays in his childhood hometown and eventually becomes his father’s lawyer for the case. The plot can be formulaic and predictable at times, but it doesn’t take away from the story. “The Judge” shows the mending relationship between father and son. Not that this storyline is uncommon in Hollywood, but with Duvall’s stern presence and Downy’s witty characteristics, the duo is astounding and different from most Hollywood films that deal with families becoming closer. “The Judge” will make you cry and chuckle at points, sometimes at the same time. The film in its entirety is utterly depressing. The verdict from the court’s decision on the Judge’s crime is unsettling; the relationship between Hank and his two brothers is far from perfect. Showing the no typical American family that is so far from a family relationship was refreshing to see on the big screen. This made the film a lot more relatable and left room for the audience members to become emotionally invested in the film. Performances from Downy and Duvall are superb, every bit of dialogue is important to the story line, and the editing is done in a way to keep the audience entertained. Every scene ends with the need for grabbing tissues. The love scenes are kept to a minimum, which is perfect for the tone of the film. It is almost a complete guarantee you will leave the theatre heartbroken. Not everyone will be satisfied with the ending, but it seemed to work for the darkened tone of the film. The film starts and ends with a tone of dismay. This might be the most depressing film this year. “The Judge” will tug at your heartstrings and leave you wanting to go home and hug your father. The screenplay is brilliant and director David Dobkin knows exactly how to get the best performances from his actor. “The Judge” is well-rounded and worth seeing in theatres.
