Back Rowe Reviews
Real Time Movie Reviews from the Back Row of a Theater

The Judge (R)

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Directed by: David Dobkin
Starring: Robert Downey Jr.
October 2014

This review was originally tweeted in Real-time from the back row of a movie theater and appears @BackRoweReviews. Though efforts were made to tease rather than ruin this movie’s memorable lines and moments, some spoilers may exist in the following evaluation. The original tweets appear in black, while follow-up comments appear in red. For concerns over objectionable content, please first refer to one of the many parental movie guide websites. All ratings are based on a four star system. Happy reading!

The Judge

“Nothing changes.” Welcome to Small Town, USA.
I’ve lived in plenty small towns growing up and can attest to the above statement.

“Yeah” is not an appropriate affirmation for the court.
Nor anywhere else for that matter. It’s the lazy man’s yes.

Firefly bar non-fight. “Get counseling.”
However, even with the law on my side, I still don’t know that I’d tempt, by incessant browbeating, such lowlifes into throwing a punch at me. I guess such natural, rational, fears fail to register if you’re Iron Man.

“Narrate this!” Ha!

Billy Bob Thornton is the prosecutor. Uh-oh!
After watching his cold, calculating portrayal of a hit man in Fargo, I just don’t think I’d want to take him on, even though his character here is on the right side of the law.

Jury selection is humorous.

Fixing the sink. Nice cover.
Just think how awkward and uncomfortable this scene must have been to film for both men; hours of standing in a tub, au naturel in Duvall’s case. With this particular scene in mind, among many others to validate consideration, Oscar nominations for both actors seem all but assured. To withhold such recognition would be utterly absurd.

First driving lesson...a special scene.

Double hurl. Nasty!
Just another reason why you should never walk on the grass.

“I choose you.” Touching moment.
The best father/son reconciliation scene I’ve seen since Chris Cooper shows up at Jake Gyllenhaal’s rocket launch at the end of October Sky (1999).

Final analysis: a slowly-paced but meaningful father/son drama with powerhouse performances.

Rating:
3 out of 4. This movie represents a new career watermark for Downey Jr and Duvall. That’s my verdict.

As a patchwork of conventional narrative elements—estranged father and son (Ordinary People, Parenthood), Big City success story returning to country roots (Sweet Home Alabama, The Fighting Temptations) and the stress and strife surrounding a funeral (Elizabethtown, Death at a Funeral)—there’s nothing earth-shattering about this story. However, the run-of-the-mill material is elevated by the superlative lead performances by Downey Jr. and Duvall; in fact, the air in the theater is filled with static electricity every time they have a scene together. Their onscreen chemistry is undeniable, and you can just tell that working together brought out the finest efforts from both stars. Also buttressing the movie’s standard screenplay is a raft of fine supporting players, including: Vera Farmiga, Billy Bob Thornton, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, Dax Shepard and Leighton Meester. The location work for Carlinville, Indiana (extensively shot in Massachusetts) is also exceptional and serves as an appropriate, all-American backdrop for the movie’s rather unusual court case. As for the courtroom scenes, they’re judiciously shot and, fortunately, never completely upstage the film’s familial frictions or relational revelations that surface at the most unexpected and least opportune moments. There are plenty of solid scenes in the movie, like: Strong’s home movies, Downey’s late night break-in to Farmiga’s bar and the heart melting scene when Duvall meets his granddaughter (Emma Tremblay) for the first time. Ultimately, though, the movie is held together by Downey and Duvall’s shared scenes, especially the ones where they just go at it like two bare fisted brawlers in a grudge match. The movie would’ve been just another middling family drama, like the ones frequently featured on Lifetime, were it not for the powerful presence of these megastars in career defining turns. Although the film’s length and pacing may be a deterrent for some audience members, this movie will probably satisfy those who enjoy well-acted dramas. You be the judge.