The Judge

Robert Downey Junior is both Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes, he is the most bankable star in the world right now and is million miles away from the car crash persona he was fifteen years ago. He is also top of his acting game and in this family/courtroom drama he gets to give his acting muscles a thorough work out.

The Judge is the story of high priced workaholic, slick to the bone Chicago lawyer Hank Palmer (Downy Jnr). The man every criminal wants on their side but few can afford. Palmer is called back to his hometown of Carlinville for the first time in twenty years to attend his mother’s funeral. Dropping everything including his faltering relationship with his wife, Palmer finds himself face to face with his family from whom he has long been estranged. This includes his two brothers, Glen played by Vincent Philip D'Onofrio whose promising baseball career was cut short due to injuries sustained in a car crash and Dale who is special needs played by Jeremy Strong. However, it is Hank’s over bearing father Joseph played by Robert Duvall who Hank really dreads meeting again. Joseph is not just overbearing at home, his is also all powerful as the local Judge who has been presiding over justice in Carlinville for forty two years. After a strained twenty four hours in which Hanks father does his best to make it as uncomfortable for Hank as possible he is all set to get out as fast as he arrived but is stalled when his father is arrested for a hit and run.

What follows is the story of a compelling courtroom drama mixed with a story about a father and son looking to understand each other and find some truth and reconciliation in their relationship. It also gives Palmer a chance to show his dad how good a lawyer he is once he’s taken over from the hapless Kennedy (Dax Shepherd). With Downy Jnr and Duvall as the two main leads you know you are going to be watching some pretty powerful performances and they do not disappoint. Some of the scenes make for some uncomfortable viewing but there is always a under currant of unspoken respect and love. The very strong support cast are all excellent; Billy Bob Thornton’s character could probably warrant a movie of his own and Vera Farmiga is charming as the lost love of Hanks childhood.

The Judge is an enjoyable, tender, and dramatic movie that is a welcome change from the summer blockbusters. Thomas Newman provides an excellently haunting soundtrack. At times some of the scenes can feel too long and the pacing of the courtroom drama is sometimes lost amongst the relationship angle of the film but that is being pedantic.

Go and enjoy it, we won’t Judge you.