When Judge Palmer's wife dies, Hank comes home to the small
town he grew up in. He is going through a divorce with his wife who slept with
another man, he also has a daughter he loves and wants so much to be the father
to he thinks he never had. While back
where he grew up at the moments between Hank and The Judge (as Hank calls his
father) is awkward at best and it is clear the two don't want to be around each
other. After a tragic event where someone is killed Joseph Palmer is charged
with murder and due to various events, Hank takes on the case to defend his
father against the state prosecutor played by Billy Bob Thornton. Hank is going
through conflicts related to his dad and the impeding divorce, his love for his
daughter and rediscovering a relationship with his former girlfriend from high
school played by Vera Farmiga known for her role in the television series
Psycho and the hit horror film The Conjuring.
The direction of The Judge is nothing short of brilliant. The film, directed by David Dobkin shows that one can make an intelligent, entertaining movie without the explosions, violence, sex, language and other forms many have come to associate with entertainment. There is no doubt the story and script drive this story. Dobkin does an incredible job at allowing that to happen while using a bevy of talent in his acting troupe. Everything about the film is 1st class, from the editing, sound, music selections, cinematography and especially, the acting.
I have seen many movies with Robert Duval and I honestly love and appreciate
this mans talent. While I wouldn't go so far as to say this is the best acting
I have seen him do, I will say it holds up among the best. Robert Downy Jr. on
the other hand is nothing short of phenomenal. On his behalf, for me, this is
the best acting I have ever seen him do. If he can be nominated and win awards
for other films, it would be a shame to not be considered and at this point, be
the front runner for the upcoming Oscar season. There are scenes where he isn't
saying anything with words but saying and doing a brilliant job with his
expressions. If great acting is being believable in the role you are performing,
Downy and Duval together may be among the top acting forces on screen together
in the history of movies. I can't think of a better duo in any movie and I have
seen a lot of movies.
The direction of The Judge is nothing short of brilliant. The film, directed by David Dobkin shows that one can make an intelligent, entertaining movie without the explosions, violence, sex, language and other forms many have come to associate with entertainment. There is no doubt the story and script drive this story. Dobkin does an incredible job at allowing that to happen while using a bevy of talent in his acting troupe. Everything about the film is 1st class, from the editing, sound, music selections, cinematography and especially, the acting.
I have seen many movies with Robert Duval and I honestly love and appreciate
this mans talent. While I wouldn't go so far as to say this is the best acting
I have seen him do, I will say it holds up among the best. Robert Downy Jr. on
the other hand is nothing short of phenomenal. On his behalf, for me, this is
the best acting I have ever seen him do. If he can be nominated and win awards
for other films, it would be a shame to not be considered and at this point, be
the front runner for the upcoming Oscar season. There are scenes where he isn't
saying anything with words but saying and doing a brilliant job with his
expressions. If great acting is being believable in the role you are performing,
Downy and Duval together may be among the top acting forces on screen together
in the history of movies. I can't think of a better duo in any movie and I have
seen a lot of movies.
One of the things I like about The Judge is its use of
trailers in kindling interest, that initial start of interest though doesn't
describe the blaze that comes about after seeing the movie. While my interest
was peaked from the trailers, the film on screen projected so much more than I expected.
For over 2 hours, I was enthralled, entertained and provoked to thought.
The Judge in many ways is a father son story. There are two seemingly distant
characters and their relationship has much to be desired. The father blames the
son and the son is a proud man, yet, so he desperately wants the love and
recognition of his father. I don't know if a better father son story has been
made since Field of Dreams. This movie is that good and in some ways, better.
We see conflict and sacrifice but we also see a hurting father and son. Both
are at fault. They both have way too much pride. The father believes the son is
responsible for a tragic event and the son wants to be recognized for his own accomplishments
which the father refuses to do. The son is to stubborn to try and make amends. It
takes some time and an understanding of what his father is facing before he gives
in. A side note here. The film is so good that it has the viewer even
contemplating what it was that caused the rift between the two to be so strong.
I may be out on a limb but I think part of it is there is the possibility, and
my wife and I who saw the film together agree, the that Hank takes the blame
for a tragic accident that his brother Glen, the baseball player, may have been
responsible for. We don't know, the answer isn't given but the direction and
script are so brilliantly portrayed that one may think about things like this
during and after the movie.
The Judge in many ways is a father son story. There are two seemingly distant
characters and their relationship has much to be desired. The father blames the
son and the son is a proud man, yet, so he desperately wants the love and
recognition of his father. I don't know if a better father son story has been
made since Field of Dreams. This movie is that good and in some ways, better.
We see conflict and sacrifice but we also see a hurting father and son. Both
are at fault. They both have way too much pride. The father believes the son is
responsible for a tragic event and the son wants to be recognized for his own accomplishments
which the father refuses to do. The son is to stubborn to try and make amends. It
takes some time and an understanding of what his father is facing before he gives
in. A side note here. The film is so good that it has the viewer even
contemplating what it was that caused the rift between the two to be so strong.
I may be out on a limb but I think part of it is there is the possibility, and
my wife and I who saw the film together agree, the that Hank takes the blame
for a tragic accident that his brother Glen, the baseball player, may have been
responsible for. We don't know, the answer isn't given but the direction and
script are so brilliantly portrayed that one may think about things like this
during and after the movie. 
In my own life, I never knew a father it is one of the
reasons the film is so powerful. I see what is transpired on screen portrayed
in real life all of the time and as a father, know that at times, I have
crossed the boundaries and been unrealistic in how I see my own children. It is
a powerful attributes of movies, they allow one to think and reflect on their
own life. There is even a discussion of God in the film as the father and son realize
there may be more to life than the life we live on this earth. We see them come
to an understanding that our present may have an impact on our eternal. I also
reflected on the reminder of the strength of family and love family should
have. It is when sacrificially showing love for his father that things start to
find some resolution. There is an acceptance that comes about because of a
willingness to love, even in the most disgusting ways but that is a part of
what love is and it is through those horrid experiences that one begins to
experience love, not in a superficial way but in a real lasting way. It was and
is a reminder for me of the love God had and continues to have for me. His own
son was sacrificed for the wrongs I have committed and he loves me as I am
despite my own frailties and weaknesses.
I honestly can't think of a single thing about The Judge I didn't like. Last year there was Nebraska but in many ways, while this is more commercial, it is just as good if not better and that is saying something. I highly suspect that I will go back to see this movie again, preferably on the big screen but it is also a must purchase when it comes out on DVD or is available for purchase with extras via streaming formats. Duvall is at the top of this game, Downy has never been better and the supporting cast is excellent. I can't think of a better, more thought provoking movie that I have seen this year than The Judge.
On a scale of 1 - 10, for the 10 letters in excellence, I give a rare, well deserved , 10.
To see the interview with Robert Downy Jr. with Jimmy Fallon, click on the video below, if the video doesn't work, click on the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4M4I6FPiwU
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