The Judge (2014) review

About a month ago, I reviewed ‘This is Where I Leave You’, and I noted in that review that the film was a change of pace for director for Shawn Levy, a director who has primarily been known for comedies. The same can be said about ‘The Judge’ in how it’s a far different film than what director David Dobkin usually makes. Dobkin’s directorial career (not counting some of the movies he’s produced/co-written like ‘Jack the Giant Slayer’) has been entirely defined by comedies with his most famous film being the 2005 comedy ‘Wedding Crashers’. ‘The Judge’ is Dobkin’s first drama (as a director) and it has a pretty nice ensemble cast that is headlined by not one, but two Roberts in Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall. But at the moment, ‘The Judge’ is currently receiving mixed reviews from critics. And while it’s true that this film is not really the best film to come out this year, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad film… not at all. Sure, it has some flaws but it does manage to be pretty entertaining and at times it really does get to you on an emotional level. It seems like the filmmakers were trying to make a movie that would be a real ‘crowd pleaser’ and if you ask me, I think that they did succeed in that regard.

Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.) is a hot-shot lawyer who is regarded as being one of the best defense attorneys in Chicago. On the day of his latest trial, Hank gets a call from his brother who tells him that their mother has just died. Though rather reluctant to return to his hometown, he does return home to Carlinville, Indiana, where he reunites with his brothers Glen (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Dale (Jeremy Strong) and their father Joseph (Robert Duvall), the town’s local judge with whom Hank has had a difficult relationship with for years. Just a few days after the funeral, Joseph ends up being accused of a hit and run. Also, the victim just so happens to be a former delinquent who he had given a ‘lenient sentence’ years before, which then resulted in the man killing his girlfriend after his sentence was up. With his father’s reputation on the line, Hank ends up becoming his lawyer in court against prosecutor Dwight Dickham (Billy Bob Thornton), who is determined to make sure that Joseph ends up behind bars, leaving Hank in a tough position as he tries to prove that his father is not a murderer.

‘The Judge’ admittedly can be rather predictable at times in terms of where the story is heading. That and the film might just be a bit too overstuffed with characters, as some don’t really get enough character development due to the fact that the film focuses more on the relationship between Hank and Joseph. Still, the movie does manage to be pretty entertaining despite those two issues. While it is primarily a drama, there are quite a few comedic lines (which isn’t that surprising given Dobkin’s experience in comedy) thrown in which do lighten the mood at just the right moments. The film is also incredibly well-shot, with excellent cinematography work by Steven Spielberg’s go-to cinematographer, Janusz Kaminski. It could be argued that the film sometimes tries a bit too hard to elicit an emotional response from the audience as it tugs on the heartstrings. It may be true at times, but other times the film does have some genuinely effective emotional moments, particularly between Hank and Joseph. We see how strained their relationship has become, as it is revealed that Hank was a bit of a troublemaker when he was younger. This resulted in Joseph being hard on him but as he puts it, ‘he did what he thought was right’ and really he was right as it meant that Hank was able to turn his life around and become the successful lawyer that he is today.

The film’s biggest strength is easily its cast. Robert Downey Jr. is… well, Robert Downey Jr. He’s one of the best actors currently working today and films like this prove that he can do great in roles other than Iron Man. There is a little bit of the same snarkiness of Tony Stark in the character of Hank but not as much. It’s a much more subdued character but also one with a chip on his shoulder given his past and his relationship with his father and Downey Jr. handles the role perfectly. Speaking of his father, Duvall is also fantastic here as well. The character does come off as a grouchy old man most of the time but other times you do sympathize with him, particularly in scenes where he begins to show his age, like to the point where he even forgets the name of the bailiff who he has worked with for 20 years. The best scenes in the movie are when Downey Jr. and Duvall are on-screen together as they really work off each other incredibly well. But they are backed up by a rock-solid supporting cast as well, including D’Onofrio, Thornton, Dax Shepard as the lawyer that Joseph first hires to defend him in court, and Vera Farmiga as Hank’s former girlfriend from High School.

Robert Downey Jr. has been quoted as saying that ‘The Judge’ is an ‘Audience Movie’ and in the end that perfectly defines this movie. Right now, it’s getting fairly mixed reviews from critics so it probably won’t get any major buzz during awards season. But that’s okay because the film isn’t really trying to be something it’s not. It’s just a nice simple drama that manages to be entertaining. Sure, it’s rather predictable at times. Sure, it’s a little too overlong and overstuffed. Sure, it probably tries a bit too hard at times to tug at the heartstrings. But really, I didn’t mind about this that much. Despite the occasional predictability of the script and the two and a half hour runtime, I was still engrossed in the story and there were some truly effective emotional moments, namely between Hank and his father. Really, whenever Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall are on-screen together, that is where the movie really shines. I’m not saying ‘The Judge’ is the best movie that I’ve seen this year but at the same time I don’t think it’s a ‘bad’ movie. It’s a ‘crowd-pleaser’ and those are exactly the kind of movies that I love to watch. In other words, ‘The Judge’ may not be an Oscar-worthy film but it’s worth checking out, primarily for the performances from its two leads.

Rating: 4/5

2014 Preview: October

Welcome back to Rhode Island Movie Corner’s year-long preview of the films that are set to come out in 2014. This is Part 9 of 11 (previously 12) and today we’ll be looking at the films that will be hitting theaters this October. And I must say… after looking through this month, there is quite a lot to talk about in regards to what is coming out this month. So let’s not waste any time and get started looking at the October 2014 schedule.

OCTOBER 3- 3 new wide releases will open up the month, including the latest from director David Fincher and a spin-off of one of 2013’s biggest hits.

*David Fincher’s latest film, ‘Gone Girl’, is based off of the best-selling book of the same name by Gillian Flynn, who also wrote the film’s screenplay (allegedly altering the ending, although current reports say that the ending is the same as it was in the book). The story centers on the investigation into the disappearance of Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) but soon the case takes a different turn when her husband Nick (Ben Affleck) becomes the prime suspect. The film also stars Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, and Kim Dickens.

*When it was released in July of last year, director James Wan’s ‘The Conjuring’ was a major hit both critically and commercially. A sequel is currently in production for a planned October 2015 release but before that, a spin-off hits theaters this October in the form of ‘Annabelle’, based around the creepy doll of the same name featured in ‘The Conjuring’. In this film, a family purchases a vintage doll but soon find themselves dealing with an evil entity after their home is invaded by a satanic cult.

*The next film is actually a reboot of a series of Christian films starring Kirk Cameron that were released from 2000 to 2005; ‘Left Behind’, based off of the book series of the same name by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. The film focuses on a group of people who try to survive after millions of people suddenly disappear without a trace and the world is thrown into chaos. Nicolas Cage stars as a pilot caught up in the whole situation.

OCTOBER 10- Another trio of new films this weekend including a new Dracula film.

*Taking the title as one of the longest film titles you’ve ever seen is ‘Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day’, based off of the book of the same incredibly long name by Judith Viorst. The titular Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) is a 11-year old kid who has one very bad day compared to the rest of his family (the parents played by Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner) but then they too start to experience their own ‘bad day’.

*Universal is currently in the works of rebooting their classic monster franchises and that journey begins with ‘Dracula Untold’. Based, of course, on Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’, the film tells the story of Vlad the Impaler, a prince from Transylvania who becomes endowed with supernatural powers as he looks to protect both his kingdom and his family when it is threatened by an Ottoman sultan. Luke Evans stars in the title role alongside Sarah Gadon, Dominic Cooper, and Charles Dance.

*Robert Downey Jr. stars in ‘The Judge’, a rare dramatic turn for director David Dobkin (‘Wedding Crashers’). In the film, Downey Jr. stars as a successful lawyer named Hank Palmer who returns to his hometown in Indiana when he learns that his mother has just died. However, when he returns, he finds out that his father Joe (Robert Duvall), the town’s local judge, is being suspected of murder resulting in Hank now looking to defend his father in court. The film also stars Vera Farmiga, Vincent D’Onofrio, Billy Bob Thornton, and Dax Shepard.

OCTOBER 17- Once again, another trio of three new wide releases (it’s sort of the main pattern this month) along with a film that is expanding nationwide. I’ll also throw in one limited release.

*The latest adaptation of a best-selling Nicolas Sparks novel, ‘The Best of Me’ stars James Marsden and Michelle Monaghan as a pair of old high-school sweethearts who reunite with each other when they return to their hometown for a friend’s funeral.

*Produced by Guillermo Del Toro, ‘The Book of Life’ is an animated film centered on a rivalry between two men, Manolo (Diego Luna) and Joaquin (Channing Tatum), for the affections of Maria (Zoe Saldana). But when Manolo ends up getting killed as the result of a spirit who is trying to make it so that Joaquin will become Maria’s lover, he must embark on a quest in order to face his greatest fears and to return to the human world. The film also stars Ron Perlman, Christina Applegate, and Ice Cube.

*Director David Ayer’s second film of the year following March’s ‘Sabotage’, ‘Fury’ is a war film starring Brad Pitt as the commander of a tank crew that find themselves outnumbered and outgunned when they embark on a mission behind enemy lines during the last few months of World War II. The film also stars Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Pena, and Jon Bernthal as the other members of the crew.

*Expanding nationwide after its initial release on October 1^st, ‘Men, Women, and Children’ is directed by Jason Reitman (‘Juno’) and is based on the novel of the same name by Chad Kultgen. The film centers on a group of teenagers and their families who all try to deal with the rise of technology and how it is having a major impact on all of their lives. The film’s ensemble cast includes Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner, Judy Greer, Ansel Elgort, and Dean Norris.

*Opening in limited release is ‘Birdman’ AKA ‘Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)’, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (‘21 Grams’). Michael Keaton stars as a former actor, who was famous for playing the famous superhero Birdman, who tries to start up a new Broadway while also dealing with his ego and his family. The film also stars Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Ryan, and Andrea Riseborough.

OCTOBER 24- Same as last week. Three new films, one nationwide expansion and a noteworthy limited release.

*Keanu Reeves stars in ‘John Wick’, in which he stars as the titular character, a hit man who goes on the run from an old friend of his who is tasked with killing him by a crime boss. The film also stars Willem Dafoe, Ian McShane, and Bridget Moynahan.

*In ‘Laggies’, Keira Knightley stars as a woman who goes on a week-long ‘vacation’ from her life, including dealing with having her boyfriend propose to her, after meeting a high-school student (Chloe Grace Moretz) sometime after returning home for her high school reunion.

*A new horror film from producers Jason Blum and Michael Bay, ‘Ouija’ centers on a group of friends who awaken an ancient spirit when they try to use an Ouija board to contact their recently deceased friend.

*Bill Murray stars in ‘St. Vincent’ in which he plays a war veteran who is recruited by his neighbor (Melissa McCarthy) to watch her kid. The film, expanding nationwide this weekend, also stars Naomi Watts, Chris O’Dowd, and Terrance Howard.

*Opening in limited release, ‘White Bird in a Blizzard’ is based off of the novel of the same name by Laura Kasischke. Shailene Woodley stars as a young girl in 1988 whose life is turned upside down when her mother (played by Eva Green) suddenly disappears. The film also stars Christopher Meloni, Shiloh Fernandez, and Angela Bassett.

OCTOBER 31- Two major wide releases will be closing out the month and I’ll include one major limited release.

*In ‘Before I Go to Sleep’, based off of the novel of the same name by S.J. Watson, Nicole Kidman stars a woman who ends up in a car accident but years later she starts to wonder what really happened to her. Colin Firth and Mark Strong co-star.

*Dan Gilroy, brother of ‘Bourne’ writer Tony Gilroy, makes his directorial debut with ‘Nightcrawler’. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a man who takes up a job in the world of freelance crime journalism. The film also stars Rene Russo and Bill Paxton.

*Finally we have ‘Horns’, directed by Alexandre Aja (‘Piranha 3D’) and starring Daniel Radcliffe as a man who is accused of murdering his girlfriend (Juno Temple), resulting in him trying to find out who really killed her with the help of some new paranormal powers.

And those are the films that are set to come out this October. Check back next month when we’ll look at the month of November, a month that certainly has some big-name releases coming out.