​FILMS

the judge

The Judge (Drama): 68 out of 100: Although featuring a stellar cast, this drama doesn't reach the great heights that it should as it steers more towards melodrama, albeit entertaining melodrama. Robert Duvall is the main reason for seeing this as he shows that at the age of 83, he is still capable of acting with force, energy and purpose.

Robert Downey Jr. (Hank) plays the brash lawyer who returns to his childhood hometown to farewell his mother who has just passed away. He reconnects with his estranged family and learns more about his father (Robert Duvall), the town judge who is suspected of murder.

The scenes involving Downey Jr and Duvall are the best ones as they efficiently demonstrate the emotional gulf between them. When the story moves away to a romantic subplot involving Hank and Samantha (Vera Farmiga), that's when the movie becomes less interesting as the tension dissipates.

In the hands of a more accomplished director, the movie would have been better served. David Dobkin is more renowned for comedies such as "The Change-Up", "Fred Claus", "Wedding Crashers" and "Shanghai Knights". He directs with many close-up scenes to accentuate the melodrama. The use of non-talking scenes played over songs or music is also overdone. The music score itself is not one of Thomas Newman's finest efforts as some of it is more suited to a jungle adventure, while the rest is a syrupy representation of the melodrama being played out on the screen.

"The Judge" is never boring even though it has a long running time. It wouldn't surprise to see Robert Duvall being nominated for a Best Supporting Actor award at next year's Oscars. See the movie for his performance alone, and you will not regret spending your time and hard-earned money at the cinema.

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Robert Duvall and Billy Bob Thornton
(142 minutes)
Parental advice: Coarse language and adult themes
Additional scene during or after credits: No
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBvK6ni97W8 (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Tuesday 28th October, 2014)