Before he excelled in charming us all as the nifty, sharp, flirtatious and witty Tony Stark in the movie-adaptations of the IRON MAN comic series, Robert Downey Jr. has managed quite well donning the cap of a serious actor [Sir Richard Attenborough’s CHAPLIN is the testimony, anyone would swear to respect] surfacing from a numerous ‘Coming of Age’ films. It’s an absolute treat to watch him returning to a plain grounded drama filled with deep dark secrets of a family, relationships holding their own share of protests, outbursts and empathy untold before. And as if one Robert was not enough, Robert Duvall also joins him for absorbingly heartwarming father-son relationship played on screen.
David Dobkin’s THE JUDGE is about Hank Palmer [Robert the junior] a sure and secured attorney finding himself mostly on the sides of the guilty as he vouches for himself, “The innocents can’t afford me”. With a marriage on the threshold of divorce and a pretty smart daughter by his side, Hank’s life takes him back to his native place where his Judge father [Robert the senior] is fighting hard with life after his wife’s death. Hank has hardly any regards for the place that doesn’t have a thing for any change but the current state of affairs leads him to the state of uncertainties, in terms of his leaving the place. The Judge is under scan by local police for murdering one of the convicts, he shares his past with.
THE JUDGE works well with characters that never shed their skin for once and still keep you engaged with a constant hint of surprise in every emotion. Hank is smart, self-assured and an everyday guy who doesn’t want to get confined into a place where his father is actually known to be firm, strict and honest about his morals. This old man has been serving the law for over 40 years now and no matter if he’s on the other side, still doesn’t want to comprise with truth and cooperate with his own son trying every trick of the trade to save his father’s life. Now, the emotions are real heavy and could have been misjudged for a melodramatic tint to it but thanks to the practically sensible approach and the clear air of the characterization, you find an invariable expression of smile on your face for the most.
Robert Downey Jr. intrigues the viewers with his charismatic and confident presence on screen and yes, the witty one-liners he mouths perfectly are worth giggling. Robert Duvall as a morally moody old man gives us a hypnotic performance you want to take away with yourself to appreciate long after leaving the theatre. The frames with both the Roberts together are the most enjoyable scenes. Be it the courtroom scene where they both bring out their deepest emotions towards each other, the bathroom sequence with son helping his aging father trying to wash him or the scenes they confront each other’s point of reference in law and life are amazing!
Vera Farmiga as Hank’s ex-girlfriend shines in a comparatively short role. Emma Themblay impresses as Hank’s daughter who very innocently informs his father, “Mothers get lonely. Fathers don’t. Fathers marry young Mommies”. Overall, THE JUDGE should find a definite viewer in you if you truly believe in emotions we hardly share with our family. As for Hank in the film, this would be a nice, feel-good, emotional homecoming to you also! What better occasion than this festive season! Go for It! [4/5]
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