THE JUDGE: Robert & Robert make it an interesting watch! Recommended! [4/5]

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]  

THE CONJURING: picturesque horror that smells real & fresh [3/5]

The most impressive horror films are that don’t strive to trick you by gimmicks and visual stunts but the ones that make you succumbed to the indecisive ambiance of the happenings and the unsure serenity of the site....and, to your good luck, if it comes with the ‘based on true story’ tag, chances are on positive side that you are going to have a lethally overwhelming movie-viewing experience of a good horror film, just as I had with James Wan’s THE CONJURING!

Film wipes off the layers of dust from a super-natural case, successfully buried in the history by Ed and Lorraine Warren- famous professional paranormal researchers of 1970’s. It was the time when supernatural practices like exorcism were authorized by churches. In such circumstances, the Warrens are called off to investigate paranormal activities in the sweet home of a family having 5 young innocent daughters.

The fact that the incidents are as real as it could be and the riveting direction with all the earnestness and integrity to keep it equally simple & subtle, makes it much more than regular horror flicks. So, you might have to wait in length for your first encounter with the unknown as the film in first half intelligently does take its own time to set things up for you. But trust me, once you’re in, you will never find a way out without noticing drastic ups & downs in your pulse-rate and some awe-struck moments where heart comes in mouth. 

Watch out for the scene where one of the girls finds out some paranormal thing looking at her from the dark behind the door, you never see a thing but still you feel as scared as she is. In another, Lorraine the investigator bumps into a sheet of cloth in the air, taking shape of a human body and then disappearing into a woman in the window-glass.

The list is quite long with such acts but despite being a horror film, I don’t consider them the only biggest merits of the film. Others two are the picture-perfect cinematography and the performances. I don’t remember a horror film having such good pleasantly fascinating camera-work, especially in the day-light where narrative focuses on the emotional quotient of the story. Vera Farmiga as an intrepid investigator and an emotionally sensitive mother, switches on & off to both the parts very well. Patrick Wilson as a dedicated ghost-hunter plays it just right.

Overall, THE CONJURING is not a regular but well made-nicely cinematographed exhilarating ride that keeps you caught into your seats with a good number of scary moments. Do not miss it if you love to see yourself scared like anything.  [3/5]