The Judge
Courtoom melodrama from the director of Clay Pigeons, starring Robert Downey Jr as a big city lawyer who returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral only to discover that his estranged father, the town's judge (Robert Duvall), is suspected of murder.
- Director:
- David Dobkin ('The Change-Up', 'Wedding Crashers', 'Clay Pigeons')
- Writer:
- Bill DubuqueNick SchenkDavid Seidler
- Cast:
- Robert Downey JrRobert DuvallVera FarmigaVincent D'OnofrioBilly Bob ThorntonDavid KrumholtzDax ShepardLeighton Meester
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Steve Newall
flicksPart courtroom standoff, part dude-returns-home-to-small-town tale and part familial dramedy, The Judge juggles its components in pleasant enough fashion to warrant a low-expectation recommendation. Pleasingly, the two Roberts (Downey Jr. and Duvall) who top the cast list and square off as father and son bring their acting A games, with Duvall in particular helping coax Downey Jr. out of his usual glib comfort zone - though this over-exposed facet of the latter’s personality comes in handy as a brash, show-off, unscrupulous defence attorney.
Variety
pressPivots on a simple yet inspired stroke of casting, pitting Duvall’s iconic gravitas against Downey’s razor-sharp wit.
Time Out
pressA charismatic performance from Downey Jr and the growling presence of Duvall makes up for a multitude of sins in this big and brash family drama that puts the heavy emphasis on drama over family.
The New York Times
press[The scenes] add up to a sprawl of narrative that is as unconvincing as the suspiciously sprawl-free, nostalgia-tinged town where it all takes place.
Hollywood Reporter
pressUndercut by obvious note-hitting in the writing and a deliberate pace that drags things out about twenty minutes past their due date.
Empire Magazine
pressA great cast and promising premise get swamped in an awkward mix of airport-novel noir and blokey family melodrama.
Flicks, Steve Newall
flicksPart courtroom standoff, part dude-returns-home-to-small-town tale and part familial dramedy, The Judge juggles its components in pleasant enough fashion to warrant a low-expectation recommendation. Pleasingly, the two Roberts (Downey Jr. and Duvall) who top the cast list and square off as father and son bring their acting A games, with Duvall in particular helping coax Downey Jr. out of his usual glib comfort zone - though this over-exposed facet of the latter’s personality comes in handy as a brash, show-off, unscrupulous defence attorney.
Variety
pressPivots on a simple yet inspired stroke of casting, pitting Duvall’s iconic gravitas against Downey’s razor-sharp wit.
Time Out
pressA charismatic performance from Downey Jr and the growling presence of Duvall makes up for a multitude of sins in this big and brash family drama that puts the heavy emphasis on drama over family.
The New York Times
press[The scenes] add up to a sprawl of narrative that is as unconvincing as the suspiciously sprawl-free, nostalgia-tinged town where it all takes place.
Hollywood Reporter
pressUndercut by obvious note-hitting in the writing and a deliberate pace that drags things out about twenty minutes past their due date.
Empire Magazine
pressA great cast and promising premise get swamped in an awkward mix of airport-novel noir and blokey family melodrama.
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