[Originally posted on 10/18/14]
It's hard to remember Robert Downey, Jr. (“The Avengers”) before Iron Man or Sherlock Holmes. But “The Judge” shows that the charisma carries over and he really does drama well.
When a top Chicago lawyer (Downey) goes back to his hometown in rural Indiana for his mother's funeral, he finds himself defending his irascible father (Robert Duvall), a longtime judge facing a murder trial.
The movie tries to be everything; drama, thriller, comedy, romance with too many players. Although I wished it to be more of a legal thriller (anyone misses the heyday of John Grisham?), it's at its strongest as (and mostly is) a dysfunctional family drama. Once a fact about the judge is revealed, the story becomes predictable, yet, the way it's structured and acted makes it suspenseful still.
Duvall and Downey made the film, showcasing their father-and-son relationship from estranged to emotional and bonding. Go for the acting!
DVD: http://tinyurl.com/pq8lt2b