Who Are We To Be "The Judge" ?

The Judge (2014)

Rated R

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall,Vera Farmiga, Billy Bob Thornton, Vincent D'Onfrio, Jeremy Strong,

Directed by David Dobkin

The Story:

Hank Palmer (Downey Jr.) is a hotshot lawyer from Chicago who pretty much has it all. He receives news that his mother has passed, so he goes home for the funeral. There he reconnects with his brothers (D'Onfrio and Srong) and continues an icy relationship with his father, The Judge (Duvall). However, when his dad is accused of murder, Hank insists on trying to save his father from prison. However, even Hank is going to try every trick in the book, especially when it looks like the truth is going to do anything but set his father free.

This film is a bit of an odd duck.

Completely a drama, the tone remains light and comedic throughout. However, I think that owes more to it trying to relate to real life than anything else. Sometimes, these things happen, and if you don't laugh, you'll likely explode.

The trick at this point is divorcing Robert Downey Jr. from the role of Tony Stark. Hank Palmer is as smooth and assured of a character as Stark, so at times, it's easy to forget which Downey we're watching.

Again, this is not exactly a bad thing, if you want someone to be an awesome Robert Downey Jr. / Tony Stark amalgam, you might as well hire the guy, right?

Duvall also commands the screen, walking a fine line between pride/ego and pain. It's one he pulls off effortlessly, and so easy to see how a father and son can both love and hate each other, so much, at the same time.

Especially when they are both too stubborn to communicate with each other.

Surrounded by a fine supporting cast that gets to shine with little moments, it's a great character piece which ultimately takes you around in circles and puts everything right back together again at the end.

Just differently.

Life life.

No complaints here.

Final Grade: B