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

The Nic Cage Experience..."Gone In Sixty Seconds"

Gone In Sixty Seconds (2000)

PG-13

Starring Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi, Will Patton, Delroy Lindo, Timothy Olyphant, Chi McBride, Robert Duvall,

Directed by Dominic Sena

The Story:

"Memphis" Raines (Cage) is an ex-car thief who went straight years ago. When his little brother (Ribisi) gets in over his head in a car-theft deal, it's up to Memphis to save the day, and his brother's life. He reassembles his old crew (McBride, Duvall, Jolie and more!) to get a mountain of cars stolen in one night. Meanwhile, the cops (Lindo, Olyphant) know he's up to something and are out to bust him.

This is just plain, stupid fun.
:)

I have no idea how much of this film is a remake of the 70s film by the same name, and I don't really care.

This is an all-star, popcorn film that doesn't disappoint.

And that says something, because Nicolas Cage is a myriad of disappointment on many of his films.

However, when he's on, and they're fun, there's no stopping how fun it can be!

(See Con-Air for the best example of Nic Cage/All-Star popcorn fun!)

The fact that this is a heist/caper film helps sway my opinion as well.

The movie is fun, dialogue is hilarious and the action stunts are amazing.

So many stars, many in different phases of their career (starting or peaking), but for me, it all works.

This is one of those films that if it's on, I'm watching it.

Which is why this review is coming now (better late than never) because when I had cable, I was surfing and it was on, so I watched.

Still loved it.

Great B movie fun.

In fact..

Final Grade: B+