The Judge
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A successful lawyer returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral only to discover that his estranged father, the town's judge, is suspected of murder.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics landed in roughly the same place: handsome to look at, well-cast, and emotionally overwrought in ways that feel calculated rather than earned. Downey Jr. and Duvall generate real heat together, but the surrounding material leans hard on courtroom-drama and family-reconciliation clichés that wear out their welcome. Audiences have warmed to it more than critics did, suggesting the film's old-fashioned sincerity plays better at home than it did under festival scrutiny.
“surprising how little we care about these characters”
Richard Roeper·Richard Roeper & The Movies
“For all its contrivances and occasional lapses into On Golden Pond-style mawkishness, this is a richly crafted yarn that boasts barnstorming, if very showy performances from Duvall and Downey Jr.”
Geoffrey Macnab·The Independent
“There are plenty of emotional fireworks in this big, soupy but entertaining picture, which is obvious Oscar bait.”
Peter Bradshaw·The Guardian
“I don't expect The Judge to usher in a new era of legal thrillers, but I'm happy to see Downey leave the Marvel universe and Baker Street behind.”
Chris Nashawaty·Entertainment Weekly
Accolades
Genres
Drama
Cast & Crew
David DobkinDirector
Robert Downey Jr.Hank Palmer
Robert DuvallJoseph Palmer
Vera FarmigaSamantha Powell
Vincent D'OnofrioGlen Palmer
Jeremy StrongDale Palmer
Dax ShepardC.P. Kennedy
Billy Bob ThorntonDwight Dickham
Leighton MeesterCarla Powell
Ken HowardJudge Warren
Emma TremblayLauren Palmer
Balthazar GettyDeputy Hanson
David KrumholtzMike Kattan
Thomas NewmanComposer
Bill DubuqueWriter
Nick SchenkWriter
Janusz KamińskiCinematographyThe Judge
A successful lawyer returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral only to discover that his estranged father, the town's judge, is suspected of murder.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics landed in roughly the same place: handsome to look at, well-cast, and emotionally overwrought in ways that feel calculated rather than earned. Downey Jr. and Duvall generate real heat together, but the surrounding material leans hard on courtroom-drama and family-reconciliation clichés that wear out their welcome. Audiences have warmed to it more than critics did, suggesting the film's old-fashioned sincerity plays better at home than it did under festival scrutiny.
“surprising how little we care about these characters”
Richard Roeper·Richard Roeper & The Movies
“For all its contrivances and occasional lapses into On Golden Pond-style mawkishness, this is a richly crafted yarn that boasts barnstorming, if very showy performances from Duvall and Downey Jr.”
Geoffrey Macnab·The Independent
“There are plenty of emotional fireworks in this big, soupy but entertaining picture, which is obvious Oscar bait.”
Peter Bradshaw·The Guardian
“I don't expect The Judge to usher in a new era of legal thrillers, but I'm happy to see Downey leave the Marvel universe and Baker Street behind.”
Chris Nashawaty·Entertainment Weekly
Accolades
Genres
Drama
Cast & Crew
David DobkinDirectorRobert Downey Jr.Hank PalmerRobert DuvallJoseph PalmerVera FarmigaSamantha PowellVincent D'OnofrioGlen PalmerJeremy StrongDale PalmerDax ShepardC.P. KennedyBilly Bob ThorntonDwight DickhamLeighton MeesterCarla PowellKen HowardJudge WarrenEmma TremblayLauren PalmerBalthazar GettyDeputy HansonDavid KrumholtzMike KattanThomas NewmanComposerBill DubuqueWriterNick SchenkWriterJanusz KamińskiCinematographyStream
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