The Judge

FLIX!

In a small town in Indiana there is a judge who is not afraid to be harsh with the people who come before his court. He is a staple in his small town, albeit not always well liked.

Far away in Chicago there is a hot-shot lawyer who just happens to be the middle son of this Judge back here in Nowheresville, Indiana.

And then the Judge's wife and the estranged son-hot-shot lawyer's mother dies. The son returns home to attend his mother's funeral and it becomes clear that the Judge and this son are way, way less than close. They are very, very estranged. The can't wait to get this over with and get back to Chicago, but he has just left his wife and they are battling over their daughter and then there is the old girlfriend who owns the local restaurant and has a hot daughter. Yep. There's a lot going on in this movie, but the meat of it is that it appears the Judge went out and got in an accident and killed a local villain. Or was it an accident? And therein lies the meat of this movie.

The Judge is played by the masterful Robert DuVall. The hot shot lawyer son is played by Robert Downey Jr. Both incredibly gifted actors. The prosecutor is played by Billy Bob Thorton. Another gifted talent. Toss in a fine supporting cast and you have all the makings of an interesting piece of movie making. There are scenes that are heart wrenching. Such as when the Judge who is suffering from cancer and can't make it to the bathroom in time and the son forces the old man to let him help. They want to connect. They almost connect. But it never seems to hit.

And then the son's daughter arrives for a visit. And the whole "Grandpa" thing kicks in. But the hot-shot lawyer is still faced with trying to get off a client (his dad, the Judge), who refuses to cooperate, even a little bit. Pride stands in the way. And Billy Bob Thorton is a skilled prosecutor. So that is where the drama really happens.

I have a feeling this film will get some mention at Oscar time. But then again, this time of year we are going to get buried in Oscar fodder. "Selma", and on and on.....

I don't think you can see this anymore in the theater. But go for it on DVD. I think it's worth the time.

B+