The Judge Dvd

The Judge is a 2014 American legal drama film directed by David Dobkin. The film stars Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, Dax Shepard and Billy Bob Thornton. The film was released in the United States on October 10, 2014. It received mixed reviews but critics praised the performances of Duvall and Downey as well as Thomas Newman’s score while criticizing the formulaic nature of its script and the lack of development for its supporting characters.

Duvall received multiple award nominations for his performance as Judge Joseph Palmer, including the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor. Thomas Newman also received a Satellite Award nomination for Best Original Score.

Plot

Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.) is a successful attorney in Chicago. When Hank receives news his mother has just died, the judge grants his case a continuance. Before returning to his hometown of Carlinville, Indiana to attend the funeral, Hank argues with his neglected, unfaithful wife, Lisa, who he is divorcing.

In Carlinville, Hank reunites with his older brother, Glen (Vincent D’Onofrio), a tire shop owner, and his autistic younger brother Dale (Jeremy Strong). Hank’s estranged father is Judge Joseph Palmer (Robert Duvall) of Carlinville’s criminal court.

From the courtroom gallery, Hank discretely watches his father presiding a case. During the proceedings, the Judge seems momentarily confused when he is unable to recall his long-time bailiff’s name. The morning after the funeral, Hank notices the Judge’s Cadillac has the right-front headlight and fender damaged and accuses his father, a recovered alcoholic, of driving intoxicated. The Judge reacts defensively, having no memory of an accident. Hank’s strained family relationship is further complicated by his former girlfriend, Samantha Powell. He comes to believe her college-student daughter, that he had earlier flirted with, may be his child, though it is later learned his married brother, Glen, is the father.

The next day, after arguing with his father, Hank vows never to return to Carlinville and leaves for the airport. Just before Hank’s flight takes off, Glen calls to say the Judge is a suspect in a fatal hit and run accident. The victim, Mark Blackwell (Mark Kiely), is a recently-released ex-convict who Judge Palmer had sentenced to twenty years in prison for murder.

Judge Palmer is indicted after police forensics confirm Blackwell’s blood is on the Judge’s Cadillac. Judge Palmer is charged with second-degree murder. C.P. Kennedy (Dax Shepard) is hired as the Judge’s defense attorney. When his defense proves ineffective, Hank takes over as lead counsel. While preparing for trial, Hank learns the Judge is undergoing chemotherapy for terminal cancer. The Judge’s inability to remember the accident or previously recall his bailiff’s name may be a side effect of chemotherapy. During this time, Hank’s daughter, Lauren, arrives for a short visit, meeting her grandfather for the first time and bonding with him.

At the trial, Judge Palmer, honor-bound to his ethical responsibility, insists on testifying. He scuttles his own defense by testifying he is unable to remember the accident, but believes he may have intentionally killed Blackwell. Judge Palmer is convicted on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to four years in Indiana State Prison.

Seven months later, Hank returns to Carlinville. The Judge has been granted a compassionate release, allowing him to die at home. Fishing on a lake, Hank and the Judge appear to have buried their mutual animosity. After praising Hank as a lawyer, the Judge suddenly and peacefully dies in the boat. The courthouse flag flies at half-staff to honor Judge Joseph Palmer. Hank visits the courthouse and spins the Judge’s chair; it stops, facing him, implying a future course.

Cast

Robert Downey Jr. as Henry “Hank” Palmer, the Chicago lawyer
Robert Duvall as Judge Joseph Palmer, the judge, Hank’s father
Vera Farmiga as Samantha “Sam” Powell, Hank’s ex-girlfriend
Vincent D’Onofrio as Glen Palmer, Hank’s older brother
Jeremy Strong as Dale Palmer, Hank’s younger brother
Billy Bob Thornton as Dwight Dickham, the Prosecutor
Sarah Lancaster as Lisa Palmer, Hank’s wife
David Krumholtz as Mike Kattan
Emma Tremblay as Lauren Palmer
Ken Howard as Judge Warren
Leighton Meester as Carla Powell, Samantha’s illegitimate daughter
Dax Shepard as Attorney C.P. Kennedy
Denis O’Hare as Doc Morris
Frank L. Ridley as Jury Foreman
Mark Kiely as Mark Blackwell
Grace Zabriskie as Mark Blackwell’s mother
Jeremy Holm as Redneck