Plot
Big city lawyer Hank Palmer returns to his childhood home where his father, the town's judge, is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to discover the truth and, along the way, reconnects with his estranged family.
Release Year: 2014
Rating: 7.8/10 (1,972 voted)
Critic's Score: 48/100
Director: David Dobkin
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga
Storyline
Big city lawyer Hank Palmer returns to his childhood home where his father, the town's judge, is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to discover the truth and, along the way, reconnects with his estranged family.
Writers: Nick Schenk, Bill Dubuque
Cast: Robert Downey Jr. -
Hank Palmer
Robert Duvall -
Joseph Palmer
Vera Farmiga -
Samantha Powell
Billy Bob Thornton -
Dwight Dickham
Vincent D'Onofrio -
Glen Palmer
Jeremy Strong -
Dale Palmer
Dax Shepard -
C.P. Kennedy
Leighton Meester -
Carla Powell
Ken Howard -
Judge Warren
Emma Tremblay -
Lauren Palmer
Balthazar Getty -
Deputy Hanson
David Krumholtz -
Mike Kattan
Grace Zabriskie -
Mrs. Blackwell
Denis O'Hare -
Doc Morris
Sarah Lancaster -
Lisa Palmer
Trivia: Jack Nicholson and Tommy Lee Jones were considered for the role that went to Robert Duvall. See more »
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User Review
Author:
Rating: 10/10
What happens when you go back to that small town that was home? Hank
Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.) reluctantly goes back home to honor his
mother at her death and faces the battles that he strategically
retreated from when he went to college. This film takes an unmitigated
look at Midwestern family life from the point of view of the returning
son. Prodigal or survivor?
The disputes and other scenes of life are realistically represented
with Hank facing his father, Joseph, and the rest of the town the way
every battle-hardened small-town returnee would love to do. The strong
disputes and unflinching negotiations that Hank and Joseph go through
lead to an imperfect peace.
Robert Duvall does a superb job of portraying Hank's father. Where
others would let Hank soften under his father's pressure and training,
Robert Downey Jr. keeps Hank strong and sharp. In his best role yet,
Robert Downey Jr. shows us that he has matured into one of the solid
actors working today. You will see them both at the Oscars.
The Judge is one of those rare films that tell a strong story without
selling out to the usual Hollywood exaggerations. I saw this movie at
TIFF through the eyes of a small-town daughter who made her break to
the city to get out from under the strong influence of her father. This
film evoked the strong emotions that I keep buried.
Thank you Robert Duvall, Robert Downey Jr., and every individual
involved for giving a voice to people like me! Thank you Robert Downey
Jr. for keeping Hank strong with a good heart.
The Judge will prove to be a classic. See it! You will be glad you did.
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