I highly recommend this to all who enjoy dramas involving families and their complications. Robert Duvall is the father (Judge). Vincent D'Onofrio is his eldest son. Robert Downey, Jr. is the middle son (hot shot attorney). Jeremy Strong is the youngest and strangest son. Billy Bob Thornton is the opposing attorney. Vera Farmiga is the high school girlfriend of Downey's character.
Basic story line involves the Judge's wife dying thus causing the prodigal son (Downey) to come home after many years of absence. During the evening following the funeral the Judge does a little shopping by himself and ends up accused of running over a fellow on a bicycle who happens to be an ex-con that was hated by the Judge. He is charged with murder and the proceedings take place in the same courtroom that he has ruled for 42 years.
Side issues include:
a) Why the oldest brother did not become a professional baseball pitcher.
b) Who is the father of the high school girlfriend's daughter.
c) Can two of the most stubborn people in the universe work together.
d) Can the theatergoer survive watching the scene in the Judge's bathroom.
I never really appreciated Duvall's stage (film) performances until "Tender Mercies". Tess Harper was good in that, also. I remember thinking Duvall was a little "starchy" in the Godfather.
He seems to have done well over the years. I really enjoyed "Gus" in the Lonesome Dove Mini-series.
I've seen the trailers for The Judge and it looks like a must see for me. Screen-plays must have a plot to keep my attention...a good plot.
I've always thought Robert Duvall was a good actor. I've liked his movies all the way back to some he did with John Wayne. Robert Downey seems like a good actor but I thought some of the roles I've seen him in weren't very good. And then, Billy Bob Thornton, well, he's just Billy Bob. From the trailers, this looks like a pretty good one.
That sounds like a good movie.
My favorite Robert Duvall role was in Falling Down. That was a great movie. Duvall also had a short role in Sling Blade with Billy Bob Thorton. That's a great movie too.
Duvall is a tremendous actor and the rest of the cast mentioned are pretty good as well. It is just that as real life individuals I wouldn't want some of them as a neighbor. Leave the acting to film and be real in real life.
Sounds like a several very good actors who came together to make a male version of a chic flick. Don't like excess drama in my own life, much less sitting through 2 hours or so of someone else's fictional family issues.
I think I'll go see The Equalizer.
Saw this movie about a year ago. Nothing big in the line of adventure or special effects. If you just wanted to sit down and watch a very good film this would be it.
> Side issues include:
> a) Why the oldest brother did not become a professional baseball pitcher.
> b) Who is the father of the high school girlfriend's daughter.
> c) Can two of the most stubborn people in the universe work together.
> d) Can the theatergoer survive watching the scene in the Judge's bathroom.
We went and saw it last night...RDJ has always been one of my favorite actors and it was neat seeing the younger version of him in the yearbook. Reminded me of his "Less Than Zero" days, sans the drugs of course.
Oldest son played by Vincent = same guy that played "Mr. Jelly Doughnut" in Full Metal Jacket.
Did you catch them mentioning St. Louis? B-)
BBT is also a HUGE Cardinals fan. 😀
The father of the daughter...now that one definitely surprised me! :-O
The "bathroom scene"...made me tear up as I went through that very "similar" scene this past summer with loved ones. :'(
I loved the hydrangeas. 🙂
The Dancer Upstairs
The Dancer Upstairs.
A powerful story.
Thank you.
