Jamie Turner80
Member
37 messages
joined Jul 2009
The fundamental issue here is that attempting to fuse courtroom drama with thriller elements and a nostalgic family melodrama simply doesn't coalesce, and more egregiously, the runtime is nearly unbearable. While the legal proceedings serve as the film's backbone and manage to hold their own somewhat, we have seen this exact formula before, and frankly, better versions exist. The Judge never once ascends to the caliber of The Verdict or 12 Angry Men, nor does it approach the quality of the Grisha adaptations from the nineties. The legal process feels clumsy and poorly structured in terms of logic, and its descent toward the climax is nothing short of a disaster. The domestic scenes involving Sam are watchable, largely due to the performances and occasionally sincere, well-crafted dialogue, yet most subplots lack any meaningful impact on the central legal narrative. The father-son dynamic is significant and executed well, and the older brother’s role is typical, though it fits reasonably well. The real failure lies with the younger brother, who is entirely superfluous; none of his actions carry weight within the broader story. He seems to exist merely as "comic relief" through inappropriate outbursts. This trope is also applied to the local attorney, whose comedic incompetence is forced into a running joke centered on him being physically ill in court. To be fair, the film does have a few successful comedic beats that don't rely on bodily fluids. Perhaps the best instance of this is the jury selection scene where Hank chooses jurors based on bumper stickers, operating on a philosophy of "the stupider, the better." It is predictable, yet still amusing.
The greatest disappointment, however, remains the lukewarm and tepid romance between Hank and Sam, which at its peak is nothing more than a collection of clichés relying on grand gestures while leaving much unsaid. Not to mention—and I will avoid spoilers here—the glaring continuity error born from a desperate attempt to shock the moralists in the audience. Downey and Farmiga are excellent performers in their own right and share a certain onscreen chemistry, but that offers little consolation when the script fails to allow them to develop their relationship into something truly life-like.
more at:
http://film-na-dan.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-judge.html
