I smell Oscar nominations here. The Judge goes deep into ones soul. I loved the way it wrapped up the ending and I loved the cast. Robert Downing, Jr. plays Hank Palmer, a hot shot lawyer from Chicago who has a reputation for winning his cases. When his mother dies, Hank is summoned back home where he hasn’t been for 20 years. He’s leaving his troubled home in Chicago where he has a cheating wife and a small daughter, arriving in his home town of Carlinville, Indiana where he has 2 brothers Glen Palmer (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Dale Palmer (Jeremy Strong) and a father, Judge Joseph Palmer (Robert Duvall) that makes up a dysfunctional family that he never speaks to. Hank expected his trip back home to be short but when his father is accused of murdering a convict he sentenced in his court years ago, Hank stays to defend him. Many paths are explored in this 2 hour and 27 minute film. So far, The Judge has proven to be a more than worthy contender among the better movies I’ve seen this year. Billy Bob Thornton plays the states attorney (Dwight Dickham) who prosecutes the judge. Dax Shepard plays C. P. Kennedy the defense co-council and Hank’s daughter, Laura Palmer (Emma Tremblay) are just a few that make an excellent cast. While visiting Carlinville, Hank discovers there are many old relationships that need closure. This film makes for a very interesting story and well worth the price of a movie ticket to see it.
[THE JUDGE is nominated for Best Supporting Actor]
CAROL's WORLDS 