The Judge

Oscar nominee Robert Duvall and Robert Downey Jr. star as a father and son at odds in this courtroom psychodrama. Hank Palmer (Downey) is a glibly unscrupulous Chicago defense attorney with a crumbing marriage who is summoned back to his idyllic Midwestern hometown of Carlinville, IN, for his mother's funeral. Hank is greeted warmly by his older brother (Vincent D'Onofrio) and mentally-challenged younger brother (Jeremy Strong) but receives an icy, dismissive reception from his father, Judge Joseph Palmer (Duvall), who has always disapproved of Hank's flash-and-dash style. Immediately after the burial, as Hank is ready to depart, his father is arrested and charged with the hit-and-run murder of a scummy criminal (Mark Kiely) wgom the judge sentenced years earlier. Hank offers to defend him, but the stubborn old man turns to a local yokel (Dax Shepard), an antiques dealer/lawyer whose incompetence is obvious as he faces a determined prosecutor (Billy Bob Thornton). Meanwhile at the Flying Deer Diner, Hank flirts with a sassy young bartender (Leighton Meester), only to discover that his high-school sweetheart (Vera Farmiga) is her mother. Directed by David Dobkin, The Judge is a prodigal son story full of intensely complicated family dynamics that is unfortunately diluted by reams of expository dialogue and secretive subplots. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “Getting Deep with Dax Shepard” interview between Shepard and costars Robert Downey Jr., Billy Bob Thornton, and Vincent D'Onofrio (10 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is audio commentary by director David Dobkin, a behind-the-scenes featurette (22 min.), deleted scenes (19 min.), and bonus DVD and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for this so-so courtroom drama featuring an Oscar-nominated performance by Duvall.] (S. Granger)