Very few actors manage to carry a film almost entirely by themselves. It usually requires an incredible solo performance, such as Ryan Reynold’s role in Buried or Tom Hardy’s in Locke. Sometimes though, an actor’s power is derived from a flawed script and the fact that they’ve been playing the same character for years.
Robert Downey Jr.’s display in The Judge, is an example of the latter. He portrays an arrogant, charismatic lawyer who will manipulate both evidence and witnesses in any way to get a client off the hook. He also has a poor relationship with his father, and frankly the character comes across as a tired cliche. The only reason you build any sympathy for him is because of how likable Downey always appears. Other than that, the film has little going for it and is not entertainment I would recommend spending money on.
The plot of the film concerns Downey’s character having to return to his hometown due to the death of his mother, then remaining because of a hit and run death that his father is accused of committing. As I have previously stated, Downey’s character has a rocky relationship with his dad, along with his hometown and almost anyone from it. The overall plot and character development, is coated in cliches and hampers what could have been a well written movie. There are plenty of themes desperately attempting to present themselves, but the writer’s tried too hard to inject an abundance of sentiment that just ended up weakening the narrative. There is even a subplot involving Downey’s old flame that borders on creepy, and remains totally unnecessary.
Even the style in which the movie was filmed contains too many attempts to be sappy. Depressing or tension filled scenes include ludicrous amounts of lens flare, yet almost no other light source. More than one instance occurred in which a room would be completely dark except for one minute source of illumination, providing a haze covering characters’ faces. The coloring and lack of adequate lighting during the courtroom scenes take it so far, you’d swear they were straight out of a Lifetime Original.
But, if you are truly desperate to see Tony Stark try his hand at Civil Defense, The Judge is the film for you. Otherwise, I would not bother watching this flawed attempt at drama.
