The Judge- What a film!
This is that time of the year in Delhi when work, social and personal commitments are on an upswing and one is constantly short of time. And ironically this is also the time when really interesting things are happening around town! I had meant to see The Judge soon after it released here but failed due to some of the reasons cited above. But determined to catch it, I finally made it to a distant theatre in what is probably its last few showings in the city. And am I glad that I managed it!
It has been a while since one has seen a film which caters to the emotions and intellect so comprehensively. The Judge does that in a riveting way addressing a not so commonly treated subject of a contemporary father- son relationship in an authentic manner.
The film is about a difficult relationship between a father, Joseph Palmer who happens to be a judge for the past 42 years in Indiana and his middle son, Hank Palmer, a hot shot lawyer in NY who come together on the passing away of Mary Palmer, wife and mother respectively of the protagonists. Their interactions, which swing between barely warm and acrimonious, form the fulcrum of the narrative.
The family reunion at the Palmer residence at the bereavement goes through the expected emotions. But what is striking is the father's different attitudes towards his three sons. There is an obvious paternalistic air when Joseph deals with his oldest and youngest sons, Glen and Dale. On the other hand, his deliberate ignoring of his middle son, Hank strikes as being odd against this background. The fact that both Glen and Dale are beaten by life in their own different ways seems to generate the protective air of the father and his obvious animosity towards Hank stems from a childhood incident that seriously impacted the family. Joseph Palmer has since then been the accusing and vindictive father to Hank, even dragging up Hank's failed marriage when he wants to chastise him.
Such constant snubbing by the father seems to have been a familiar emotion felt by Hank in his growing up years. The story unravels to reveal how the father has never forgiven Hank for inadvertently ruining the bright baseball career prospects of his brother by crashing the car he was driving as a drunk 17 year-old and injuring his brother's hand permanently in the accident. Given this background, Hank is impatient to leave the house after the funeral.
But just as Hank is quickly making his exit from the family home, comes the shock of his father being accused of having mowed down a recently released convict under the wheels of his car when he had gone out in the evening to buy groceries. Hank has to change his plans and help the lawyer whom his father chooses as his defence lawyer. The initial legal proceedings take a turn for the worse when the inept lawyer hired by Joseph Palmer ruins the case and they are now set for a murder trial.
That is when Hank steps in with his superior skills and defends his father in the trial. While the main narrative deals with the trial, the tribulations of the fraught relationship between father and son runs a rough and smooth ride in turns. Just when Hank warns his young daughter, who comes visiting, to expect a grumpy and insensitive grandfather, Joseph surprises him by being the delighted and indulgent grandfather.
It is during this time that Hank discovers that his father is suffering from two debilitating conditions- fourth stage cancer about which he, Joseph Palmer does not want anyone to know and dementia about which he himself does not know! Hank discovers both by accident and his attitude to his father changes. There are touching moments of how the estrangement and the power equation between father and son change inversely. The fact that it is shown without any sentimentality makes it all the more creditable.
One of the most poignant scenes in the movie is at the end when both father and son are sitting on a boat in the middle of a calm lake, chatting and fishing. The son makes a wager on who will net the bigger fish. Neither of them does but it is the father who wins at the end.
This is a film which says a lot while leaving many things unsaid. Director David Dobkin's deft hand in understatement is praiseworthy. And of course the stars of the show, Robert Downey Jr and Robert Duvall are perfect foils for each other as each one draws the best from the other. A remarkable piece of histrionics sustained throughout the film in terms of dramatic tension.
It is also good to see many TV serial stalwarts excelling in the cameos like Vincent D'Onofrio and David Krumholtz. The light romantic touch with Vera Farmiga is refreshing as also the humour in the doubt about who her daughter's father is.
If you like mature and realistic storytelling go for The Judge. You will not be disappointed.
That is when Hank steps in with his superior skills and defends his father in the trial. While the main narrative deals with the trial, the tribulations of the fraught relationship between father and son runs a rough and smooth ride in turns. Just when Hank warns his young daughter, who comes visiting, to expect a grumpy and insensitive grandfather, Joseph surprises him by being the delighted and indulgent grandfather.
It is during this time that Hank discovers that his father is suffering from two debilitating conditions- fourth stage cancer about which he, Joseph Palmer does not want anyone to know and dementia about which he himself does not know! Hank discovers both by accident and his attitude to his father changes. There are touching moments of how the estrangement and the power equation between father and son change inversely. The fact that it is shown without any sentimentality makes it all the more creditable.
One of the most poignant scenes in the movie is at the end when both father and son are sitting on a boat in the middle of a calm lake, chatting and fishing. The son makes a wager on who will net the bigger fish. Neither of them does but it is the father who wins at the end.
This is a film which says a lot while leaving many things unsaid. Director David Dobkin's deft hand in understatement is praiseworthy. And of course the stars of the show, Robert Downey Jr and Robert Duvall are perfect foils for each other as each one draws the best from the other. A remarkable piece of histrionics sustained throughout the film in terms of dramatic tension.
It is also good to see many TV serial stalwarts excelling in the cameos like Vincent D'Onofrio and David Krumholtz. The light romantic touch with Vera Farmiga is refreshing as also the humour in the doubt about who her daughter's father is.
If you like mature and realistic storytelling go for The Judge. You will not be disappointed.
