If you welcomed Oppenheimer’s reminder that Robert Downey Jr. is a terrific actor and hugely charismatic screen presence even in movies that do not feature superpowers and lots of spandex, then perhaps a revisit — or first viewing — of 2014’s The Judge is in order. Sure, it’s pure soapy melodrama: Downey Jr. is a hotshot big-city lawyer who returns home to defend his father, a pragmatic small-town judge (Robert Duvall), when the elder is accused of a suspicious hit-and-run. There’s nothing surprising in what follows, but Downey Jr.’s snark and Duvall’s crustiness ensure the film never gets sappy. The amazing cast also features Vera Farmiga, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, and Billy Bob Thornton. (Read my 2014 review.)
US: rent/buy on Prime and Apple TV
UK: rent/buy on Prime and Apple TV
See The Judge at Letterboxd for more viewing options.
