Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Uber-lawyer Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.) has it all: a lucrative career defending crooked millionaires, a masterpiece home in suburban Chicago… and a dysfunctional family he hasn’t seen for 20 years. When his mother dies, Hank returns to rural Indiana to attend the funeral and grudgingly console his father (Robert Duvall), a stoic judge who had long ago thrown the book at him, sentencing his son to four years in reformatory. When the judge is involved in a hit-and-run accident, Hank must mount a defense, despite his father’s seeming desire to be found guilty. Along the way, we uncover not only the truths surrounding the accident, but the Palmers’ toxic family history as well. There’s also a rekindled romance between Hank and his childhood sweetheart (Vera Farmiga), the only individual who has flourished in this Hoosier backwater.

Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski explains The Judge’s metaphor of reluctant revelations through stark contrast of light and shadow, and both ends of the spectrum are gloriously portrayed. Whites possess a purity and depth, while blacks are rich and powerful, and the fine gradations from mere shading to total darkness are lovingly rendered. Mid-level contrast is squashed (a conscious choice), and colors, especially during courtroom scenes, are intentionally muted, sometimes becoming nearly monochromatic. Fleshtones are realistic, and fine details—fabrics, Downey’s skin, and the hodgepodge of Duvall’s hair and scalp—are irreproachably resolute. Despite noticeable edge enhancement, this is a fine transfer.

The Judge’s soundtrack is unspectacular: the highest complement one can pay. Those who value nuance over brute force will find much to love here. The dialogue track is clean, focused, and unfailingly articulate. There’s a dearth of deep bass, but your subwoofers will, when necessary, thunder with punch and authority. Thomas Newman’s evocative score is perfectly blended, and subtle atmospheric cues—courtroom murmur, restaurant patrons, and the sounds of nature—flirt and flutter among the surrounds to excellent effect.

Fans of The Judge will revel in the abundance of extras. The Judge ends with almost as many questions as it begins but the title, closing scene and Dobkin’s commentary provide answers.

Blu-Ray
Studio: Warner Bros., 2014
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audio Format: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Length: 141 mins.
MPAA Rating: R
Director: David Dobkin
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga