The Verdict

Release Year: 1982
Review: In 'The Verdict' an ambulance chasing attorney who has fallen on tough times gets a case that slaps him back into reality and ignites him to fight for what's right. It takes a special kind movie to pull this type of plot off. Fortunately this film has the unique combination of a superb actor at the top of his game, sharp dialog and a director who knows how to make those two ingredients mesh together.

It would have been all to easy for this to be a painfully slow and dull legal drama, but with Sidney Lumet in the director chair there was no way that was going to happen. Lumet is a master at directing dialog and a courtroom is the perfect stage for this master to conduct his craft. There is a certain pacing and intensity to dialog in Lumet films which make it all that much more compelling. As good as Lumet's direction is, without a talented actor to deliver the lines, it would still fall flat. Paul Newman is that talented actor in this case. He is fantastic, delivering a rich, emotional, and intensity filled performance. Beyond the acting and dialog, this was a fine examination of the boundaries of the judicial process. Pressing the jury to do what they feel is right and not to over think and get bogged down in bureaucratic nonsense. More than just a courtroom drama, however, it is an interesting look into the life of a ruined man and the extents of his personal will power. With so much going for it, I was a bit disappointed with the way that it ended. There were some dull points, but for the most part it felt like the story kept building up emotionally and was gaining momentum going into the final act only to just kind of fizzle out. It may not be Lumet's best work, but it is a very strong, powerfully acted and emotionally charged drama.
Rating: 3/5