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The Verdict
A lawyer sees the chance to salvage his career and self-respect by taking a medical malpractice case to trial rather than settling. Read more
| Starring | Paul Newman, James Mason, Jack Warden, Milo O'Shea |
|---|---|
| Director | George Roy Hill, Robert L. Rosen, Sidney Lumet |
| Genres | Drama |
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The Verdict
A lawyer sees the chance to salvage his career and self-respect by taking a medical malpractice case to trial rather than settling.
| Starring | Paul Newman, James Mason, Jack Warden, Milo O'Shea, Lindsay Crouse, Edward Binns, Wesley Addy, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross, Strother Martin, Cloris Leachman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, Charlotte Rampling |
|---|---|
| Director | George Roy Hill, Robert L. Rosen, Sidney Lumet |
| Studio | 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Released | DVD: 04 Nov 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
The Verdict
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Critics' reviews (2)
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A return to court for Sidney Lumet, director of the masterly 12 Angry Men. Paul Newman was widely (and wrongly) tipped to win his first Oscar for his portrayal of an alcoholic lawyer on the skids who fights to redeem himself when a medical malpractice case pits him against the power of the Catholic Church. Scripted by David Mamet, it's a compelling, if wordy, piece, rooted in liberalism and stubbornly refusing to deliver the promised fireworks. Newman is also caught acting a lot of the time, and his character's self-disgust becomes a little heavy-going in places. Charlotte Rampling and James Mason are in the fine supporting cast.
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Complex and interesting but rather sombrely handled exposé of legal and medical ethics.
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Most helpful member's review
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9 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Newman deserved an Oscar for this
Newman shows again just what a stunning character actor he is, not just a ?movie star? or former matinee idol. I think it was Michael Caine who once said the difference between a great movie star and a great movie actor is the star asks ?what will this film role do for me??, whilst the actor asks ?what can I do for this film role??. Well, here Newman doesn?t play the part of Frank Galvin, washed up lawyer; no, for the two hours screen time, Newman simply is, Frank Galvin, washed up lawyer.
It is a subtle, un-showy performance, and that?s what makes it so convincing as Newman gets right into the characters? skin. Galvin?s not a particularly sympathetic character, but still Newman draws you to him, and to begin to care about his possible fate.
This is definitely a character and dialogue driven film, which moves with a slow yet never tedious pace. The Boston winter landscapes and the dark and shadowy interiors both seem to mirror the bleak and lonely place that is Galvin?s soul. For here is a man at the end of his resources of deceit, who can no longer conceal even from himself that he is so far into his whiskey bottle that he can scarcely function as a human being, let alone as a lawyer.
An old friend Morrissey, (played by Jack Warden) has offered him an easy, medical malpractice suit ? the kind that the defendants? insurance company should settle readily out of court for a tidy sum; no publicity, damage limitation, job done. Only, the case is due in court in less than a week, Galvin?s forgotten all about it, and not even looked at the brief. When Morrissey turns up at Galvin?s offices to find out what?s happening, it looks like Galvin has blown his last friendship?.
Belatedly, Galvin seizes the case as a drowning man a straw. He needs the money, but he also needs a purpose, and the case becomes to him a chance to prove he is more than what he has become.
Jack Warden is worth a particular mention as Galvin?s friend, and subsequent reluctant but dogged assistant on the case. James Mason too is wonderful as the wholly oleaginous, expensive, financially limitlessly resourced, opposition lawyer.
To be frank, the actual courtroom finale is a little underwritten. Mason gets to score and win on all the legal and forensic points, and although Newman makes a moving summation, one is left with the unsatisfactory feeling that that the verdict would have been challenged and instantly overturned on appeal.
Never mind. The forensic plot is essentially secondary, a hook on which to hang Galvin?s story. Spend a couple of hours with him. I don?t think you will regret it. -
Most recent members' review
View all -
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Newman deserved an Oscar for this
Newman shows again just what a stunning character actor he is, not just a ?movie star? or former matinee idol. I think it was Michael Caine who once said the difference between a great movie star and a great movie actor is the star asks ?what will this film role do for me??, whilst the actor asks ?what can I do for this film role??. Well, here Newman doesn?t play the part of Frank Galvin, washed up lawyer; no, for the two hours screen time, Newman simply is, Frank Galvin, washed up lawyer.
It is a subtle, un-showy performance, and that?s what makes it so convincing as Newman gets right into the characters? skin. Galvin?s not a particularly sympathetic character, but still Newman draws you to him, and to begin to care about his possible fate.
This is definitely a character and dialogue driven film, which moves with a slow yet never tedious pace. The Boston winter landscapes and the dark and shadowy interiors both seem to mirror the bleak and lonely place that is Galvin?s soul. For here is a man at the end of his resources of deceit, who can no longer conceal even from himself that he is so far into his whiskey bottle that he can scarcely function as a human being, let alone as a lawyer.
An old friend Morrissey, (played by Jack Warden) has offered him an easy, medical malpractice suit ? the kind that the defendants? insurance company should settle readily out of court for a tidy sum; no publicity, damage limitation, job done. Only, the case is due in court in less than a week, Galvin?s forgotten all about it, and not even looked at the brief. When Morrissey turns up at Galvin?s offices to find out what?s happening, it looks like Galvin has blown his last friendship?.
Belatedly, Galvin seizes the case as a drowning man a straw. He needs the money, but he also needs a purpose, and the case becomes to him a chance to prove he is more than what he has become.
Jack Warden is worth a particular mention as Galvin?s friend, and subsequent reluctant but dogged assistant on the case. James Mason too is wonderful as the wholly oleaginous, expensive, financially limitlessly resourced, opposition lawyer.
To be frank, the actual courtroom finale is a little underwritten. Mason gets to score and win on all the legal and forensic points, and although Newman makes a moving summation, one is left with the unsatisfactory feeling that that the verdict would have been challenged and instantly overturned on appeal.
Never mind. The forensic plot is essentially secondary, a hook on which to hang Galvin?s story. Spend a couple of hours with him. I don?t think you will regret it. -
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