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The Verdict (1982)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
9/13, 10/19
9/13:
The Verdict is a rare film that Paul Newman doesn't phone it in.
In fact, Paul Newman acts for the first time in his career, and he had gone far to admit this in interviews. Of course, the
more impossible the situation becomes, the closer to the feeling of how predictable it will be. And the outcome is no surprise.
It just had to happen.
Nevertheless, The Verdict is an enjoyable courtroom thriller at the hands of Sidney Lumet, who never fails to deliver,
which is buoyed by the strength of David Mamet's screenplay. The odds against Frank Galvin are staggering, and he's a hero
for beating them.
All in all, Paul Newman never learned how to become a totally immersed character until The Verdict.
10/19:
The Verdict is Paul Newman's finest hour of his acting career.
It's a terrific performance; that much is brilliantly shown from the get-go when Newman is playing pinball
while drinking a glass of scotch. His alcoholic character looks defeated, but when a case comes along that's
worth fighting for, he finally becomes a changed man and finds meaning in life.
The odds are incredibly long with everybody against Frank Galvin including his own clients. Even his supposedly girlfriend
has taken advantage of him. The most brazen act of the corrupt justice system is when the judge decided to question
Galvin's expert witness, purposefully sabotaging his case. His throwing out Kaitlin Costello's damaging testimony is another
instance, but there's a legal point to it. Thankfully, the jury saw through all of them and decided in favor of the
plaintiff because it was the right thing to do.
Once again, Paul Newman is brilliant. So is James Mason. Both were Oscar-nominated, and they deserved it. But honestly, Newman
should've won the Oscar over Ben Kingsley. What a powerful combination: Sidney Lumet as the director and David Mamet as the
screenwriter. By the way, while Galvin is giving his closing statement, if you look behind his clients, Bruce Willis can be
identified. Speaking of courtroom classics, Edward Binns, who plays the bishop, and Jack Warden were both jurors in Sidney
Lumet's 12 Angry Men.
All in all, when I think of great Paul Newman performances, The Verdict is right up there with
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and
The Color of Money.