The Verdict | | Cast : | Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling | | Director : | Sidney Lumet | | Studio : | Fox Home Entertainme | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | December 08, 1982 | | DVD Released Date : | June 04, 2002 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | May 28, 2005 | | Summary | Perry Mason in Rehab | Content
 | This is one of those mystery/suspense movies that I can watch over and over because it is so well made. "The Verdict" stars Paul Newman in one of his best roles. It was a tough year for Best Actor Oscar in 1982 but it's still a shame he didn't win it then. He plays a ambulance-chasing attorney who spends too much time drinking his lunch and too little researching his limited work. A friend of his with some connections steers a fairly routine lawsuit his way but even that case he manages to mess up. Having tossed away a large out-of-court settlement, he now has to make his case against a well-staffed powerful opponent. That's probably more of the plot than needs to be revealed so I'll leave it at that.
Like most excellent movies, "The Verdict" combines excellent writing directing and acting. The supporting cast includes great preformances by James Mason and Jack Warden. There are twists and turns as the movie evolves into a great courtroom drama.
Newman is outstanding in his portrayal of a man who suddenly realizes that he is about to blow his last chance at making something of his life. The writer and director gave him the opportunity and he delivered with a home run. This is one of those movies that would be enjoyable for all but the very young. If you haven't seen it yet, then it's about time. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 13, 2005 | | Summary | Newman in a great role | Content
| Paul Newman plays a Boston lawyer on the skids with alcohol who takes on a negligence case against two prominent doctors and a hospital run by the Boston Archdiocese. It's a sort of do-or-die case for Newman, and it goes pretty badly against him, until he is able to get the help of one of the nurses who was in the operating room when the negligence took place. It's pretty much a one-man show for Newman, and he does a bang-up job. We can see into his character thoroughly, and it's not all goody-goody idealism: after he's turned down a $210,000 "payoff" (out-of-court settlement) thinking he has a chance to win, and then his chief witness is bought off, we see him try desperately to get the settlement money back. The trial is pure Hollywood, with the judge, too, against him, and Newman winning the jury over with a plea for compassion and doing right. Jack Warden does a good job as Newman's senior partner and mentor, as does James Mason as the suave and wily defense lawyer. But Charlotte Rampling is a total non-entity as the double-dealing woman who falls in the sack with Newman. There's much hokum and predictability here, but Newman is so good he makes the movie hum. Definitely worth a watch. |
| Rating | | | Date | December 29, 2004 | | Summary | An Inspirational Film. Good. Evil. And the Journey Between. | Content
| I first saw the Verdict 20 ago, in my early 20's and it inspired me then. I recently watched it again, and realized that over the last 20 years I've met the real life counterparts of many of the characters in the film. The film shows the many different stages of "selling out" in modern society; From the doctors who turn their backs on incompetent collegues to the lawyers that defend them. Anyone who tries to undo this sorry and hypocritical state of our mainstream society is rewarded with attacks and grief. But if one can survive the attacks, ultimitately, justice can prevail. This movie though goes way beyond the surface issues of the legal and medical systems, its a broad indictment on the raw greed and power that permeates much of our world. Left unchecked it has no moral bounds.
Paul Neuman's intense mantra "There are no other cases, this is the case" sums up this beautiful film; he slowly regains an obssesive drive to do right no matter what the personal cost, and what the odds are.
The film's supporting theme of the blessing of surrounding yourself with true friends and collegues (Jack Warden) who will stand by you in good times and bad blends seamlessly into the plot which is at once spare and profound.
When you compare the film to much of what is on the screen today, your realize that this film is "gimickless". It doesn't need any contrived plot tricks to make it work. Each scene builds a complex picture of both the central character brilliantly played by Neuman and the society that has slowly been consuming him over many decades physically, emotionally and intellecutally.
Hollywood needs more films like The Verdict. |
| Rating | | | Date | October 31, 2004 | | Summary | one of the best trial movies | Content
| Paul Newman gives a very fine performance of a down and out trial lawyer (Frank Galvin) who does the right thing.Frank galvin could have settled out of court and parlayed $70,000 for his serivce but decides to take on the Hospital,Noted doctors,the Catholic Church of Boston (shades of current scandals) and the Great Boston Lawyer Concannon (played by George Mason) Galvin has to battle these instituions and biased trial judge and traitorous girlfriend and disappearing witness.
Although this movie plays to cliches of past legal movies and trial lawyers are not the favorite of many there is a ring of truth to the larger issues portrayed.Many of us have to make career changes,betrayed by people we care about and put up with impediments in doing the right thing.
Ultimately justice wins out but the movie 's ending is ambiguous with the effect of the verdict on any of the characters lives.The last scene might be a bit of a downer to some in which silence wins over not forgiving but then again the movie tried to be realistic and not nessesarily uplifting. I saw the movie originally in 1982 and the movie has more of an appeal now because of the realism it portrays about life.I gave the movie 4 stars because of some of the cliches have been used in many previous movies but the acting of Newman and Mason are outstanding. |
| Rating | | | Date | October 30, 2004 | | Summary | A Flawless, Amazing Piece of Work | Content
| I watched this again for the umpteenth time, last night. Whenever I'm writing- at some point I go to several books and films that have inspired me throughout the years. Thankfully- they never fail to re-inspire or recharge the batteries.
This film is one of them. It is an amazing piece of work. From Mamet's writing to Lumet's dark, simple and absolutely direct staging- to the gifts of having Mason, Warden, Rampling and O'Shea is gold. And finally- the fact that they have Paul Newman willing to do and give the performance he gives here.... The best he has ever been and that's saying a lot because he's given a lot.
What I love the most about this film is how it's a re-affirmation of the human spirit; of how, regardless of the damage that life can inflict, the corruptness or competitiveness that can muddy and distort love, respect, dignity and truth- ultimately a spirit that knows that truth can and must prevail. The one line " there is no other case... there is just this case " says it all for me.
I also love the ending. I remember the impact it had when I saw it in the theatre for the first time. Almost everyone left the theatre that night, whispering about it. The opinions, divided. It was a marvelous 'is the cup half empty or half full'? Forgiveness or silence?
For those who have not seen this yet- as others have said in their reviews, it is a must see. Trust me when I say- it's one for your own personal library. It's a keeper and one that you should pull out from time to time, too. And for all the right reasons. |
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