X
- 1982
- R
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 2 h 9 m
- 1982
- R
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 2 h 9 m
Summary An attorney (Paul Newman) recognizes the opportunity to salvage his career and self-respect by taking a medical malpractice case to trial rather than settling.
Directed By: Sidney Lumet
Written By: Barry Reed, David Mamet, Jay Presson Allen
- 1982
- R
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 2 h 9 m
- 1982
- R
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 2 h 9 m
The Verdict
77
8.0
Where to Watch
Summary An attorney (Paul Newman) recognizes the opportunity to salvage his career and self-respect by taking a medical malpractice case to trial rather than settling.
Directed By: Sidney Lumet
Written By: Barry Reed, David Mamet, Jay Presson Allen
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
77
76% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
18% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
77
76% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
18% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Admittedly this is a legal "Rocky, convincing rather than realistic, witty rather than analytical, but it amounts to a far more effective indictment of the US legal system than ...and justice for all, and is the first courtroom drama in years to recapture the brilliance of the form.
Sidney Lumet directs effectively, keeping the tension strong, and unfolding David Mamet's intelligent screenplay slowly but with maximum impact.
A solidly old-fashioned courtroom drama such as The Verdict could have gotten by with a serious, measured performance from its leading man, or it could have worked well with a dazzling movie-star turn. The fact that Paul Newman delivers both makes a clever, suspenseful, entertaining movie even better.
If you were presenting a case for Newman’s legacy of acting brilliance, this film would be exhibit A.
It's Newman's performance itself that really makes this film work and helps it truly get close to Lumet's own '12 Angry Men'.
Early on, Lumet wastes too much time characterizing Newman, following him from bar to bar to bar. Though Newman plays a good drunk, his performance is far from intoxicating. When he rests his case, the jury goes to sleep. [17 Dec 1982, p.19]
As Frank Galvin, the misbegotten inspirational hero of Sidney Lumet's imbecilic courtroom melodrama The Verdict, Paul Newman takes sanctimonious satisfaction in impersonating the sorriest excuse for a crusading attorney since Anne Bancroft misrepresented Margaux Hemingway in "Lipstick." [17 Dec 1982, p.F12]
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 22 User Ratings
8.0
95% Positive
21 Ratings
21 Ratings
5% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 22 User Ratings
8.0
95% Positive
21 Ratings
21 Ratings
5% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.
Production Company
Twentieth Century Fox
Release Date Dec 17, 1982
Duration 2 h 9 m
Rating R
Genres
Tagline Frank Galvin Has One Last Chance At A Big Case.
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 5 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 5 Nominations
National Board of Review, USA
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
