The Verdict
1982 · Movie · 124 min. · United States
Sidney Lumet directs Paul Newman as an alcoholic lawyer whose once-promising legal career is on the skids and who gets and one last chance to prove himself in this tense courtroom drama. Frank Galvin (Newman) can't even scare up clients anymore until a colleague Mickey Morrissey (Jack Warden) helps him out by passing a routine malpractice case his way. Frank is just going through the motions until he meets the victim, a woman who has suffered complications during childbirth and is now reduced to a permanently comatose state. Rejecting the Catholic hospital's offer of a financial settlement, Frank decides to take the case to court, battling both for his client's rights and for his own dignity. Newman gives the finest performance of his career. James Mason is perfect as Edward J. Concannon the slimy lawyer for the defense. David Mamet provides the face-paced, honest, and suspenseful screenplay. Shot sparsely in gray tones in the cold climate of a Boston winter, the film was deservedly nominated for five Academy Awards.
Direction Sidney Lumet
Cast Paul Newman · Charlotte Rampling · Jack Warden · James Mason · Milo O'Shea · Lindsay Crouse · Edward Binns · Julie Bovasso · Roxanne Hart · James Handy · Wesley Addy · Joe Seneca · Lewis Stadlen · Bruce Willis
Soundtrack Johnny Mandel
Screenplay David Mamet · Barry Reed
Cinematography Andrzej Bartkowiak
Original title The Verdict
7.4
13K votes (FilmAffinity)
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