The Judge
Summary
A Robert Downey Jr. movie from 2014,The Judge , is currently available on Netflix , and it features the histrion ’s honest modern non - MCU performance before 2023’sOppenheimer . Thanks to his office as Tony Stark / Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe , Downey is one of the most recognizable stars on the planet . He made his unveiling in the enfranchisement back in 2008 , and the role of Iron Man has come to delimitate his career . However , the histrion has an impressive resume outside of the MCU , including a scene - stealing turn in a legal dramatic event that ’s all important viewing followingOppenheimer .
In 2023 , Robert Downey Jr. joinedthe cast of Christopher Nolan’sOppenheimer , playing the office of AEC member Lewis Strauss . The movie as a whole was met with critical acclaim , and it led to along overdue Oscar win for Downey Jr. The flick was sure a high point in the actor ’s calling . Now , a Downey title from 2014 is currently earn its way up the Netflix chart , and it marks the star ’s previous best non - MCU role since 2008 .
Robert Downey Jr. ’s large retort to television in HBO ’s The Sympathizer is well worth the postponement after his unbelievable MCU run & Oscar win for Oppenheimer .
What The Judge With Robert Downey Jr. Is About
The Legal Drama Sees The Star Playing A Lawyer
direct by David Dobkin , 2014’sThe Judgesees Robert Downey Jr. play Hank Palmer , a brilliant Chicago lawyer who takes on his most personal grammatical case to date . Upon return to his childhood home , Hank discover that his founder , Joseph ( Robert Duvall ) , is suspected of killing a human race . As a solution , Hank sets out to prove his father ’s innocence , which , by chance , brings the pair nigher . The Judge’scastalso includesVincent D’Onofrio , Billy Bob Thorton , Vera Farmiga , and Jeremy Strong in plunk for role .
For his role in The Judge , Robert Duvall was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . Robert Downey Jr. did n’t receive a nominating speech .
Overall , The Judgewas not a monolithic hit for Downey . The movie made just $ 84 million on a $ 50 million budget(viaBox Office Mojo ) and largely break to make headway over critic . In fact , it currently make aRotten Tomatoesscore of 49 % , with much of the literary criticism focusing on the photographic film ’s predictable plot and overly sentimental style . Nevertheless , the performances of the roll , peculiarly Downey and Duvall , were met with universal praise . Overall , The Judgeserves as a great display case of Downey ’s gift if not much else .
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
Why The Judge Is One Of Robert Downey Jr’s Best Non-MCU Roles Since Becoming Iron Man
The Star Is More Than Just A One-Trick Pony
From 2008 to 2019 , Robert Downey Jr. ’s career was almost entirely consumed by Iron Man and his use in the MCU . He did , however , maven in a smattering of projects outside the superhero franchise . For starters , he played Sherlock Holmes in two films address by Guy Ritchie and look paired Zach Galifianakis in the 2010 comedyDue Date . While many of Downey ’s non - MCU movies proved to be popular , very few of them leave the actor with much subject matter . The Judge , therefore , digest out among the photographic film from this period for this rationality .
The Judge , through its centering on the complexness of father / son relationship and the pitfalls of the legal system , offered something meatier for Downey Jr. to pass his teeth into .
Before he was Iron Man , Downey made a name for himself as a serious worker in mostly mid - budget picture show and Oscar - bait films . The star earned his first Academy Award nomination for his role as Charlie Chaplin in the 1992 biopicChaplinwhen he was just 27 years of old age . After joining the MCU , Downey ’s career became dominate by big - budget blockbusters and broad comedies . As such , The Judge , through its focus on the complexness of father / son relationships and the pitfalls of the effectual organisation , declare oneself something meatier for Downey to bury his tooth into .
In the 2014 drama The Judge, Robert Downey Jr. stars as successful lawyer Hank Palmer, who returns to his hometown to defend his estranged father, Joseph Palmer (Robert Duvall), a judge accused of murder. Vera Farmiga, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, Dax Shepard, Billy Bob Thornton, and Leighton Meester round out the rest of the main cast.
Why The Judge Has Been So Popular On Netflix 10 Years After Its Original Release
The Movie Has Received More Attention Now Than When It Was First Released
LikeAnnaand others before it , The Judgehas managed to claim a blot on Netflix ’s Global Top 10 despite being ten years onetime . As always with these kinds of picture , the reason forThe Judge ’s sudden popularity is punishing to say . The most probable explanation is that , followingOppenheimer , interview have been keen to see Downey in more serious roles . For a long time , many motion-picture fan would ’ve only know Downey as Iron Man , but it ’s potential that , upon see the actor ’s Oscar - acquire good turn as Strauss , their eyes were open up to raw possibilities .
The Judge bear on on several unlike genres , from whodunit to dramatic play , and its many plot threads come together neatly for its emotional ending .
In this regard , The Judgeseems to have make it on Netflix at the correct clock time . It ’s also deserving noting that , whileThe Judgewas not favorably review by critics , audiences were far more enthusiastic . Indeed , the movie ’s audience scotch onRotten Tomatoescurrently stands at 72 % , a big step up from the critic ’s score of 49 % . Whether it ’s the film ’s family - oriented nature , its fashionable production , or plainly Downey ’s interest , there ’s something aboutThe Judgethat appealingness to audiences a tenner after it first attain screen door , making it his good non - MCU movie beforeOppenheimer .
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Cast
In the 2014 dramatic event The Judge , Robert Downey Jr. stars as successful attorney Hank Palmer , who retort to his hometown to defend his estranged beginner , Joseph Palmer ( Robert Duvall ) , a judge incriminate of murder . Vera Farmiga , Vincent D’Onofrio , Jeremy Strong , Dax Shepard , Billy Bob Thornton , and Leighton Meester assault out the sleep of the main cast .
