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The Verdict

(1,480)IMDb 7.72 h 8 min1982X-RayR

An alcoholic Boston lawyer takes on a hopeless medical malpractice case in a desperate attempt to pursue justice and redeem his honor.

Directors: Sidney Lumet

Starring: Paul Newman Charlotte Rampling Jack Warden

Genres: Drama

Subtitles: English [CC]

Audio languages: English

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Supporting actors: James Mason Milo O'shea

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Rating: R (Restricted)

Purchase rights: Stream instantly Details

Format: Prime Video (streaming online video)

Devices: Available to watch on supported devices

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The Courtroom Has Never Felt So Tense!

Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2019

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A mature courtroom drama full of masterfully nuanced performances.

Sidney Lumet's The Verdict (1982) is a natural depiction of a lawyers fighting their case with or without ethics. Lumet returns to form in the courtroom after his classic 12 Angry Men (1957) with The Verdict. Lumet's smooth direction gives The Verdict a grounded quality. The problems are all gritty and down to Earth. The Verdict is as real down to the mundane aspects of the courts.

David Mamet's script for The Verdict takes on corruption of judicial figures, corruption within The Catholic Church, miscarriage of justice, doctoral malpractice, and criminal negligence with a scathing critical lens from Lumet. All the issues within the judicial and medical industries are put on full display due to Lumet's careful camera placement and dedication to depicting good lawyer work.

Johnny Mandel's score is a subtle composition of classical music that brings out the seedy darkness of the law world. He keeps it quiet until the score suddenly rouses into a moody accompaniment of sorrow around Paul Newman's failures as a lawyer.

Paul Newman sheds his cool exterior to play Frank Galvin, who is the broken and defeated alcoholic lawyer on his last case. Newman is remarkably understated that makes The Verdict age well into a thoughtful piece on doing the right thing as a lawyer. Newman's closing statement speech is a neat choice of heartfelt honesty as he opts not to go for the impassioned speech declaring his client in the right. Newman instead keeps it classy and genuine that plays to pathos and emotions to do the right thing in the face of adversity. He made a logical and fair case and gave it his all in a performance you must see. Newman's stumbling around drunk is very fun as it is troubling, while Newman simultaneously establishes his character as the lawyer to root for in the end.

On the other hand, James Mason is phenomenal as the cheating lawyer with ghastly underhanded policies in his nuanced and calm performance as Ed Concannon. His villainy is present despite his charming persona. His careful politicking around reveals his cruel and unethical abuses of his office as a lawyer. Mason is brilliant as ever regardless of his older age. James Mason is the perfect foil for Paul Newman in The Verdict.

Jack Warden's supporting role as Mickey is as realistic and endearing as a portrayal of a friend and good lawyer as film gets. Milo O'Shea's irreverent and crooked Judge Hoyle is despicable and disturbing to watch his brazen abuses of his office.

Lastly, I must mention the young and lovely Charlotte Rampling in an incredibly complex role as Laura Fischer. Her moody personality and blunt speech makes Laura the ultimate femme fatale. Her character's twists are unpredictable as I did not see them coming. I especially appreciate the realistic ending Lumet chose for Newman and Rampling. Charlotte Rampling has always been an actress to watch and appreciate excellence in realistically nuanced acting. She is simply divinely blessed in her craft.

I loved The Verdict for its lack of hand holding in how mature and respectful Lumet treats his audience. You follow the case exactly as Newman experienced every sudden hope and disillusioned crash. The courtroom has never felt so tense and uncertain as it exists within The Verdict!

20 people found this helpful

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JEC

Paul Newman is so terrific in his role

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2018

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Sometimes, justice is served. This is a film that shows the importance of Registered Professional
Nurses, one their duties. Legally binding records.
Paul Newman is so terrific in his role; he is
Frances Galvin, Attorney at Law. Stellar performance, as always ! He was born to his craft. And missed by many. His mentor, Jack Warden is excellent supporting actor. I saw this when it came out, back in 1982. I'd been a Licensed Practical Nurse four years, and I had graduated to a Registered Nurse that year.
It was a great portrayal of what can go on. Thank goodness for computerized charting nowadays !

22 people found this helpful

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Jackie

One of Newman's best

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2018

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An excellent film. This film is arguably one of Paul Newman's best. It is raw, real and moving. It was released in 1982 and another aspect
one can enjoy, aside from the quality of the film, is how different life was just back in 1982!!! Zero tech!!! It is like viewing a time capsule in real
time!!! In my opinion, it really juxtaposes life then as well as the fact that you have a real story in a film rather than explosions, CGI, the hyper over budgeted offerings that leave one amazed but thinking.....what did I just see?

Now to the story line. Frank Galvin, the character played by Newman, is an alcoholic, ambulance chasing attorney at the end of his rope. He starts the day at the local pub for a shot of whiskey, a quick game of pin ball and beer with a raw egg in it before court. He is known in his circles as a burn out. As the film plays out, you do find out that at one time he was at the top of his game but a crooked law firm took advantage of him in his youthful naiveté, he was accused of jury tampering. It was all a set up and lie but he was fired from the firm, lost his wife and he never quite got over it. Thus leaving him in his current state. He does have a very good friend and former teacher played by Jack Warden who gets him a "winner case". A major medical malpractice case involving a Catholic hospital and world renown doctors. His client is a young mother who as a result of the physicians care ended up in a vegetative state and needing 24/7 hospital care. The night before he is going to meet with the sister of the young woman in question Galvin goes on a drunken binge and nearly destroys himself and his offices. Mickey finds him in the ruins of his office, gets him sober and the next morning warns Galvin...."now this is it Frankie I'm not fuxxxxxx around with you anymore". Frank meets with the family and they just want enough money so that the sister can be well cared for and so that they could move on with their lives. Frank assures them that he is on the case and things start rolling. Galvin goes to the 24 hour care facility that the now comatose woman is housed at and is moved deeply. His original plan was to take the pictures and his arguments to arrive at a settlement with the archdiocese that owns the hospital. When he arrives at the meeting they actually offer him a settlement...but he just can't accept it. He wants to fight for the young comatose woman. Perhaps in doing this he feels he can save himself as well. So, no settlement.

Galvin finds a very good physician that will testify that the doctors were indeed negligent....but then terrible things start happening. Mickey says it best..."the lead attorney for the archdiocese is the f-ing prince of darkness"...Mickey is right and the dirtiest, lowest, backward dealings begin.

Paul Newman give a performance of epic proportions!!!! As Frank Galvin, Newman plays a man on the ragged edge which has rarely been seen on screen. Remember this man is an alcoholic, he is in fact dealing with the lowest prince of darkness with no misgivings about destroying Galvin completely. You literally see Frank Galvin come apart at the seams and yet...he still works the case. His true brilliance and ability shine subtly through when he is the one that is asking all the right questions from all involved in the malpractice against this young mother. The audience is kept guessing about "did the doctors really do this to her".... A femme fatale, one Charlotte Rampling is interjected into the story and boy is the outcome of this tryst a shocker.....

I will leave the description here. I don't want to ruin it for anyone. In conclusion I will say that this is a great, moving and satisfactory film. Perfect for a quiet, rainy afternoon of popcorn and TV. Paul Newman, Jack Warden, Charlotte Rampling, James Mason, Milo Oshea, Linsay Crouse and many more delivery powerhouse performances in substance and subtlety.

I can Highly recommend this film

10 people found this helpful

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Rafael E. Chaves

Love Paul Newman

Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2018

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Paul Newman was nominated for Best Actor in this movie, but lost to Ben Kingsley in Gandhi. I saw both movies, and certainly Ben Kingsley is deserving, but there is indeed something special about Paul Newman's performance in this movie. No doubt the Gandhi movie had a more impactful message portraying the greatest symbol of civil disobedience in our lifetime, at a time when India was still a colony. But I would still have given Newman an Oscar (albeit a smaller one) for his role in this movie... great cast... James Mason a perfect foil, Sidney Lumet directing.

13 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

D J Jackson: Passionate about Film.

PAUL NEWMAN IS ‘ONE ANGRY MAN’ IN LUMET’S 1982 COURTROOM DRAMA.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2019

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This is a review of the standard Region 2 DVD from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. At 123 minutes, it is the slightly edited version, apparently missing a final conversation between the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Boston, and the defending lawyer.

This Courtroom drama, made in 1982, was directed by Sidney Lumet, who 25 years before had made one of the greatest films in the genre, ‘Twelve Angry Men’.

‘The Verdict’ focusses not on the Jury, but on the prosecuting Attorney. Frank Galvin, a washed-up drunk, is played with intensity and integrity by Paul Newman, and he was nominated for an OSCAR. Galvin, a man who has lost his career and his wife through the duplicity and malfeasance of others, seeks justice for a victim of medical malpractice. And in doing so, he seeks to restore meaning to his own life. He is pitted against the Catholic Church, two eminent doctors and a huge, wealthy and well-staffed law firm, prepared to use every trick, legal or not, to win. James Mason, as the lead defence attorney and mastermind, is majestically machiavellian and manipulative - a role for which he was also OSCAR-nominated. And Jack Warden, a hugely reliable veteran character actor, is superb as Galvin’s long-suffering friend, aide and former teacher.

The feel and look of this film, moving between Galvin’s apartment, his run-down office, the Court building and any number of Boston bars, is pitched just right. You experience with Galvin, the booze and smoke-filled dives pulling him down. You also experience with him the desperate plight of his young client, and the hypocrisy and subterfuge of those arrayed against him. And like him, you want justice.

There are reviews here saying that the film is dated. Clearly, it was made in 1982, and society has changed beyond all recognition in the intervening years. But we need films like this to remind us of how far we have come, and where we have come from. We really enjoyed the excellent performances, excellent plot and excellent script. Whilst it is not ‘Twelve Angry Men’, it is a worthy companion piece.

2 people found this helpful

This version is not in HD.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2020

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Excellent movie. Delivered on time.

But the quality of the film print is dated. Not HD.
The picture looks like one of those cheap worn out prints of a film
shown on a low budget satellite station.

If this is not the seller's fault, then a film like this (Lumet, Mamet, and Newman)
needs to be digitalized and cleaned up for posterity.

The clips on youtube are much sharper...

2 people found this helpful

Elleppi

Sydney can be classic and still effective, Paul is just great

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2015

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A strong drama and accusation toward church istitution by a master of both drama and political films like Sydney Lumet, a guy who never stopped making cinema and standing up for good causes, but always remembering he is a director and a guy who pushed the boundaries of cinema (12 angry men, Network, anderson's tapes, Dog day afternoon, etc...). Here he looks more classic, proving he can keep you on the screen even slowing down and giving time to actors and story to reveal themselves. And here the resal story is that of a guy who need to catch up with himself and find again a sense and a pkace in the world. And Paul New,an gives one of his top performances and work perfectly with Lumet: just see the long shot with the camera travelling through the courtroom while he is giving his last speech before the verdict. The two guys look perfectly in tune with each lpother. Sydney realizes he has just to move the camera following the pace of Paul speech, and Paul readapt his soeech to the camera movement, in order to create a suspended and totally focusing viewers on what is going on and being said st that special moment. A cinema lesson

2 people found this helpful

Mr. E. A. Dobson

NEWMAN SHOULD OF WON OVER KINGSLEY!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2013

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Ben Kingsley won the Oscar that year for Gandhi.Many people including myself thought it was Newman`s year,he would of course win eventually for a lesser film,The Color of Money(1986).I think this film is great,great acting,darkly lit/moody photography(which suits the film) and although the outcome itself is predictable,one thing which really wins me over everytime i watch it is the ending(by ending i mean after the outcome of the trial).I watch so many good films that lose whats gone before in the last few minutes but i don`t think they could of ended this one in any better way.Please note this has been a review of The Verdict only.

One person found this helpful

Your Mum!

Good Verdict

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2017

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Great courtroom drama and investigation. Sidney Lumet directs with a firm, dispassionate hand. David Mamet writes a superbly stark script. And Paul Newman gives a virtuoso performance as a broken down ambulance chaser trying a genuine case against all the odds. Brilliant!

Some great extras: Docos, Featurettes & Commentaries

2 people found this helpful

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