Monday, December 27, 2010

The Verdict

Paul Newman is an alcoholic ambulance chaser who gets one last chance to redeem himself. Also starring James Mason, Charlotte Rampling and Jack Warden, written by David Mamet, directed by Sidney Lumet.

Newman aged pretty gracefully on screen. This is probably one of his best performances, the one he should have gotten an Oscar for. Rampling is at her most mysterious. The film was shot during the winter; it always adds something when you can see the breath of the actors. About one third into the film you start thinking that of course Newman is going to win the case, and probably the girl as well - you already know how it's going to end, but actually, the film avoids the easy Hollywood happy ending and rather goes in a more interesting direction, ending with a question.

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