Click here to copy URL

The Verdict

7.4

13,730

Ratings

Add to lists

where to watch

Rent

buy

Pro reviews

Links

Original title

The Verdict

Year

1982

Running time

124 min.

Country

United States

Director

Sidney Lumet

Screenwriter

David Mamet. Novel: Barry Reed

Cast

Music

Johnny Mandel

Cinematography

Andrzej Bartkowiak

Producer

20th Century Fox

Genre

Drama | Courtroom Drama / Lawyers. Alcoholism

Synopsis

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.

Rankings Position

#82 Best Movies of the '80s

Awards: 1982: Academy Awards: 5 Nominations, including Best Movie, Director and Actor (Newman)

1982: Golden Globes: 5 Nominations, including Best Film - Drama

1982: Writers Guild of America (WGA): Nominated for Best Adapted Drama Screenplay

1982: Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Nom. Best Supp. Actor (Mason) & Cinem.

1982: David di Donatello Awards: Best Foreign Actor (Paul Newman)

1982: National Board of Review (NBR): Best Direction. 2 nominations

Show all

Critics' reviews

Movie Soulmates' ratings: Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste.
Friends' ratings: Register so you can check out ratings by your friends, family members, and like-minded members of the FA community.

Is the synopsis/plot summary missing? Do you want to report a spoiler, error or omission? Please send us a message.
If you are not a registered user please send us an email to [email protected]

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

For US ratings information please visit: www.mpaa.org www.filmratings.com www.parentalguide.org

The Verdict

User history