The Verdict

THE VERDICT (15)
D: Sidney Lumet
20th Century Fox (Richard D. Zanuck & David Brown)
US 1982
128 mins

Drama

W: David Mamet [based on the novel by Barry Reed]
DP: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Ed: Peter C. Frank
Mus: Johnny Mandel

Paul Newman (Frank Galvin), Charlotte Rampling (Laura Fischer), James Mason (Ed Concannon), Jack Warden (Mickey Morrissey), Milo O'Shea (Judge Hoyle), Lindsay Crouse (Kaitlin Costello Price)

Paul Newman delivers yet another great performance as an alcoholic, down-on-his-luck lawyer who takes on a medical malpractice case which he has little-to-no chance of winning, but feels he must to redeem his career. James Mason is equally great as the smarmy, cocksure defending lawyer in the impending lawsuit. 
This drama is more powerful in its scenes outside the courtroom rather than within, but none of the scenes disappoint, helped by an intelligent screenplay by David Mamet and handled diligently by director Sidney Lumet.
8/10

Paul Newman in The Verdict
Paul Newman in The Verdict