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Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason, Milo O'Shea ... see more see more... , Edward Binns , Julie Bovasso , Lindsay Crouse , Roxanne Hart , Wesley Addy , Kent Broadhurst , Colin Stinton , John Blood , H. Clay Dear , Juanita Fleming , James Handy , Burtt Harris , Leib Lensky , Edward Mason , Joe Seneca , Lewis J. Stadlen , Bruce Willis , Marvin Beck , Ralph Douglas , Tony La Fortezza , Evelyn Moore , Joy Todd , Herb Peterson , Maggie Task

In Sidney Lumet's powerful courtroom drama The Verdict, Paul Newman stars as Frank Galvin, an alcoholic Boston lawyer who tries to redeem his personal and professional reputation by winning a difficul... read more read more...t medical malpractice case. Frank, down on his luck, is presented with the case of his life when he is approached by the family of a woman who has been left in a coma following an operation in a large Catholic hospital. Helped by his assistant Mickey (Jack Warden), he agrees to take the case, hoping for a fast settlement. When he visits the victim in the hospital, he becomes emotionally involved, turns down a sizable settlement offer made by the hospital, and decides to bring the case to trial despite the formidable opposition of the Church and its lawyer, Newman (James Mason). He is also assisted by his new girlfriend, Laura (Charlotte Rampling), a woman who turns out to have an unusual past. Oscar-nominated for "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Lumet) as well as for "Best Adapted Screenplay" (David Mamet from a novel by Barry Reed), The Verdict is an outstanding, if not very legally accurate, courtroom drama; Frank's decision to try the case without telling the family of the victim of the settlement offer would probably lead to his real-life disbarment. Paul Newman and James Mason give fine, Oscar-nominated performances, and Charlotte Rampling is quite good as the deceitful Laura, who never seems to turn down a drink. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi

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24 critics

R, 2 hr. 2 min.

Directed by: Sidney Lumet

Release Date: December 8, 1982

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DVD Release Date: June 4, 2002

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Stats: 690 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (690)

  • fb1038944442
    April 15, 2012
    fb1038944442
    The Verdict is one of the finest courtroom dramas ever filmed, the only reason I've given it less than the full stars is that the plot has some convenient points in its last act to provide a studio imposed 'happy ending' that border on cheap.

    The excellence is wall to wall, st... read morearting with a terse, brilliant script by David Mamet, a performance of passion and prefection from that great soul, star Paul Newman in autumnal late middle age, and superbly deft direction from one of the finest American directors who ever lived, Sidney Lumet. It benefits from note perfect supporting perfomances from film icon James Mason, the teddy bear like, truthful presence of the great Jack Warden, sleazy Irish Judge Milo O'Shea, and the mysterious love interest Charlotte Rampling.

    The story is Newman, by fluke, getting a medical malpractice suit against a powerful law firm acting for the Catholic diocese who run the hospital where a healthy young woman is turned into a vegetable by negligent high profile doctors. James Mason exudes power and smugness as the senior partner with his usual subtlety. Newman is given the case by his colleage Jack Warden who has had enough of his friend's alcoholic negligence and wants to be done with him. Charlotte Rampling is a stunning, almost ghost like presence who offer's Frank one last chance at love in his late years.

    The dreary color palette and gothic (Boston and New York pretending to be Boston) locations add to the melacholic atmosphere of broken down, end of his rope ambulance chasing lawyer Frank Galvin (Newman). Music is minimal and close ups are used very sparingly.

    Galvin's need for redemption is so palpable that any human heart watching this gut wrenching performance is made to care deeply that he succeeds. Somehow, this 'need for redemption' trope, normally a hackneyed cliche, which fails in so many similar movies of the recent era is as perfectly executed here, due to Mamet's economical, unsentimental use of words (look for Galvin's haunting jury summation) and Newman's self-effacing, brave emotional nakedness.

    This film grips for all of its two plus hours, and though it may look a little old fashioned to modern eyes, it is very rewarding viewing. An almost pefect film.
  • blkbomb
    October 3, 2011
    blkbomb
    Judge Hoyle: It seems to me, a fellow's trying to come back, he'd take the settlement, get a record for himself. I, myself. would take it and run like a thief. 
    Frank Galvin: I'm sure you would. 

    The Verdict is one of the best courtroom dramas you'll ever see. It's success is no... read moret on one level, but on many. Sidney Lumet was always a great director primarily because his movies never strayed from the path of the lead character. He has extreme focus on Frank Galvin in this film. Frank is an alcoholic lawyer who has only one client. She happens to be a total vegetable. Frank takes the doctors to trial even though he could have received $200,000 plus, not to. Paul Newman is as extraordinary as ever in this role. He gives a powerful and emotional performance and elevates a good movie to greatness.

    The movie is all about the conflicts Frank is facing. He has a case that is going to be tough to win. On top of that, the judge is against him and his star witness is gone. Then there's another conflict that I didn't see coming and I don't feel one should know before watching the film. It seems throughout the whole movie that whenever Frank starts to make some headway something happens that pushes him back. It's his job to pull through and win this case. Not only for himself, but for the family of his client.

    Unlike many courtroom films, this always was understandable and more than that, it was always engrossing. Lumet never gets too wrapped up in the ins and outs of the trial process. He always sticks to the conflicts that plague Frank. The movie has tense scenes and but also many somber scenes that succeed because of just how good Newman is. This really is a must watch.
  • fb619846742
    July 12, 2011
    fb619846742
    A solid, entertaining legal thriller concerning a beat-up veteran lawyer (Paul Newman) looking for redemption from his alcoholism-driven ways, and finds it in a negligence case concerning a Catholic hospital. Newman's performance is just so effortless, so nuanced, and so phenomen... read moreal, that he is able to elevate the story's familiar material and make it riveting. A lot of credit also has to go to Sidney Lumet, who gets the maximum amount out of each one of his actors as well. The end result is uplifting, but for some reason it isn't as powerful and it could have been, something I felt kept it from being a "great" movie. Although it is definitely close, given Newman's terrific turn and a string of great supporting performances. David Mamet's script introduces a few twists that are indeed clever, but at times he goes a little to far to the point where you start questioning the realism of the case.
  • Saxia
    November 18, 2010
    Saxia
    If you've seen Hud and Cool Hand Luke you'll understand that he's cut out for this part as a drunk who's trying to save his career as a lawyer.
    Perfect for a lazy and rainy Saturday afternoon!!

    ... read more50">
  • ythelastman89
    January 17, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Newman+Mason+Mamet=Perfection. This isn't just another movie about a courtroom case, it's about the people behind it. Paul Newman gave a performance that almost completely different from anything he'd done before, a truly vulnerable and wounded person. It was great to see James M... read moreason give one last great performance, he was as ruthless as ever. The main reason I think I love this movie is that it's so lovable. There's no way you can't sympathize with Frank. It's a true redemption story. Sidney Lumet does a great job at nailing down a very dark part of Manhattan and giving the story the weight and power it deserves.
  • imrealgod
    October 5, 2009
    imrealgod
    My verdict (rating) for "The Verdict" probably won't be liked by many, but I can't afford to give it any more than 1.5/5. Pretty much avoidable, IMHO.
  • sononothing
    January 8, 2009
    sononothing
    There are only a handful of courtroom dramas that could be considered great such as 12 Angry Men or even J.F.K. The Verdict stands almost above the rest as the ultimate underdog lawyer story.

    Paul Newman stars as Frank Galvin, a worthless drunken lawyer who hasn't one a case in... read more years and has become not an ambulance chaser, but a hearse chaser going from funeral to funeral and dropping off his card. His former partner Mickey (Jack Warden) throws him a case dealing with a woman who was rendered brain dead during a routine baby delivery. It's an easy money case. But in the blink of an eye it becomes more to Frank Galvin as he has an epiphany and starts caring more about punishing the negligent parties than about the paycheck that comes home at the end of the day, even if it's against the usual legal protocol.

    This is one of Paul Newman's defining roles and it is a shame that he didn't win the Oscar for his portrayal of Galvin, a man who doesn't realize what he's done is wrong until after he's been called on it. He's a man of ideals that was crushed by his past and now he's digging his way out. Newman makes us feel for this lonely drunk playing pinball in Boston. James Mason is a great antagonist to Newman's Galvin as the opposing attorney. His cases are like well tuned machines that go off without a hitch. Mason gives us the feeling that he knows what the opposition is going to do before they do. Sadly, this is one of Mason's final performances and certainly the best before his death in 1984.

    Director Sydney Lumet (Network, Dog Day Afternoon) delivers his usual true life feel to The Verdict and makes you feel like your inside the courtroom. Or the law office. Or the pub. You become part of Galvin's world through his lens in a great story. The only problem I find with the film that keeps it from a five star piece is the actual verdict scene seems tacked on (indeed it seems that the original script wasn't even going to reveal the verdict to the audience). Other than that The Verdict is a great courtroom drama/underdog story that gives us a little taste of what a lawyer has to deal with on his soul from day to day.
  • kiriyamakazou
    July 4, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    The Verdict is probably the best courtroom drama you could wish to see. First off Newman is superb but also represents a character that isn't always sunshine and lollipops. He's a hard drinker, but this is mostly displayed in Newmans shame as opposed to scenes of him staggering a... read moreround the streets drunk and throwing up. It's a subtle and realistic kind of drunk. His progression as a character is also well chartered. It's obvious he knows he is doing the right thing but is always regretting being the good guy. It's a great twist on a familiar sight. The film itself is devoid of any sentimentality. It doesn't have long winded uplifting power speeches accompanied by a bellowing orchestra. People breaking down and Newman shouting out is also kept to a minimum. It adds for a realistic portrayal of a court scene and doesn't try and manipulate us with usual tactics. This is Newman's story, not about his client, the clients family or how the verdict will affect the outside world. A wonderful film.
  • kenstachnik
    February 10, 2008
    kenstachnik
    Lumet, Newman and Mamet are all in top form in this flawless courtroom drama.
  • dreamfaeries
    November 7, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Pretty good.

View All The Verdict Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
June 30, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

There are many fine performances and sensitive moral issues contained in The Verdict but somehow that isn't enough to make it the compelling film it should be. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
June 30, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Sidney Lumet's direction, like David Mamet's patchy script, may not be quite good enough to justify the Rembrandt-like cinematography of Edward Pisoni and the brooding mood of self-importance, but it'... Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The performances, the dialogue and the plot all work together like a rare machine. Full Review

June 30, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Sidney Lumet directs effectively, keeping the tension strong, and unfolding David Mamet's intelligent screenplay slowly but with maximum impact. Full Review

June 30, 2008
Film4

Paul Newman goes into court a drunken bum and comes out a better man in this superb legal drama about a man finding redemption. Full Review

Kevin Carr
September 9, 2007
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

Not an action flick by any means, The Verdict is a slow burn from frame one to the end. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
February 2, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A cynical and gripping courtroom drama. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
October 21, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

David Mamet's script is a bit theatrical for courtroom drama, but it's Paul Newman's nuanced performance, and the direction of Lumet, who uses silences and pauses as eloquently as dialogue, that disti... Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
February 16, 2006
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com

Newman gives a brilliant performance in this powerful David and Goliath tale of a sad man's quest for redemption in the face of despair. Newman, director Lumet and the film itself all should have won ...

January 26, 2006
Time Out

The first courtroom drama in years to recapture the brilliance of the form. Full Review

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