Review of The Verdict (1982) by Tonypolito — 16 Oct 2010

Essential viewing. Newman's at the wheel from beginning to end, steering the viewer through the best performance of his career.

Colossal, inspirational delivery by Newman as a skid-row lawyer at trail's end who finds an epiphany within his soul - and a court case that offers him a redemption from his past.

The Academy, in one of its largest and most controversial gaffes, took a pass on this powerful performance - and instead sent Oscar home with Ben Kingsley for his role as Ghandi. Indeed, it took no less than the story and portrayal of one of the Twentieth Century's most charismatic leaders to cheat Newman out of his due.

Director Lumet purposely and thoroughly drenched the film with sets, architecture, costuming and lighting to create a highly dramatic aura around the tall, tremendous forces of power, influence and corruption that Newman must overcome to find the ethics he once paid dearly to hold - but has since relegated to the bottom of a shot glass.

In fact Newman's been laid so low, his shaking hand can't even HOLD the shot glass; rather he has to sip the top off his shot before he picks it up, lest he spill it. That sip is just one of the many intricate details that Newman, of his own design, used to bring realism, drama and sympathy into his characterization.

Newman's final destination is oh-so predictable, but the journey's the thing in this film. The enraptured viewer ends up not caring whether Justice will serve up the correct verdict for the client - but whether the incorrect verdict Justice once pronounced upon Newman will be righteously reversed.

RECOMMENDATION: Newman's best. Again, essential viewing.