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Caught this one on TV today and it made for a perfectly wonderful mattinee watching. Been wanting to see it for ages as it's one of the few Lumets on my list that kept eluding me even though I've picked the DVD from the racks quite a few times in the past. No excuse now.

Apart from the overall brilliance of the performances, the quality of the storytelling and the still relevant importance of the subject matter (medical negligence) what struck me the most on this first viewing was the cinematography -- never flashy, quite subdued most of the time, but extremely effective in the setting of mood and even helpful in a way, as it let the actors breathe and behave as fluidly as possible.

It was not the first time Andrzej Bartkowiak had worked with Lumet and it would not be the last, so apparently they understood each other very well. And it shows.

Yeah, I actually think that Clint Eastwood might've screened or "borrowed" from this one in terms of cinematography and ambiance for MILLION DOLLAR BABY. (Although MDB had more of a noirish tone to it).

Rosenbaum gave this a mixed review:

Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote:Sidney Lumet's direction, like David Mamet's patchy script (which adapts a Barry Reed novel), may not be quite good enough to justify the Rembrandt-like cinematography of Edward Pisoni and the brooding mood of self-importance, but it's good direction nonetheless; and there are plenty of supporting performances--by James Mason, Jack Warden, Milo O'Shea, Charlotte Rampling, and Lindsay Crouse, among others--to keep one distracted from Newman's dogged Oscar-pandering.

To be fair, the script did seem a bit patchy - maybe it was the novel, but there were moments that seemed a bit sanctimonious, and others that really strained. Having said that, I'm surprised he dismissed Newman's performance as Oscar-pandering. I liked his performance quite a bit, even though there may be a moment or two where it seems a bit much (it's been awhile, but I think after he makes his closing argument, Newman slumps back in his seat in a fairly mannered, melodramatic way, hanging his head and clutching his brow at the same time...you know, like he was really, REALLY dejected).

Some lawyers have a problem with Newman breaking into a mailbox, which is a felony, I think - the usual "a real (fill in the blank) would NEVER do that," but considering how desperate Newman's character was, it makes sense, doesn't it?

My memory's hazy, I only saw this on VHS about 10 years ago, but I'll have to check it out again. Courtroom dramas are notoriously prosaic, visually speaking - at best, they may adopt a film noir look, nothing too special - but I do recall The Verdict looking pretty good.

Rosenbaum got the name of the cinematographer wrong. Edward Pisoni is the Production Designer.

I remember seeing this w my mom inna cinema as a kid & loving it. Don't think I've seen it since then, though it's certainly worth a revisit.

This is the first movie I ever saw in a shop on VHS...must have been 1983 or 84...and it was selling for 65 pounds sterling

Good thing I waited.

hearthesilence wrote:Rosenbaum gave this a mixed review:

Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote: ...like David Mamet's patchy script (which adapts a Barry Reed novel)...

To be fair, the script did seem a bit patchy - maybe it was the novel, but there were moments that seemed a bit sanctimonious, and others that really strained...

Interestingly, I had a film prof who used the script for The Verdict as his example of how to adapt a novel effectively. I actually thought Mamet did a fairly decent job here, but that may be severely influenced by the fact that we spent three classes going through 5 or 6 scenes in detail.

I watched this this morning after not seeing this in many, many years. I forgot how good this is. It has a way of building to a boil. Mamet's script is excellent and it keeps the covert behavior of the Charlotte Rampling's charactor a complete surprise. And Lumet's decision to not overplay Newman's immediate reaction to the news was a terrific decision (shot from a distance). I wonder if the eventual smackdown would be done today if the film was made now. I thought Lumet's mise-en-scene choices were terrific. Just an overall solid film by a one of the better directors of his generation. BTW... James Mason was such a terrific bastard.

I really love Warden in this. The way he touches Newman's hand when Frank sits back down after that spellbinding summation is just a perfect little gesture.

One of my favorite movies from both Lumet and Mamet. Just great non-sentimental getting-your-shit-back-together story.