The Verdict (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Highly recommended. Was a bit slow, but hey this was from the 70'sI wish they would do a remake of this, some things to add and some to eliminate.

An excellent film. This film is arguably one of Paul Newman's best. It is raw, real and moving. It was released in 1982 and another aspectone can enjoy, aside from the quality of the film, is how different life was just back in 1982!!! Zero tech!!! It is like viewing a time capsule in realtime!!! In my opinion, it really juxtaposes life then as well as the fact that you have a real story in a film rather than explosions, CGI, the hyper over budgeted offerings that leave one amazed but thinking.....what did I just see?Now to the story line. Frank Galvin, the character played by Newman, is an alcoholic, ambulance chasing attorney at the end of his rope. He starts the day at the local pub for a shot of whiskey, a quick game of pin ball and beer with a raw egg in it before court. He is known in his circles as a burn out. As the film plays out, you do find out that at one time he was at the top of his game but a crooked law firm took advantage of him in his youthful naiveté, he was accused of jury tampering. It was all a set up and lie but he was fired from the firm, lost his wife and he never quite got over it. Thus leaving him in his current state. He does have a very good friend and former teacher played by Jack Warden who gets him a "winner case". A major medical malpractice case involving a Catholic hospital and world renown doctors. His client is a young mother who as a result of the physicians care ended up in a vegetative state and needing 24/7 hospital care. The night before he is going to meet with the sister of the young woman in question Galvin goes on a drunken binge and nearly destroys himself and his offices. Mickey finds him in the ruins of his office, gets him sober and the next morning warns Galvin...."now this is it Frankie I'm not fuxxxxxx around with you anymore". Frank meets with the family and they just want enough money so that the sister can be well cared for and so that they could move on with their lives. Frank assures them that he is on the case and things start rolling. Galvin goes to the 24 hour care facility that the now comatose woman is housed at and is moved deeply. His original plan was to take the pictures and his arguments to arrive at a settlement with the archdiocese that owns the hospital. When he arrives at the meeting they actually offer him a settlement...but he just can't accept it. He wants to fight for the young comatose woman. Perhaps in doing this he feels he can save himself as well. So, no settlement.Galvin finds a very good physician that will testify that the doctors were indeed negligent....but then terrible things start happening. Mickey says it best..."the lead attorney for the archdiocese is the f-ing prince of darkness"...Mickey is right and the dirtiest, lowest, backward dealings begin.Paul Newman give a performance of epic proportions!!!! As Frank Galvin, Newman plays a man on the ragged edge which has rarely been seen on screen. Remember this man is an alcoholic, he is in fact dealing with the lowest prince of darkness with no misgivings about destroying Galvin completely. You literally see Frank Galvin come apart at the seams and yet...he still works the case. His true brilliance and ability shine subtly through when he is the one that is asking all the right questions from all involved in the malpractice against this young mother. The audience is kept guessing about "did the doctors really do this to her".... A femme fatale, one Charlotte Rampling is interjected into the story and boy is the outcome of this tryst a shocker.....I will leave the description here. I don't want to ruin it for anyone. In conclusion I will say that this is a great, moving and satisfactory film. Perfect for a quiet, rainy afternoon of popcorn and TV. Paul Newman, Jack Warden, Charlotte Rampling, James Mason, Milo Oshea, Linsay Crouse and many more delivery powerhouse performances in substance and subtlety.I can Highly recommend this film

This was a great movie of a jury trial. Paul Newman should have gotten an Oscar for his performance in this film. It even has a romance and spy issues underneath the main plot. Highly recommend it.

"The Verdict" is an imperfect movie that I never tire of watching. Paul Newman as the alcoholic has been lawyer Frank Galvin is at his mesmerizing best. The veteran character actor Jack Warden as Galvin's former professor-turned-sidekick Mickey Morrissey is in his element in what might be the role of his brilliant career. The rest of the supporting cast -- led by Charlotte Rambling as the withholding, impermeable woman sent to spy on Galvin, and James Mason as the unprincipled opposing counsel who sends her -- are fine indeed. Meanwhile, director Sidney Lumet is weaving that old movie magic at which he excelled. The imperfection comes in the legal plot. Galvin's clients have a legitimate beef against two doctors, a hospital and the Catholic Diocese of Boston, which runs it. Unfortunately, Galvin, shaky at best, is repeatedly thwarted by the despicable opposition and a judge (played well by Milo O'Shea) who's in the bag. Nonetheless, he sees a chance to redeem himself, reclaim some pride and help some deserving people. Never mind that all of the defendants and their various interests would not be represented by the same lawyers. Never mind that, once Rampling's character's dishonesty is discovered, Galvin chooses not to use this information to destroy his opponents ostensibly because he wants to win the case on its merits. Never mind that he does. Improbabilities abound, in other words. But "The Verdict" never fails to entertain. Just squint through those nettlesome second-half details.

I saw this movie when it came out in the 80’s. Fast forward 40 years. It still holds up. Great story and great acting. Watch it.

It was great

Great story, riveting plot, superb dialogue. Newman's best performance possibly.

Ce film dans lequel l’acteur Paul Newman tient le rôle principal dénonce les failles de la justice américaine pour une affaire mettant en accusation le milieu médical. La corruption et la manipulation des uns prend au départ le pas sur l’intégrité de Paul Newman, avocat de La Défense, qui finalement parvient à retourner la situation en faisant triompher la justice et en se sauvant lui même d’une existence médiocre.Excellent film que j’ai beaucoup apprécié et reçu dans les délais indiqués.Super.

From the director of the classic masterpiece 12 Angry Men, comes The Verdict.Probably Paul Newman’s greatest row. A down on his luck attorney, who hasn’t won a case in several years. He’s been so use to being a selfish lawyer that he fits the description of an ambulance chaser.But when he takes a case of malpractice that resulted in the death of a young woman he begins to find his humanity and develops a strong desire to get justice. But he’s small time and small potatoes going up against a wealthy hospital owned by the Catholic Church. It’s a modern day courtroom David and Goliath story.

The Best Law, Courtroom Drama Ever & Paul Newman's Best Rivetting Performance!It has more twists than turns than most, is emotional, a David & Goliath Case and Courtroom Drama with further twists at the end which are Superb and left me Breathless!

Story: Feinde kammerspielartiger Szenen und langer Dialoge sind hier völlig fehl am Platze. Freunde anspruchsvoller Dia- und Monologe und fein gezeichneter Charaktere werden dagegen trotz fehlendem Mord und Totschlag gefesselt sein von diesem packenden Gerichtsthriller um eine Schadensersatzklage wegen Falschbehandlung (Patientin im Koma) und dem ohnmächtigen Kampf gegen ein angesehenes Krankenhaus nebst dahinter stehender Erzdiözese. Paul Newmans beste Altersrolle, begleitet von einem grandiosen James Mason und knuffigem Beistand Jack Warden. Wer Filme wie DIE 12 GESCHWORENEN, DIE JURY oder DAS URTEIL mag, kommt um diesen großartigen Vertreter seines Genres nicht herum.Bild: Gegenüber der DVD eine klare Steigerung. Von verschlimmbessernden Maßnahmen wurde glücklicherweise Abstand genommen, so dass das feine Filmkorn erhalten blieb. Nahaufnahmen geben jeden zerfurchten Winkels von Newmans und vor allem Wardens Gesicht nahezu unbarmherzig wieder. Die Texturen und Strukuren der Drehorte sind voller Detailfülle klar zu erkennen. Der Schwarzwert stimmt bei nahezu perfekt eingestellten Kontrastwerten. Die würdige Umsetzung eines jungen Klassikers.Ton: Besonders die hervorrragende Synchronfassung profitiert vom Transfer ins HD-Medium: kein Rauschen oder Zischen trüben die jederzeit klar verständlichen Dialoge. Große räumliche Effekte sind angesichts des Sujets nicht zu erwarten.Extras: In überraschend ausreichender Zahl vorhanden. Nebst kurzem Making of und Statements von Regisseur Sidney Lumet (der auch einen Audiokommentar beiträgt) und Paul Newman ist besonders bemerkenswert der retrospektive Beitrag, der die Bedeutung des Films im Genre der amerikanischen Gerichtsfilme unterstreicht.Fazit: Intelligente, anspruchsvolle Unterhaltung alter Schule, die eine wohltuende Abwechslung vom effektüberladenen und storyarmen Bombast heutiger Prägung bietet. Klarer Kauftipp.