A crackerjack criminal lawyer Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.) goes back to his childhood town for his mother's funeral and is detained there when his estranged father "The Judge" (Robert Duvall) is accused of murdering a nasty ex-con.
In the process, he has to come to terms with his present wife, his daughter, his father, his ex-girlfriend, a vengeful attorney, his past, etc.
The movie is a formula, and you can guess the end before the story gets started. The redeeming social value comes in the details and the excellent acting by every actor. The characters, even the minor ones, all have depth and serve a part in the whole experience.
In the process, he has to come to terms with his present wife, his daughter, his father, his ex-girlfriend, a vengeful attorney, his past, etc.
The movie is a formula, and you can guess the end before the story gets started. The redeeming social value comes in the details and the excellent acting by every actor. The characters, even the minor ones, all have depth and serve a part in the whole experience.