With a different cast and a ruthless editor, The Judge would fit right in as a CBS Sunday night movie or Lifetime movie for men. The Judge is a trope heavy, overstuffed drama. The Judge’s cast is the only good thing about the movie: Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Vincent D’Onofrio, Billy Bob Thornton, Denis O’Hare, Vera Farmiga. Without the cast, The Judge would be unwatchable with its heavy-handed visual metaphors. The Judge’s fatal flaw is that it wants to be too many things: a murder mystery, a father son conflict, a legal drama, a man making peace with his past/roots, a generational tale, a divorce drama, a paternity scare. I despise the trope of trial as metaphor for characters’ lives. The Judge aims to be a classic and ends up being forgettable. The Judge succeeds during its intimate moments at home when Downey has to care for Duvall, and Duvall softens around his granddaughter. If I could choose my own adventure, I’d follow Thornton’s character to work and leave the Palmer men behind to sort things out as they scream at each other. I’m glad that I trusted my instincts and didn’t go to the theaters to see The Judge. Also side note: the paternity scare should have been left on the cutting room floor.