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The Verdict

The Verdict

Drama · 1982

Frank Galvin is a down-on-his-luck lawyer and reduced to drinking and ambulance chasing, when a former associate reminds him of his obligations in a medical malpractice suit by serving it to Galvin on a silver platter—all parties are willing to settle out of court. Blundering his way through the preliminaries, Galvin suddenly realizes that the case should actually go to court—to punish the guilty, to get a decent settlement for his clients... and to restore his standing as a lawyer.

Movie details

The Verdict

“Frank Galvin has one last chance to do something right.”

1982 Drama 2h 9m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.5 / 10

Community rating

Frank Galvin is a down-on-his-luck lawyer and reduced to drinking and ambulance chasing, when a former associate reminds him of his obligations in a medical malpractice suit by serving it to Galvin on a silver platter—all parties are willing to settle out of court. Blundering his way through the preliminaries, Galvin suddenly realizes that the case should actually go to court—to punish the guilty, to get a decent settlement for his clients... and to restore his standing as a lawyer.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Verdict?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Sidney Lumet

Written by

David Mamet

Paul Newman

Paul Newman

Frank Galvin

Charlotte Rampling

Charlotte Rampling

Laura Fischer

Jack Warden

Jack Warden

Mickey Morrissey

James Mason

James Mason

Ed Concannon

Milo O'Shea

Milo O'Shea

Judge Hoyle

Lindsay Crouse

Lindsay Crouse

Kaitlin Costello

Edward Binns

Edward Binns

Bishop Brophy

Court is in session

Put The Verdict on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.