Defend your Honor.|Oct. 08, 2014|USA|141 Min.|R
Genre: Drama
Description: Hank Palmer, a successful attorney in Chicago portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., faces a challenging time when he learns of his mother’s passing. Returning to his hometown of Carlinville, Indiana, for the funeral, Hank reconnects with his older brother Glen, who runs a tire shop, and his younger brother Dale, who is autistic. Their father, Judge Joseph Palmer, serves as the criminal court judge in Carlinville, though the father-son relationship is strained.
Hank discreetly observes his father presiding over a case, noticing his momentary confusion during the proceedings. The following morning, Hank discovers damage to his father’s Cadillac and suspects he drove while intoxicated, though the Judge has no memory of the incident. Hank’s strained family ties are further complicated by a reconnection with his former girlfriend, Samantha Powell. He initially believes Samantha’s daughter might be his child but later learns that his married brother Glen is the father.
After a heated argument with his father, Hank decides to leave Carlinville for good. However, just before his flight takes off, Glen informs him that their father is now a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run accident. The victim, Mark Blackwell, was a recently released ex-convict whom Judge Palmer had previously sentenced to twenty years in prison for murder.
During the trial, Judge Palmer, committed to his ethical principles, testifies honestly but ultimately damages his own defense by admitting he cannot recall the accident and believes he may have intentionally killed Blackwell. As a result, the Judge is convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to four years in Indiana State Prison.
Cast director: David Dobkin
Cast actor: Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Billy Bob Thornton, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, Dax Shepard, Leighton Meester, Ken Howard, Emma Tremblay
Original name: The Judge