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The Verdict

Frank Galvin has one last chance to do something right.

1982 · 2h 9m · R Drama
Directed by Sidney Lumet

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Overview

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.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
88%
Tomatometer
Rotten

There are many fine performances and sensitive moral issues contained in The Verdict but somehow that isn't enough to make it the compelling film it should be.

Variety Staff, Variety
Fresh

Sidney Lumet's direction, like David Mamet's patchy script, may not be quite good enough to justify the Rembrandt-like cinematography of Edward Pisoni and the brooding mood of self-importance, but it's good direction nonetheless.

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Fresh

The performances, the dialogue and the plot all work together like a rare machine.

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Fresh

The first courtroom drama in years to recapture the brilliance of the form.

Time Out

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