The Verdict – Die Wahrheit und nichts als die Wahrheit (1982)

The Verdict – Die Wahrheit und nichts als die Wahrheit: Directed by Sidney Lumet. With Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason. A lawyer sees the chance to salvage his career and self-respect by taking a medical malpractice case to trial rather than settling.

“I have seen this movie, on screen and as a video, many times. Each time, it gets better. This is no doubt the best acting by Paul Newman in his career. Why he didnu0026#39;t get the Oscar for this role, but instead got it for the lackluster u0026quot;The Color of Moneyu0026quot;, is beyond me. The movie is actually about redemption, or the attempt to be redeemed.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHis interpretation of Frank Galvin, a desperate, conniving, down-to-the-last-case attorney, is fascinating and totally convincing. And he has a fantastic supporting cast — from Jack Warden as his partner, Charlotte Rampling as his chance for romantic redemption, Milo Ou0026#39;Shea as the corrupt judge, Lindsay Crouse as his surprising ace-up-his-sleeve, and most of all, in a landmark supporting actor role, James Mason as the seemingly distinguished and respected defense attorney.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnd I found the direction by Sidney Lumet to be, once again, outstanding. Lumet has such a long list of great movies that you wonder why he has never won an Oscar or been given an AFI Lifetime Achievement award. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003enThis is a riveting movie — about the law, but mainly about the flawed nature of the human beings who are entrusted with it. Please hear Newman, as Frank Galvin, on his last, crippled, despairing leg, give the summation to the case. It needs to be carved in marble somewhere. David Mamet, who wrote the screenplay, deserves accolades for how he was able to hand Paul Newman such a moving summation. The summation is about life, not just the law. It is a masterpiece, worth seeing the entire movie for.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMost of all, it is Newmanu0026#39;s Finest Hour.”