The Judge

When I saw this movie on NBC a few months ago I though with its great cast including Chris Noth, Edward James Olmos, and Lolita Davidovich it would be a decent made - for - tv movie. It wasn't. Noth was phoning it in, Olmos was far to sullen and Davidovich was under used. The story had a disjointed feel and it started to drag in the first hour of the 4hour story. Not worth the effort of watching.

From 2001, a miniseries, The Judge, based on a novel by Steve Martini, set in Baltimore and directed by Mick Garris.

Paul Madriani (Chris Noth) stands before Judge Armando Acosti (Edward James Olmos), his female client next to him. Acosti issues a harsh sentence of 20 years and no parole to the woman, who killed her husband after horrible abuse. Paul is so outraged that he winds up jailed for contempt.

Then the tables are turned. Acosti is arrested for soliciting a prostitute-undercover vice cop, Brittany Hill (Heidi Mark). Acosti denies the charges. And he wants Paul to defend him!

Then Hill is brutally murdered. Acosti again denies the charges. However, he has a compelling motive, no alibi, a bad temper, and has spent time with prostitutes. However, his work with prostitutes has consisted of getting them off the street, into schools, and joining the normal workforce. Will that help him now?

Madriani finds the going rough, thanks to corrupt police attempting to place drugs in his home, witnesses who won't cooperate, a cutthroat prosecutor (John Terry) and an ex-girlfriend (Lolita Davidovitch) of Paul's whose policeman brother (Alec McClure) may be involved.

Madriani is also up against Acosti himself, who forgets he's a defendant and aggravates the judge (Charles Durning) at his own trial.

Someone wrote that Chris Noth phoned this in. Since he was one of the producers, I doubt it. I thought the story was pretty good, though not the best courtroom drama I've seen. It held my interest. Davidovitch did not have enough to do; neither did Sonia Braga as Mrs. Acosti.

Madriani figures out whodunnit very cleverly.

Good if not great miniseries.

This movie is about as good as a court scene movie can be. Chris Noth, while up to now has not had winning shows, in this Hallmark showing he does a very convincing job as the lead defense lawyer, and acts with force and fine precision. The movie is long, 3½ hours, and without complaint, it had me on the edge, without a clue as to how events would work out. Lolita Davidovich does a fine job, too bad we didn't see a bit more of her, and Charles Durning is his usual forceful self. Edward Olmos, as the accused, played the role of a complex, believable judge. All of the players, fit their roles very well. This is a sleeper with future potential. Basil