[6]

Paul Newman stars as an alcoholic ambulance chaser who tries to redeem his career with a high profile medical malpractice case. Directed by Sidney Lumet from a script adapted by David Mamet, The Verdict is a solid combination of character study and courtroom drama. Good supporting performances from James Mason, Lindsay Crouse, and Charlotte Rampling. One thing I especially liked about the film is that the romantic subplot becomes integral to the story’s outcome (how many times can you say that about romantic subplots?) The film earned several Oscar nominations, including best picture, best adapted screenplay, best director, and acting nods for Newman and Mason.