“The Judge” (3 stars): Director David Dobkin is lucky to have Robert Duvall and Robert Downey Jr. starring in his new trial drama, “The Judge.” Their Oscar-caliber performances — including Downey’s first outstanding performance since his Oscar-nominated effort in “Chaplin” more than two decades ago — give this familiar family-centric tale of small town justice new life.
“Fury” (4 stars): It takes amazing skill to make a war film like this WWII drama that is so bravely honest in its depiction of the horrors and heroics of war. These are no gallant warriors meeting on the field of battle for a chivalrous conflict. Director/writer David Ayer gives the actors plenty of room to not play soldiers, but also to show the people who exist inside those uniforms.
“Masterpiece: Downton Abbey Season 5,” (3½ stars): This latest season — just now rolling out on PBS — finds the Crawley family and members of their staff facing the usual collection of emotional trials. The big difference is they are played out against the Roaring Twenties. The DVD set comes with more than 40 minutes of additional video.
Also new on dvd this week:
“Jean de Florette / Manon of the Spring”: Gerard Depardieu stars in these two films about greed and survival.
“The Remaining”: Five friends try to survive a series of cataclysmic events.
“The Color of Time”: James Franco collaborates with 12 film grad students.
“Henry V”: Kenneth Branagh stars in and directs this film based on the work by William Shakespeare.
Rick Bentley, The Fresno Bee
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