Movie permits for 'The Judge' OK’d in Shelburne Falls

THE RECORDER

By DIANE BRONCACCIO

Recorder Staff

Wednesday, May 15, 2013
(Published in print: Thursday, May 16, 2013)

SHELBURNE FALLS — On May 31, between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., film cameras for the upcoming Warner Bros.’ film “The Judge” will be shooting aerial views of a funeral procession down the village’s main streets. The cameras will be filming from a helicopter circling through the village and from the rooftop of McCusker’s Market Building.

Several Shelburne Falls storefronts, from the Neighbors convenience store to the old Mole Hollow Candle Co. building, will have movie “scenes,” now that both the Buckland and Shelburne Boards of Selectmen have approved permits for the filming, for local scenes to be shot from May 31 through June 17.

“As head of the Massachusetts Film Office, I want to thank you so much for how you’ve welcomed these folks,” MFO Director Lisa Strout told Buckland selectmen after they approved tentative filming dates and times. “We’re really excited about this one,” she continued. “Our intention, as the state, is to be available to you all and to the (film) company, and to make this a good experience.”

“I can see this, as a lure for tourism over time,” said Strout. “I think this is a movie that people are going to love for decades to come.”

Shelburne selectmen had approved filming on Bridge Street and around its sections of Shelburne Falls and Shelburne Center on Tuesday afternoon. Buckland selectmen gave their approval Tuesday night.

Filmmakers are preparing to use the upstairs rooms of the Buckland Town Hall this Saturday for a casting call of movie extras, with auditions from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They will also be using these Town Hall rooms between May 28 through May 30 for script read-throughs and some rehearsals, in closed-door sessions.The film stars Robert Downey Jr. and is to feature an all-star cast that includes Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Leighton Meester, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Billy Bob Thornton. The plot is about a successful lawyer (Downey) who comes to his hometown for his mother’s funeral, and learns that his estranged father (Duvall), a prominent judge in town, is a murder suspect.

Warner Bros. Production Supervisor Peter Novak said there will be 12 to 13 days of shooting, with five or six of those dates to be on the Buckland side of the village. One of those film dates will take place at night, behind the Salmon Falls Artisans Showroom. Novak said any possible noise will be “no louder than the trains” that run through the village.

He said he is working with both towns’ police departments, and will be halting traffic on an intermittent basis. “We’re going to be (notifying) people, dropping fliers, going door-to-door,” Novak said. “We’ll be talking to the residents and businesses.” Novak said lighted signs will be placed strategically, to inform people of filming-in-progress, so that they can take detours or be aware of traffic delays.

Several scenes take place in the rain, so the presence of actual rain is less likely than usual to delay filming, Novak said.

Several signs around town, including parking signs, will be taken down temporarily, when filming takes place.

Among the local places named in the Shelburne permit, where scenes are to be shot, are the storefronts of Good Spirits liquor store and Rethreads clothing consignment store, Baker’s Pharmacy, Mole Hollow, Arms Cemetery, Singley’s Furniture, Wandering Moon, the Shelburne police station, and Zerah Fiske Road in Shelburne Center. In Buckland, the sites discussed included Clement Street, State Street, Salmon Falls Artisans Showroom, and part of the Lamson & Goodnow property.

Selectmen’s Chairman Robert Dean told the Warner Bros. representatives Tuesday night that the village merchants appreciate the production crew’s “Buy Local” initiative, during their stay in the village, which helps the local merchants.

Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association Executive Director Mary Vilbon pointed out that the filmmakers have also asked to be part of the business association’s composting program, in an effort to be a “green company.”

When asked about how local businesses feel about the upcoming movie, Vilbon replied: “I can tell you at least 98 percent of the businesses are thrilled, on the Shelburne side.”

However, Catamount Auction owner Michael Budrewicz has come to both boards of selectmen with concerns that filming will block access to his offices on Bridge Street and on State Street. In a letter presented to both boards, Budrewicz said he works irregular hours and needs “unobstructed” access to his office and storage area, to load up his box truck with antiques and other auction items. His letter asks the production crew for “at least two week’s notice of any part of the filming schedule will interfere with traffic, parking or building access.” He said he has several large events coming up, and the dates are not flexible. He said, if he has to relocate his stored merchandise to another site, “then I need to know how I will be compensated for this.”

He also indicated he wanted to be compensated for any loss of income as a result of inaccessibility to his merchandise. Buckland selectmen urged Budrewicz to talk directly with Novak, to resolve his issues. Budrewicz had formerly worked for the movie industry as a landscaper, according to minutes from a recent Shelburne selectmen’s meeting.

Casting for 'The Judge' this Saturday!

Production on the Warner Bros. Pictures feature film The Judge, starring Robert Downey Jr. is gearing up to begin filming in Boston, MA and surrounding areas. The film will feature an amazing all-star cast with Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Leighton Meester, Vincent D'Onofrio and Billy Bob Thornton among many on board. The story centers on a very successful attorney Hank Palmer, who travels home to Ohio for his mother's funeral and discovers that his father is suffering from Alzheimers. The complicate matters, he discovers blood on the front grill of his father's car and soon learns that an ex-con who was tried by his father was found dead on the side of a road. He becomes his father's attorney when he comes face to face with what his family and friends actually think of him and begins the most excrutiating and humilating experience of his life - the best thing that will ever happen to him.

The local casting directors are holding two open casting calls in Massachusetts for people to work on the film as full paid background extras and also for people who have cars and trucks to use in the movie. They are seeking LOCAL adults, age 18 years and older, all types, all ethnicities. No children!

Time & Date: Saturday May 18th , 2013 10:00am til 4:00pm

Where: Buckland Town Hall 17 State Street Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Please bring with you a recent clear color snapshot photo. If no photo is available, a digital image can be emailed to Boston Casting. The email will be made available at the casting call. Those who have vehicles are asked to bring a clear photo of the car or truck.

If you are unable to attend the open call you may register with Boston Casting online at:http://bit.ly/9Q2id6 However, please note that people who attend the open casting call will be given first consideration.

Be an extra in 'The Judge' with Vincent D'Onofrio!

THE RECORDER

By DIANE BRONCACCIO

Recorder Staff

Friday, May 10, 2013
(Published in print: Saturday, May 11, 2013)

• 
  

SHELBURNE FALLS — Wanna’ be an extra in “The Judge”?

Boston Casting Inc. will hold an open casting call for Shelburne Falls area residents for scenes that are to be shot for the movie this summer.

The casting call will be held next Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Buckland Town Hall, at 17 State St.

The audition is open to residents 18 years old and older, and the casting company is looking for all types of people, but asks that no children be brought to this audition.

“We will be filling in with people in the background,” explained Greg Bull, an extras casting director with Boston Casting. “We will want people in the background, walking on the streets or being in the shops — regular people doing what they’re doing.”

“We start filming June 3,” he said. “We’ll be filming Monday through Friday, about 12 to 14 days in Shelburne Falls.”

He said a casting call will also be held in Boston on May 18, and that the reason for holding both on the same date is so that the local casting call will be mostly for local people.

“It’s your town, and we’re guests, and want you guys to be involved,” he said. “It’s also a chance for us to meet the local people.”

Boston Casting asks those auditioning to bring photos of themselves to the audition. If you don’t have printed photos of yourself, an electronic image could be emailed to Boston Casting, said Bull.

Boston Casting is also looking for cars and pickup trucks for film scenes, with models from the 1980s up through 2000. Those who have a vehicle for consideration are asked to provide a clear photo of it.

Boston Casting is a 22-year-old company that has cast principal actors and extras for several movies, including “Labor Day,” which was partially filmed in Shelburne Falls last summer.

The latest Warner Bros. movie, “The Judge,” will star Robert Downey Jr. It is a drama about a successful lawyer (Downey) who comes home for his mother’s funeral and learns that his estranged father is a murder suspect. The all-star cast is to include Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Leighton Meester and Vincent d’Onofrio.

'Merchants roll out red carpet for filmmakers'

THE RECORDER

By DIANE BRONCACCIO

Recorder Staff

Thursday, May 9, 2013
(Published in print: Friday, May 10, 2013)

SHELBURNE FALLS — Will movie-making become the next big “tourist” industry for Shelburne Falls? If so, merchants are ready to roll out the red carpet.

While town officials are putting the finishing touches on a filmmaking permit process, local businesses are getting ready for additional business this summer.

“I’m absolutely proud and delighted that Warner Bros. Film Studio has chosen to do substantial filming of ‘The Judge’ in our blessed wee village of Shelburne Falls,” said entrepreneur Michael McCusker, former owner of McCusker’s Market and current owner of the Bridge of Flowers Business Center. In a one-page letter that McCusker handed out at Buckland’s annual town meeting, he said: “I feel that the inconveniences that we will undoubtedly tolerate (which means a little more preplanning of our day) is easily worth it, when I consider the tremendous value the production process brings to the village. ... Having a movie here sheds a most positive light on us one and all, and thus becomes an invitation to ‘customers’ to visit us from nearby communities.”

“At the end of the weeks of filming, we will have benefited from a tremendous marketing package to be felt for months and years to come,” McCusker concluded.

Meanwhile, the Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association has announced a special merchants promotion, to help introduce the local village businesses to the filmmakers. The association will be creating eight local products gift baskets that will be given to “The Judge” film stars, the producer and director. Association members have been invited to include some of their products. Also, the business association will create a Shop Local Card to be given to each of the estimated 130 crew members who will be in the village for about three weeks, according to an email from the business association sent out on Thursday.

“We have been told that 80 percent of the crew are from Massachusetts, so they could very well come back to the region with family and friends after filming,” said the notice.

The card will resemble a debit card, with a picture of the area on the front and a special code on the back, along with a website address. When users log in to the website, there will be a list of participating businesses, contact information and the promotion that each would like to offer. The card will be valid from this June until Aug. 30, 2014. At any time, participating businesses will be able to update or change promotional items. Also, they will be given signs to post in store windows, showing that they are participants in this “shop local” effort.

Businesses must belong to the business association to participate, and they must contact the business association by May 20 if they want to be part of this effort. To join, members should email the business association at info@shelburnefalls.com

Last June, Shelburne Falls was the setting for a coming-of-age Hollywood film called “Labor Day,” starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin. That film was directed by Jason Reitman and is expected to be released for distribution this year. The movie was about an unhappy single-mom and her 13-year-old son in a New Hampshire mill town. It was set in the 1980s, and so the Shelburne Falls storefronts shown in the film were given 1980s “makeovers,” and the actors wore vintage clothing. The village temporarily became “Holton Mills,” with fake road signs to go with it.

This June, Warner Bros. will be filming scenes for “The Judge,” which stars Robert Downey Jr., Vera Farmiga, Leighton Meester, Robert Duvall, Vincent D’Onofrio and others. The plot is about a successful lawyer who goes to his hometown for his mother’s funeral only to discover that his estranged father, the town’s judge, is suspected of murder.

A Warner Bros. production office has been set up on Bridge Street, and filming is expected to start in June.

Scouting continues for 'The Judge'

THE RECORDER

By DIANE BRONCACCIO

Recorder Staff

Friday, May 3, 2013
(Published in print: Friday, May 3, 2013)

SHELBURNE FALLS — A parked Peter Pan bus near the Glacial Potholes and a crowd of sunglass-wearing, baseball-capped visitors Thursday did not herald the annual return of tourists, but the start of scouting for a new Hollywood feature film.

On Wednesday and Thursday, film scouts and production workers with notebooks marked “The Judge — trial run” visited shop merchants, toured buildings, and even went on rooftops to consider possible camera angles, according to some people.

“The Judge” is the name of the Warner Bros. film, with an all-star cast that is to include Robert Downey Jr., “Up in the Air” star Vera Farmiga, Robert Duvall, Vincent D’Onofrio and Billy Bob Thornton, among others. 

The plot of this drama/comedy is about a lawyer (Downey) who goes back to his small hometown for his mother’s funeral and learns that his estranged father (Duvall) is a murder suspect.

Although filming in Shelburne Falls has not yet been announced, it is an open secret around town that film staff has made inquiries about housing and other issues, for tentative filming in June. The production company is unofficially lining up extras.

When asked if the movie will be shot in the village, a stunt coordinator with the film crew, said “yes,” and that a local production office would be set up. “You need to talk to someone else about this,” he added.

Shelburne Selectman Joseph Judd said film production representatives are meeting with the Shelburne Board of Selectmen on Monday night at 7:45 p.m. He said the purpose was to discuss the particulars of the new Shelburne Falls film permit with film production representatives and for selectmen to ask them questions about “what they’re going to be doing while here,” Judd said. He stressed that nothing is definite at this point.

Diane Pearlman, executive director of the Berkshire Film and Media Commission, declined comment.

Also, Fred DeVecca of the Memorial Hall Association said the production crew had inquired about using Memorial Hall’s upstairs theater for prop storage and as a waiting place for film extras, as was done last year for “Labor Day.” However, no definite agreement was reached.

He said film representatives asked for a tour of the town hall roof.

It was only last June that the picturesque village became the setting for a major Hollywood film, called “Labor Day,” and starring Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet. That film is slated for release this year, although an official release date has not been announced.

In “Labor Day,” Keystone Market, Rethreads clothing store, Greenfield Savings Bank and the back facade of Good Spirits liquor store all provided settings for some of the film scenes.

Lights, Cameras ... Belmont: 'The Judge' Coming to the Center

"The Judge" with Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duval propose to use the former Municipal Light Building for two days in July.

By Franklin Tucker

It may be the long-closed Municipal Light Department building to Belmont residents – although each month someone attempts to pay their electric bill there – but to a Hollywood movie team, the town-owned structure will be a prime location to shot a big-time film come this July.

Those are the proposed plans from the production company filming "The Judge," a 2014 release starring Robert Downey Jr. (who is also producing) and Robert Duval after the town received a "letter of intent" to film for two days in July, according to Kevin Looney, the town's Building Services manager.

Part of the agreement is for daytime filming as well as finding space for 30 trailers and trucks required by the crew and cast. 

It will now be up to the Belmont Board of Selectmen whether to approve the letter and the rental agreement with the producers, said Looney.

According to Looney, the producers will be doing extensive interior work in preparation to filming which will require a building permit from the town's Office of Community Development. 

"They said they would put the building's interior back to its original condition but I told them not to bother," said Looney of the bare-boned inside.

Once any agreement is approved, the Town Administrator's office will inform and coordinate with other town departments, such as police and public works, to assist in the filming. 

Belmont's former Municipal Light Building, adjacent to the Police Station and across from Belmont's Town Hall, will become a court house in the film. 

If there is a fly in the ointment for the town, it's the MBTA commuter rail line that runs next to the building.

"They told me that it's usually a death sentence when production managers see tracks," said Looney. "But they appeared ready to deal with that."  

"The Judge" is a co-production of Team Downey – the first film for the company created by Downey and his wife Susan, a well-known film producer ("Gothika" and the "Sherlock Holmes" series) – and the film's director David Dobkin’s Big Kid Pictures.

According to imdb.com, the film's story line concerns a successful lawyer (Downey) who returning to his hometown for his mother's funeral discovers that his estranged father, the town's judge (Duval), is suspected of murder.

The "comedy-drama" also stars Vera Farmiga (Clooney's love interest in "Up in the Air" as well as Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon’s lover in "The Departed"), as well as Vincent D'Onofrio (of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" fame who'll play Downey's brother) and "Sling Blade"'s Billy Bob Thornton.

Rumors had Jack Nicholson in the judge's role but he back out. 

In a feature article in the April issue of GQ magazine, Chris Heath wrote that Downey

... hopes to start shooting the first Team Downey film in June, a movie called The Judge in which he will play the lawyer son of a superior-court judge. Its "beautiful story" was thought up by David Dobkin, director of Wedding Crashers, inspired by something in his own life.

"It's funny as hell, but speaking of emo, it's just openly weeping reading the script. I don't know how I'm going to get through it. It's me and Robert Duvall, a father and son."

About a month ago, Looney was asked by a production assistant to look inside the town's Police Station but it was deemed too small but the abutting Light Department passed the initial test for having enough space for the production.

A day later, the location manager came by and though it was OK, said Looney. Then the next day the location manager's boss entered the building and said they would be back. 

And they did come back, this time with director Dobkin who is best know for helming "Wedding Crashers" in 2005 and "Fred Claus" in 2007. 

Then a week later, a bus come to town and Looney let about 30 technical and lighting people into the building. 

"They were looking around saying, 'This is where the lights can go,' as others were taking measurements," said Looney.

Also on that day came cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, Steven Spielberg's favorite who won Academy Awards for "Savings Private Ryan" and "Schindler's List." 

"He was a very interesting guy," said Looney; the cinematographer for "Lincoln" brought two-dozen donuts for everyone.

"I told him the police station was next door," said Looney, who added that Kaminski had "a really great sense of humor."

The last big movie to film in Belmont was the Dane Cook vehicle, "My Best Friend's Girl," in which hoards of Belmont High students trudged out in the early morning hours to get a glimpse of the production and have photos taken with a very-good natured Arlington-native Cook.

Despite the popularity of Massachusetts as being a backdrop to many movies – Sandra Bullock's "The Proposal" was filmed in Gloucester and Rockport even though the action was taking place in Alaska – Belmont has missed out on this trend.

Only "The Thomas Crown Affair" (at Belmont Country Club), "The Cardinal" (a trolley car scene) and PBS's American Playhouse's "Fourth of July and other Disasters" (with an 18-year-old Matt Dillon) were filmed in town. 

Leighton Meester joins Robert Downey, Vincent D'Onofrio and others in 'The Judge'

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester has joined Robert Downey Jr. in The Judge, the Warner Bros. dramedy being directed by David Dobkin.

Judge is a co-production between Team Downey and Big Kid Pictures and a Boston shoot beginning in June is being eyed.Meester joins a cast the includes Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Vincent D’Onofrio, Dax Shepard, and Billy Bob Thornton.

Downey stars as a successful attorney who returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral to discover that his estranged father (Robert Duvall), the town's judge, is suspected of murder. The man sets out to discover the truth, and along the way, reconnects with the family he walked away from years before.

Mester will play a character with whom Downey has a one-night and whose later revelations cause quite a bit of headaches for the man.

Judge is Meester’s first major move since wrapping Gossip Girl, which ran for six seasons on the CW. In that time, she appeared in such movies as Date Night, Country Strong, The Oranges andThat’s My Boy.

She is repped by WME, Leverage Management, and Stone Meyer. 

'Iron Man coming to the Iron Bridge?'

By DIANE BRONCACCIO
Recorder Staff

Tuesday, April 2, 2013 

THE RECORDER

SHELBURNE FALLS — Filmmakers for “The Judge,” which will star Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall and Vincent D’Onofrio, are looking at Shelburne Falls, and could be filming movie scenes here this summer.

It is reportedly one of two locations in the state being considered for filming. The Warner Bros. film is drama/comedy about an attorney who returns to his hometown for his mother’s funeral, and learns that his estranged father, a judge who suffers from Alzheimer’s, is suspected of his mother’s murder. The film will also star Vera Farmiga, who was nominated for an Oscar for “Up in the Air.”

If the filmmakers select Shelburne Falls, this will be the second major Hollywood feature film to be shot here within a year.

Last June, “Labor Day,” starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, was filmed in Shelburne Falls and surrounding areas. That movie was scheduled to be released this year; however, a release date for that film has not yet been announced.

Meanwhile, town officials from Buckland and Shelburne are drafting a permit procedure for future filmmakers who are interested in shooting scenes in the village’s commercial center.

According to Buckland Town Administrator Andrea Llamas, a draft proposal of permits and procedures will be on Buckland’s selectmen’s agenda for its April 9 meeting. Shelburne Selectman Joseph Judd said the same draft will be on Shelburne’s agenda for the April 8 meeting.

Judd said the permit procedure stems from lessons that were learned during last summer’s “Labor Day” filming. It puts into place procedures for parking, street permit fees, usage areas, and what to do when fast decisions have to made by town officials. For instance, although each board of selectmen meets twice a month, extra open meetings had to be scheduled to approve an extended filming schedule on public roads, due to delays caused by weather.

Judd said the permitting process “would allow for an easier transition, if we’re faced with a similar situation. 

We have been considered (for film settings) in the past,” Judd added. “And now that we know that, we’re preparing for the future.”

Judd and Llamas both said their selectmen’s boards have not been officially approached by movie officials to shoot scenes in Shelburne Falls.

'The Judge' with Robert Downey Jr., Vincent D'Onofrio eyes Shelburne Falls, Western Massachusetts sites for filming

MASSLIVE.COM
By Ray Kelly, The Republican 

on April 01, 2013 at 3:40 PM, updated April 01, 2013 at 3:50 PM

Email

Robert Downey Jr.AP 

Producers of "The Judge," a Warner Brothers feature film starring Robert Downey Jr., are scouting out locations in Shelburne Falls and other Western Massachusetts communities for filming this summer.
"They are looking at several locations in Western Massachusetts right now. I am in touch with the location scouts," said Diane Pearlman, executive director of the Berkshire Film and Media Commission.
She confirmed that Shelburne Falls, where scenes for the upcoming "Labor Day" with Kate Winslet were filmed last June, is in the running. However, Pearlman stressed it was too soon to say exactly where the movie will be shot.
Filming in Western Massachusetts will last two to three weeks in June or July, she said.
Producers will also spend a few weeks shooting in Boston. They were attracted to the Bay State because of tax incentives, Pearlman said.
"The Judge" is a co-production between the star's Team Downey and director David Dobkin’s Big Kid Pictures.
In recent months, Shelburne Falls officials have been working with their counterparts in neighboring Buckland to determine a film permitting process and practical guidelines for studios.
Shelburne Falls Selectman Joseph J. Judd, who has been active in drafting a permit process, said it was not related to the filming of "The Judge." Rather, it was sparked by concerns raised during the filming of "Labor Day," he said.
"We learned during the filming that the town had been looked at six times for movies and no one was aware of it," Judd said.
Judd said he could not confirm or deny whether talks between the town and the producers of "The Judge" had taken place.
In "The Judge," Downey will star as a successful lawyer who returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral only to discover that his estranged father (Robert Duvall), the town's judge, is suspected of murder.
The comedy-drama also stars Vera Farmiga ("Up in the Air"), as well as Vincent D'Onofrio ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent") and Billy Bob Thornton ("Sling Blade").
Filming in Boston is expected to commence in June, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Vera Farmiga cast in 'The Judge' with Vincent D'Onofrio

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Getty

Vera Farmiga

David Dobkin is directing the dramedy, which counts Robert Duvall and Vincent D'Onofrio in its cast.

Vera Farmiga, hot off her debut in A&E’sBates Motel, has been cast as the female lead opposite Robert Downey Jr. in The Judge, the Warner Bros. dramedy whichDavid Dobkin is directing.

Downey stars as a successful attorney who returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral only to discover that his estranged father (Robert Duvall), the town's judge, is the murder suspect. The man sets out to discover the truth and along the way reconnects with the family he walked away from years before.

Farmiga will play a waitress in the hometown, portraying a woman who never left the small-town life and who has a history with Downey’s character.

Judge is a co-production between Team Downey and Big Kid Pictures. A Boston shoot beginning in June is being eyed.

Farmiga, who was nominated for an Oscar for her work in 2009’s Up in the Air, is receiving raves for her performance as Norman Bates’ mother in Bates Motel. The show premiered Monday, grabbing 3 million viewers and becoming A&E’s highest rated premiere with the coveted adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 demo.

The actress, repped by CAA, Authentic Talent and Peikoff Mahan, will next be seen starring in New Line’s horror thriller The Conjuring, which opens July 19.

VERA FARMIGA WAS IN THE FILM, 'THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS' THAT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

'Robert Downey, Jr.’s 'The Judge' Casts A-List Stars: Will it Be Downey, Jr.’s Road to Oscar Glory?'

YAHOO! MOVIES

By Greg Brian | Yahoo! Contributor Network

You don't see a movie often that courts several Oscar-winning actors to join the cast, unless you're a Scorsese, Spielberg, or Hooper. When you're Robert Downey, Jr., it's a compounded event considering he's never won an Oscar after two acting nominations. And you can be sure that with his financial security being mostly in the "Iron Man" and "Marvel's The Avengers" wheelhouses of late, he likely knows the risk is there of losing more award-worthy human dramas if the superhero franchises go on too long.

Downey, Jr. may have found his human drama in his upcoming film project "The Judge." There, he plays a lawyer who goes home after his mother dies, only to find his ailing judge father may be to blame for the death. It could have been a project nearly existing in a dream had Jack Nicholson almost joined the cast as Downey's father. But with Robert Duvall replacing Nicholson, plus a cast of Vincent D'Onofrio and Billy Bob Thornton in tow, it looks like a project from the last days of the studio system.

Even Duvall must see that casting as something not usually seen since the 1970s when the last of the truly great movies with large casts were done. Yes, we saw many big stars in the recently dreadful "Movie 43", despite almost all of them being snookered into doing the project. Even Martin Scorsese hasn't employed this diverse of an Oscar-winning cast when you consider he's been recently re-using the same bank of actors.

It's possible Downey, Jr. will help bring back this element to movies that compete for Oscars. His only competition may be George Clooney who has his World War II epic "The Monuments Men" out at the end of this year with a surprisingly large A-list cast. Over the next decade, it could be only Downey, Jr. and Clooney being the two biggest movie stars in the world who can assemble myriad Oscar winners in a cast without trepidation by a single actor.

With celebrity egos seemingly getting larger by the minute, that's a refreshing way for Downey, Jr. and Clooney to use their powers. Regardless, compiling such huge casts might seem overly obvious as pandering for awards. That's why it seems top actors mostly prefer acting in projects where they can be the focus, or in smaller, independent productions not requiring equal acting time.

There's nothing worse than several legendary actors from one movie having to endure analysis of how much time they put into the movie for an Oscar nomination. We've seen our share of those, with some winning awards for being in no more than 10 minutes of scenes. The same potential is there should Downey, Jr.'s "The Judge" become a multi-Oscar nominee in a couple of years.

The real question is whether the film will reignite Downey, Jr.'s Oscar chances as a producer and actor. Any answer seems in the affirmative when we know how expansive he can be as an actor when not being stuck in the pit of his sarcastic Tony Stark persona. Because we haven't seen him in an intense family drama before, seeing a raw and emotional Downey act next to today's finest actors seems a setup as an eventual exit from the superhero genre.

That is, unless he's somehow Oscar-nominated for "Iron Man 3" after a raw and emotional performance surviving at the nefarious hand of The Mandarin.

Billy Bob Thornton Could Sign On For The Judge With Vincent D'Onofrio

CINEMABLEND.COM  published: 2013-03-15 21:11:00 Author: Eric Eisenberg

Robert Downey Jr. spent a lot of time looking for an actor to play his father in the upcoming David Dobkin film The Judge. Late last year the Iron Manstar was trying hard to get Jack Nicholson to join, but when those plans fell through they signed Robert Duvall for the part. The casting news has been rolling in since, with it just being reported earlier today that Vincent D'onofrio has joined the production, and now we have yet another report to share.

Billy Bob Thornton, who just recently worked with Duvall on his directorial effort Jayne Mansfield's Car, is now in talks to play one of the central antagonists in the upcoming film, according to Variety. Based on an original script by Nick Schenk that was rewritten by Bill Dubuque, The Judge tells the story of a hot-shot lawyer (Downey Jr.) who returns to his hometown after being away for decades to attend his mother's funeral. When he arrives, however, he discovers that his estranged father, the local judge, is suspected of killing her. As the lawyer works to prove his dad's innocence, the two finally get to bond like they never got to when they were younger. Should he sign on, Thornton will be playing "the special prosecutor brought in to try Duvall’s character." 

Vincent D'Onofrio joins 'The Judge'

DEADLINE

Vincent D’Onofrio has signed on to play the brother of Robert Downey Jr’s character in The Judge, the Warner Bros dramedy that also stars Robert Duvall. Bill Dubuque was pegged to pen a new draft of the Nick Schenk script, about a big-city lawyer (Downey) who returns to his childhood home where his estranged father (Duvall), the town‘s judge, is suspected of murder. He sets out to discover the truth and along the way reconnects with the family he walked away from years before. David Dobkin is directing, and Downey and Susan Downey are producing with Dobkin. D’Onofrio just completed the off-Broadway show Clive opposite Ethan Hawke and Zoe Kazan. On the big screen, he just wrapped the action comedy Pawn Shop Chronicles and next appears in the indie Broken Horses with Anton Yelchin and Thomas Jane. D’Onofrio is repped by UTA and the Collective.

'The story centers on a successful lawyer (Robert Downey Jr.) who returns to his hometown and learns that his father (Robert Duvall), the town's judge, is accused of murdering his mother. The attorney sets out to find the truth, while reconnecting with his estranged dad, who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease.'