What’s Aged the Best?
Afraid-to-try lawyer; camera work; opening; judge; phone bill; Rampling; dialogue; Church villain; Warden
In the discussion (18)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:28Read transcript
- Cheap, unsuccessful lawyers afraid to enter court are praised as an effective dramatic type.
- The wide stationary camera angles are praised.
- The opening establishes a broken-down drunk while preserving sympathy.
- O’Shea’s judge is a memorably hateful villain.
- The extreme unfairness strains credibility for one viewer,while others accept the depiction.
- Refusing a nighttime extension is a powerful scene.
- Ebert's observation that Newman's newly tired appearance reveals his acting and foreshadows older roles is placed in aged best.
- Galvin finding a witness through a stolen phone bill is admired as clever and plausible despite being a stretch.
- Concannon's uniformly white legal team and excitement at the opposing expert being Black expose their prejudice.
- Rampling's performance improves on rewatch once her motives are known.
- Laura's alluring but damaged presence in Galvin's ordinary bar seems implausibly fortunate until her motives are revealed; Chris expresses particular admiration.
- Rampling surveying the apartment,keeping her eyes open during a kiss and acknowledging the ex-wife photograph rewards rewatching.
- Laura’s encouragement manipulates Galvin’s masculinity.
- Mamet's repeated accusations that people do not care whom they hurt and cigarette requests are admired.
- The Catholic Church as villain is considered prescient.
- Warden's age-weary dialogue is almost a parody of his persona but remains enjoyable.
- Lumet and Bartkowiak reportedly studied Caravaggio paintings for visual references and color.
- Galvin’s frustration at discovering the broken elevator after using eye drops is admired.