Exclusive Portrait: ‘The Judge’ Star Robert Downey Jr. at 50th Chicago International Film Festival

CHICAGO – The 2014 and 50th Chicago International Film Festival kicks off this week on October 9th, and had a Chicago Red Carpet preview on October 5th with the new film “The Judge,” starring Robert Downey Jr. and directed by David Dobkin.

“The Judge” is a searing family drama, with Downey Jr. as a slick Chicago lawyer who cannot reconcile with his small town Indiana roots and estranged father (Robert Duvall), who presides as a courtroom judge in the town. When the judge himself is accused of a crime, it’s up to his son to attempt a plea. The Red Carpet preview of the film on October 5th celebrates the upcoming 2014 edition of the 50th Chicago International Film Festival, which will open on Thursday, October 9th, with the Liv Ullmann directed film, “Miss Julie.”

Robert Downey Jr. of ‘The Judge’ in Chicago on October 5th, 2014
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most popular and controversial film stars in movie history. After early successes in “Less Than Zero” (1987) and “Chaplin” (1992), he made as many headlines for his substance and legal struggles as his film work. But he rebounded in a huge way by taking on the title role in “Iron Man” (2008) and the sequels, and recently had a role in the highly regarded film “Chef” (2014). The director of “The Judge” – David Dobkin – is also known for “Shanghai Knights” (2003), “Wedding Crashers” (2005) and “The Change Up” (2011).

Photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com took these Exclusive Portraits of Robert Downey Jr. and David Dobkin at the Red Carpet event before the preview screening at AMC River East theater in Chicago.

Director David Dobkin of ‘The Judge’ in Chicago on October 5th, 2014
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

[17]	By PATRICK McDONALD [18] Senior Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com [17]