Arizona Marvelous Ideas: 'The Judge' Selected For TIFF 2014 Opening Film

The Toronto International Film Festival’s opening movie may not be “Iron Man 4”, but it will feature the same leading man come early September.

David Dobkin’s “The Judge” will open TIFF 2014, according to a release sent out by festival organizers on Friday. “The Judge” stars Robert Downey Jr. as Hank Palmer, a hot-shot lawyer forced to return to his childhood home after his father is accused of murder.

Robert Duvall plays Palmer’s father, a judge who must put his resentment against his son aside if he ever wants to clear his name. Vera Farmiga, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, Dax Shepard and Billy Bob Thornton also star.

“The stars aligned and we are thrilled to announce that we will kick off the Festival with The Judge,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO, TIFF. “David Dobkin has delivered a moving, textured story about family, duty and the way we remember our past. We couldn’t have asked for a better start to this year’s event.”

“The Judge” marks 15 years since Dobkin’s first film.

“I brought my first film, “Clay Pigeons”, to Toronto, so 15 years later to actually be on opening night with The Judge is incredibly special and thrilling,” said Dobkin. “The Festival audiences are terrific, and I know I speak for everyone involved in the film when I say we are so pleased to be unveiling it there.”

TIFF is set to kick off on Sept. 4 and runs till Sept. 11.