The writer-director of the legal drama “Custody,” James Lapine, is best known for his work in the theater, particularly for his direction of Stephen Sondheim musicals like “Sunday in the Park with George” and “Into the Woods.” He has worked sparingly for the movies, though he did direct the charming 1991 film “Impromptu,” where Judy Davis gave a memorably stylized performance as free-spirited novelist George Sand.
Lapine works well with actors, and he has placed at the center of “Custody” one of the finest we have, Viola Davis, who plays Martha Schulman, a judge navigating a difficult court case and a personal life that is falling apart.