JUST MERCY – “Does justice to the legal drama genre”

JustMercy

RATING

DIRECTOR

Destin Daniel Cretton (The Glass Castle – 2017)

STARRING

  • Michael B. Jordan as Bryan Stevenson
  • Jamie Foxx as Walter McMillian
  • Brie Larson as Eva Ansley
  • Rob Morgan as Herbert Richardson
  • Tim Blake Nelson as Ralph Myers
  • Rafe Spall as Tommy Champan
  • O'Shea Jackson Jr. as Anthony Ray Hinton

SYNOPSIS

Is based on the memoir of the same name, written by Stevenson.

After graduating from Harvard, Bryan Stevenson heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or those not afforded proper representation. One of his first cases is that of Walter McMillian, who is sentenced to die for the murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite evidence proving his innocence. In the years that follow, Stevenson encounters racism and legal and political maneuverings as he tirelessly fights for McMillian's life.

REVIEW SUMMARY

Destin Daniel Cretton’s latest true-to-life adaptation does justice to the legal drama genre. Yep, Just Mercy is a powerful movie that hits the empathy button hard, while managing to top it with hope and inspiration. This is certainly powerful stuff, made all the more engaging by its talented cast. Michael B. Jordan more than nails it as the do-right lawyer who has to overcome the odds, while Jamie Foxx once again flexes his versatile acting muscle, this time as a desperate man on the brink of self-defeat. To be sure, these performances elevate the often-plodding script to captivating heights. But for all its narrative urgency and moving drama, it’s also fairly predictable; delivering more of the same from films we’ve all seen before. That is to say, this doesn’t break the mould by any means. What Just Mercy does succeed at however, is delivering an experience that will leave you better off for watching it.

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