Just Mercy movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Just Mercy
RATING: PG-13
LENGTH: 2 hours, 16 minutes
Movie Review Mom GRADE: B+

IN A NUTSHELL:

The power of an effective film is that it makes you think and feel. This movie certainly does that. At the end of the movie, some text on the screen tells audiences that for every 9 people who have been executed in the United States, one person on death row has been proven innocent and released, a shocking rate of error. This movie tells the true story of one such case.

This movie directed by Destin Daniel Cretton is based on the book Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson, the real-life attorney Michael B. Jordan plays. Michael B. Jordan does an outstanding job and is as effective in the boxing ring in Creed as he is delivering sentimental speeches to a jury in this movie. Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx is exceptional, as expected. You don’t see an actor playing a role; instead, you see a flawed man who got trapped inside the court system. Foxx is both believable and subtle in his performance. These two acting powerhouses drive this emotionally-charged film to Oscar buzz.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Some profanity, although Brie Larson’s character apologizes to her son for swearing in front of him.
Michael B. Jordan’s character is forced to do a strip search before he can see any of his clients in the prison. You see his naked chest from the waist up.
Talk of infidelity, murder, and death.
A man dies in the electric chair, although you only see the facial reactions of the people watching the actual moment.
Racist behavior
Talk of death row in prison and the death penalty

THEMES:

“There’s always something we can do.” – Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan)
“Whatever you did, your life is still meaningful.” – Bryan Stevenson
“It’s never too late for justice.” – Bryan Stevenson
Racism
Justice, mercy, grace
Law
Truth
Fear, anger

THINGS I LIKED:

The final scenes in the court room and prison brought me to tears. So good.
You get to see pictures of the real people involved in the true story at the end of the movie.
Interesting fact: Ironically, the movie’s location is set where the book To Kill a Mockingbird takes place.
The cast did a fantastic job evoking just the right emotions to give you the feels. For example, Rafe Spall did a great job making you feel so angry. Tim Blake Nelson was great at making you feel incredibly frustrated. Rob Morgan made you feel sympathy. Brie Larson made you feel hopeful. Outstanding.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

I hate it when all the white people in movies like this are represented as racist idiots. Thank goodness for Eva Ansley (Brie Larson’s character.)
It’s a bit of a slow burn, but worth the wait.
It’s full of all the cliched racist elements you would expect to see in a movie like this.

FUNNY LINES:

“Maybe people will stop trying to kill us once they realize how charming we are.” – Eva Ansley (Brie Larson)

INTERESTING LINES:

“You can’t change the world with only ideas in our minds. We need conviction in your hearts.” – Bryan Stevenson
“Hopelessness is the enemy of justice.” – Bryan Stevenson
“Hope allows us to push forward even when the truth is distorted by the people in power. It allows us to stand up when they tell us to sit down and to speak when they say to be quiet.” – Bryan Stevenson
“Well need justice. We all need mercy. And perhaps we all need some measure of unmerited grace.” – Bryan Stevenson

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