Movie #1857 ........................."Just Mercy"

Movie #1857 "Just Mercy" -- Bryan Stevenson, whom this movie is based on, is deserving of this film  --- and we are truly blessed to have a man like this in our midst --- such a selfless human being, intelligent, graduate of Harvard Law School, who gives all the opportunities he has to make lots of bucks, and moves himself down to Alabama to help  wrongly accused prisoners on  Death Row.  We have seen films set up this way quite a bit, esp. prison films (Shawshank, Green Mile, Dead Man Walking are a few that come to  mind) but none of them show such a self sacrificing  black hero as this who risks his life to seek the truth.  It is so inspiring to see someone care so much about truth and justice and mercy, esp. in this day and age when you start to think these are just  things of the past.  The script has some clunky moments (even though it has an oscar nod in the  adapted screenplay category  (which I think Gerwig has a lock on at this point in time), but then there are some strong moments (when the music isn't pushing to drive all the emotion into a scene) that really work.  Michael B. Jordan is pretty steady here and doesn't really have a breakout moment to shine (which is why he probably isn't nominated) but i was surprised Jamie Fox didn't get a nod for supporting actor because I think he does more here than most of the actors nominated in that category this year. Brie does a nice supporting role, but once against doesn't have  that big  moment --- she is just a steady right hand gal for Bryan, but she is definitely playing a different character than other films I have seen her in.  The stats at the end of the film and the real footage of the real hero are enlightening ,  and I'm glad I got to see this film.  It was very insightful into one of the many problems with our prison system.  I'd give it 4 out of 5 and worth a watch.



"JUST MERCY"     2019       2 hours and 17 mins.     PG-13

World-renowned civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson works to free a wrongly condemned death row prisoner.

Director:

 Destin Daniel Cretton

Writers:

 Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham  | 1 more credit »

Stars:

 Brie Larson, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx