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Just Mercy

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 50 reviews
7.1
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 121 ratings

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Director: Destin Cretton
Writer: Andrew Lanham Bryan Stevenson Destin Cretton
Production: Warner Bros. Pictures
Movie Details: Just Mercy follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) and his history-making battle
Just Mercy follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Brie Larson). One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for theJust Mercy follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Brie Larson). One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence and the fact that the only testimony against him came from a criminal with a motive to lie. In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings and overt and unabashed racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him.… Expand
Genre(s): Biography Drama Crime
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Production: Warner Bros. Pictures
Runtime: 137 min
Home Release Date: Apr 14, 2020
Official Site: https://www.justmercyfilm.com/
Country: US
Language: English
Director: Destin Cretton
Writer: Andrew Lanham Bryan Stevenson Destin Cretton
Starring:
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Critic Reviews
(50)
68
Metascore Generally favorable reviews
37 Positive Ratings 74%
13 Mixed Ratings 26%
0 Negative Ratings 0%
Based on 50 Critic Reviews View All
88
Washington Post
Ann Hornaday | Jan 6, 2020
"In the judicious hands of director and co-writer Destin Daniel Cretton, it feels not new exactly, but fresh and urgent and more timely than ever." ... Read full review
80
The New Yorker
Richard Brody | Jan 7, 2020
"While displaying the erratic workings of the law and the crucial importance of journalism, the movie’s legal focus narrows its imaginative scope; the drama, though infuriating and moving, sticks to its characters’ surfaces." ... Read full review
75
Observer
Oliver Jones | Jan 8, 2020
"The beating heart of the film, this performance is further evidence of what a gift Foxx’s late career shift to supporting parts has been for filmgoers." ... Read full review
70
TheWrap
Steve Pond | Sep 8, 2019
"Cretton has made and will make subtler movies, but probably none that will prompt as many mid-screening rounds of applause." ... Read full review
70
Los Angeles Times
Kenneth Turan | Dec 23, 2019
"The film portrays the ferocious resistance of some people to the possibility that this man had nothing to do with the crime. And that’s when Just Mercy is at its best." ... Read full review
60
Slashfilm
Abby Olcese | Mar 26, 2020
"Just Mercy ends up being a fairly bland crowd pleaser that doesn’t pick up the momentum it should until the final act." ... Read full review
50
Slant Magazine
Jake Cole | Sep 7, 2019
"In a time when awareness and acknowledgement of racial bias and extrajudicial measures by law enforcement in America is at its most widespread, such scenes feel condescendingly pitched to an unconverted audience of the imagination. " ... Read full review
Critic Reviews
User Reviews
(38)
7.1
User Score Generally favorable reviews
88 Positive Ratings 72%
20 Mixed Ratings 16%
13 Negative Ratings 10%
Based on 121 Ratings and 38 Reviews View All
10
Ajmovies
Jan 15, 2020
A super good movie and probably the best of 2020 so far. Or if you want to count this as a 2019 film your choice just a good film.
Rating- 93%
10
DCA123
Dec 30, 2019
Extremely moving film about a great man and an important issue. Could not be more timely or inspiring.
10
Cin1983
Mar 27, 2020
It is a good movie, there are a lot of innocent people in jail, most of them are black. Of course we have seen a lot of these kind of movies.It is a good movie, there are a lot of innocent people in jail, most of them are black. Of course we have seen a lot of these kind of movies. I hope that this movie makes people aware… Expand
8
MarkHReviews
Feb 10, 2020
Writer/Director Destin Daniel Cretton seems to specialize in crafting films that are stripped-down, direct and straightforward. While hisWriter/Director Destin Daniel Cretton seems to specialize in crafting films that are stripped-down, direct and straightforward. While his movies consistently are profoundly moving, it’s not because of action scenes, because of cute camera angles or jarring editing (I’m looking at you, Safdie brothers) or due to soaring exposition. It’s because they offer unvarnished truth. “Just Mercy” continues that trend.

Cretton’s first major work was “Short Term 12,” a live-action short later developed into a feature film that chronicled Cretton’s experience working in a California care unit for at-risk teens. In 2017, he co-wrote and directed “The Glass Castle,” a story of family dysfunction based on the first-person memoir of a surviving child. “Just Mercy” is a true story based on the memoir of Bryan Stevenson (portrayed here by Michael B. Jordan), a Harvard-educated lawyer who moves to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1989 to work on appeals for death row inmates.

In 1988, as the film begins, Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx) is arrested on trumped-up charges for the death of a white woman in a dry cleaning store in Monroeville, Alabama. The only “fact” tying McMillian to the crime is the testimony of a white convicted felon, who eventually recants his coerced testimony. Despite a disintegrating case and a complete lack of evidence, the trial judge declines to grant a new trial. The scales of blind justice start to look particularly wobbly.

The acting here is consistently first-rate. Jordan, who first came to prominence in “Fruitvale Station” and the Creed series of Rocky reboots, is outstanding. Jamie Foxx is equally effective as McMillian, not necessarily a good man, but an innocent one. Brie Larson is Eva Ansley, who helps Stevenson set up his law practice, despite the overwhelming indifference and occasional threats from a white majority who like things just the way they are.

Ultimately, this is a story about restraint in the face of blatant injustice. The scene depicting a prisoner execution in the middle of the film is an emotional high point, but it’s also a master class in reserve and restraint, not shocking sensationalism. With real understatement, the audience is informed at the end of the film that “for every nine people who have been executed in the US, one person on death row has been exonerated and released, a shocking rate of error.” By the end of “Just Mercy,” you’ll be feeling a slow burn of righteous indignation because you’ve been informed, not emotionally manipulated.

Another virtue of “Just Mercy” is its own honesty. It has the self-confidence to recognize that the truth of its story is self-sufficient. The drama is kept real, but pared-down. The exposition is minimal and understated, though occasionally elegant.

After seeing this film, audience members should agree on three things: Michael B. Jordan is not just a boxer. Jamie Foxx is not just a former comedian. And “Just Mercy” is not just a run-of the-mill story about injustice.… Expand
8
Compi24
Jan 27, 2020
Similar to this past year's "Dark Waters," "Just Mercy" may not be blowing anybody's hair back in terms of technicality, but the thematic soulSimilar to this past year's "Dark Waters," "Just Mercy" may not be blowing anybody's hair back in terms of technicality, but the thematic soul of this movie is as disarmingly pure as they come. Destin Daniel Cretton is no stranger to schmaltz. Though, what he seems to present behind all the treacly goodness is a real sense of stake, couched with a genuinely troubling issue in the American sociopolitical landscape. "Mercy" is no exception, laying out a richly nuanced and utterly infuriating case of undeniable injustice, elevated with terrific supporting turns and a third act that'll be sure to make you feel at least something. Whether it's Oscar-bait or not, it's hard to deny the importance of what's being communicated here. We're only as strong as our weakest link, and if our penal system is any indication of how weak things truly are, then we all have a lot of work to do.… Expand
7
bradens584
Dec 20, 2020
Just Mercy is a great story. The true story the film is based on is absolutely amazing, but the execution leaves something to be desired.Just Mercy is a great story. The true story the film is based on is absolutely amazing, but the execution leaves something to be desired. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a good film, Jamie Foxx is great, the writing is well done, but it lacks the punch a story like his should have. If you’re interested in the tale of a lawyer representing Death Row inmates in Alabama, then this film can serve as a conduit to convey the information, but it may fall a little short on the emotional level. However, this film is saved by the amazing complexity of the characters, no one is clear cut bad, and with the exception of the weakest characters (Michael B. Jordan and Brie Larson), no one is clear cut good. However, as with the emotional moments, it doesn’t feel like it takes it far enough.… Expand
3
HeroicAge616
Nov 1, 2021
Just Mercy has an important tale to tell, but muddies its message through emotional manipulation and an unsubstantiated hatred of capitalJust Mercy has an important tale to tell, but muddies its message through emotional manipulation and an unsubstantiated hatred of capital punishment for actually guilty criminals.… Expand
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