Marshall

Name: Marshall
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: October 13, 2017
Duration: 118 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Ahna O'Reilly, Barrett Doss, Chadwick Boseman, Dan Stevens, Derrick Baskin

2017

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Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 59 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 59 Ratings

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Marshall: He Had A Knife

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Movie Details & Credits

Open Road Films (II) | Release Date: October 13, 2017 | PG-13

Starring: Ahna O'Reilly, Barrett Doss, Chadwick Boseman, Dan Stevens, Derrick Baskin, James Cromwell, Jeffrey DeMunn, Josh Gad, Jussie Smollett, Kate Hudson, Keesha Sharp, Roger Guenveur Smith, Sophia Bush, Sterling K. Brown

Summary: Long before he sat on the United States Supreme Court or claimed victory in Brown v. Board of Education, Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) was a young rabble-rousing attorney for the NAACP. The new motion picture, Marshall, is the true story of his greatest challenge in those early days – a fight he fought alongside attorney Sam FriedmanLong before he sat on the United States Supreme Court or claimed victory in Brown v. Board of Education, Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) was a young rabble-rousing attorney for the NAACP. The new motion picture, Marshall, is the true story of his greatest challenge in those early days – a fight he fought alongside attorney Sam Friedman (Josh Gad), a young lawyer with no experience in criminal law: the case of black chauffeur Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown), accused by his white employer, Eleanor Strubing (Kate Hudson), of sexual assault and attempted murder. … Expand

Director: Reginald Hudlin

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 118 min

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Critic Reviews

Calvin Wilson

Oct 12, 2017

One of the freshest and most entertaining films of the year. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Oct 4, 2017

By approaching Marshall as an idealistic young trial lawyer, the film stands on its own as a compelling courtroom drama, complete with surprising revelations — and while we hope things will go his way, this case could just as easily prove the one that motivated his future crusade. Read full review

Gary Thompson

Oct 12, 2017

Marshall overcomes some early stiffness and flat-footed storytelling and evolves into an engaging courtroom drama, where witness-stand theatrics and Perry Mason flourishes give the movie needed narrative momentum. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Oct 12, 2017

Boseman and Gad are both good. Marshall drinks and smokes and fights in a bar; certainly that's a side of him we haven't seen before. If anything, he's portrayed as a little too good at his job, a risk-taker whose every courtroom hunch pays off. It's an interesting approach to the story, but it also holds the film back a bit. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Oct 11, 2017

The screenplay by father-son team Jacob and Michael Koskoff, the latter of whom is also an actual trial lawyer in Connecticut, is tight and lean; even the courtroom scenes are punctuated by honestly unexpected revelations. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

Oct 13, 2017

Marshall isn’t as flashy as it ought to be. Read full review

Alissa Wilkinson

Oct 11, 2017

Casting the movie as Marshall’s story — and then skimping on Marshall himself, one of the most interesting figures in US history — winds up skewing the film in ways that end up inadvertently denigrating the subject. Read full review

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User Reviews

PoppaShane

Oct 29, 2017

Admittedly, I love Chadwick Boseman. This also means when I see him in a movie, I have high expectations. "Marshall" does not disappoint. Boseman, Josh Gad, and Sterling K. Brown all give brilliant performances. The cast is well rounded by the likes of Keesha Sharp, Kate Hudson, & JamesAdmittedly, I love Chadwick Boseman. This also means when I see him in a movie, I have high expectations. "Marshall" does not disappoint. Boseman, Josh Gad, and Sterling K. Brown all give brilliant performances. The cast is well rounded by the likes of Keesha Sharp, Kate Hudson, & James Cromwell. The movie has a nice film noir feel to it for which Reginald Hudlin deserves high praise. If you like courtroom dramas in the vein of "To Kill A Mockingbird" & "A Soldier's Story" You will love "Marshall.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

DOUGK

Oct 31, 2017

This film deserves better reviews, it is quite good. Thurgood Marshall was one of the best if not the best lawyer of the 20th Century. He must have been unbelievably brave to do what he did. This case gives some idea of how smart he was. There is a documentary called Mr. Civil Rights whichThis film deserves better reviews, it is quite good. Thurgood Marshall was one of the best if not the best lawyer of the 20th Century. He must have been unbelievably brave to do what he did. This case gives some idea of how smart he was. There is a documentary called Mr. Civil Rights which is great and worth seeing.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

rosanneramaj

Nov 7, 2017

A riveting, touching tale that demonstrates the history of racism and how terminating it changed the laws and hearts of Americans dating back to the early 1950's. Instead of falling into a ditch based on the good deeds by Marshall, he embraces his good to prevent wrongdoings in the northeastA riveting, touching tale that demonstrates the history of racism and how terminating it changed the laws and hearts of Americans dating back to the early 1950's. Instead of falling into a ditch based on the good deeds by Marshall, he embraces his good to prevent wrongdoings in the northeast in order to contend with racist and anti Semitic views who believe Joseph Spell to be guilty.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Ralfbergs

Apr 19, 2020

This was really great movie with great actors and plot, which was actually based on real events. Really good movie

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Oct 15, 2017

Far too often, biographical films can be too ambitious. Often trying to capture every crucial moment of an individual's life and then sew them all together in a condensed package, biopics can be bloated messes that never seem to hit a consistent flow. Instead, they jump from moment-to-momentFar too often, biographical films can be too ambitious. Often trying to capture every crucial moment of an individual's life and then sew them all together in a condensed package, biopics can be bloated messes that never seem to hit a consistent flow. Instead, they jump from moment-to-moment trying to paint a picture of the protagonist along the way. 2014's Get on Up - which also starred Chadwick Boseman in the leadinr role - is the perfect embodiment of this flawed approach. Reginald Hublin's Marshall is the exact opposite. Blending biopic ambitions with the formula of a courtroom drama, Hublin manages to make a film that may not tell the story of Marshall, but does something all the more important: it lets the audience get a feeling for who the man was in life and in the courtroom. As an attorney for the NAACP and eventually a Supreme Court justice, Marshall's life was defined by his words and passions in a courtroom. Thus, it is only appropriate to use this one case of a man accused of a heinous crime due to his race as a microcosm of the lifelong fight for equality embarked upon by Marshall and many others.

It is a film that may not reinvent the wheel in its narrative structure, but it nonetheless embodies the possibility of both the biopic and the courtroom drama genres. For that, the appeal is easy to understand. After a black chauffeur named Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown) is accused of rape by his white employer Eleanor Strubling (Kate Hudson), young trial attorney Thurgood Marshall is sent by the NAACP to represent Spell, provided he is an innocent man only accused because of his race. Unable to try the case himself due to not being licensed to practice law in the state of Connecticut, Marshall must rely upon local civil lawyer Sam Friedman (Josh Gad) to try the case. Limited to only sitting at the defense table in the courtroom, Marshall instructs Friedman on what he must do, what he must say, and what questions he must ask. Directing the trial like a silent but firm teacher, Marshall is in full control and is not a man who can be muzzled by those who wish for him to stop talking.

A thrilling and thoroughly engrossing courtroom drama, Marshall is a film that continuously keeps the audience captivated and fully engaged in the proceedings. As we are left hanging on every word, Marshall shows the murkiness of the case. Joseph Spell is a man with a lot of baggage - such as a dishonorable discharge and adultery - that makes him an easy man to convict. Comparatively, Eleanor is a rich socialite. In 1940s America, it is easy to assume what the result of the case is going to be, even if Marshall lends his legal mind to the case. What makes the film often so captivating, however, is the demonstration of the uncertainty as to whether or not Joseph committed the crime. He is passionate in arguing his innocence. Eleanor's story does not gel with what a reasonable person would be expected to do under similar circumstances. Yet, Joseph's story continuously changes. Is he a man who can be trusted? Thurgood Marshall hardly trusts him, incessantly asking Joseph to reaffirm his innocence to avoid an embarrassment for the NAACP.

It is in this that the film barrels towards its conclusion in a shroud of mystery. We believe Joseph and the film expects us to believe him, but the film does not share the same regard for the justice system. Matching the mystery and confusion regarding Joseph with a great tension regarding whether or not the system will oppress Joseph or not, Marshall plays up this element to great impact. A great example of this comes as prosecutor Lorin Willis - portrayed by the excellent Dan Stevens who turns in a great villainous, racist, and deeply smarmy turn as this reprehensible character - moves for an answer given by Joseph under cross-examination to be stricken from the record. The question, pertaining to why Joseph would lie about having sex with Eleanor and only now claim it to be consensual, is answered passionately by Joseph as he details how, in this case, it is truth that would get him killed in the South because he is black and the woman is white. Incensed by the answer and recognizing the damage it can have on his case, Willis looks at the judge (James Cromwell) for help. With a dramatic pause - which was met with cries for the judge to "do the right thing" in my theater - Hublin builds great anticipation for what the judge will say that speaks to the strength of the film. Yes, it is a courtroom drama. However, it is never predictable. Instead, the court proceedings and even the case itself are shrouded in doubt. This uncertainty and the way in which Hublin utilizes it to create tension and anticipation of every word to come, is what makes Marshall such a courtroom drama. It is a film about racial tension, injustice, and the man who fought for equality. Yet, it does not just allow its courtroom setting to be a backdrop with the result of the case a foregone conclusion.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

EpicLadySponge

Oct 13, 2017

Marshall delivers on what it tries to deliver. Isn't it literally sad I just said that in front of a review on a drama film? I know, but Marshall is way more than what it seems to appear in front of the screen. Give it a chance to become what it wants to become.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

aurora1

Aug 24, 2018

What's the point in making a biographical movie if the reported facts are not accurate? "Marshall" could have been a magnificent opportunity to tell the story of a great man; instead, it chose to belittle the figure of another great man: Sam Friedman. At least, if we want to believe to hisWhat's the point in making a biographical movie if the reported facts are not accurate? "Marshall" could have been a magnificent opportunity to tell the story of a great man; instead, it chose to belittle the figure of another great man: Sam Friedman. At least, if we want to believe to his nephew, Roger, who criticed the movie for portraying his uncle as an insecure novice, while he was practising law for 14 years when he accepted that case; Roger also affirmed that the real architect behind Joseph Spell's defence was his uncle, while Marshall was just taking notes. I have no reason to doubt the words of a critic who worked in this field for 25 years, let aside the fact that he's a family member of Sam Friedman. So, I hope that Hollywood will make in future another movie about the life of Thurgood Marshall, which has more interesting chapters than the one depicted in this film; possibly, portraying Sam Friedman in a better way.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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