Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Name: Roman J. Israel, Esq.
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: November 17, 2017
Duration: 122 min
Rating: 58
Cast: Amanda Mason Warren, Amari Cheatom, Brittany Ishibashi, Carmen Ejogo, Colin Farrell

2017

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Mixed or average reviews based on 41 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 91 Ratings

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 91 Ratings

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Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Colin Farrell On His Character 'George Pierce' Having Lost His Way

Now Playing: Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Colin Farrell On His Character 'George Pierce' Having Lost His Way

Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: November 17, 2017 | PG-13

Starring: Amanda Mason Warren, Amari Cheatom, Brittany Ishibashi, Carmen Ejogo, Colin Farrell, Denzel Washington, DeRon Horton, Hugo Armstrong, James Paxton, Joseph David-Jones, Kelly Sullivan, Lynda Gravatt, Nazneen Contractor, Niles Fitch, Pej Vahdat, Sam Gilroy, Shelley Hennig, Tony Plana

Summary: Roman J. Israel, Esq. (Denzel Washington) is a driven, idealistic defense attorney whose life is upended when a turbulent series of events challenge the activism that has defined his career.

Director: Dan Gilroy

Genre(s): Drama, Crime

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 122 min

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Critic Reviews

William Bibbiani

Nov 9, 2017

Fiercely intelligent and deeply suspenseful, Roman J. Israel, Esq. is an absorbing morality tale from writer/director Dan Gilroy, and boasts one of Denzel Washington’s finest performances. Read full review

Chris Nashawaty

Nov 18, 2017

Roman J. Israel, Esq. doesn’t quite have the same frayed-wire electricity as "Nightcrawler," but what it does have on its side is Denzel Washington. Read full review

Alan Scherstuhl

Nov 14, 2017

The drama is mostly interior, and Washington’s quiet performance tends to reveal the jittery surface rather than the tortured soul. Neither it nor the script is incisive enough to make Israel’s abandonment of his principles fascinating. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Sep 16, 2017

It leaves us with a character you won’t soon forget, but you wish that the movie were as haunting as he is. Read full review

Empire Simon Braund

Jan 29, 2018

A worthy but wordy look at the inequities of the US legal system, saved by a handful of terrific scenes and a tour-de-force turn from Washington. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Nov 22, 2017

Roman is bad at doing good, so when he starts showing promise in the other moral direction, it hardly seems like a tragedy. It seems like a smart career move. Plus, he gets to wear decent suits and finally starts looking like Denzel Washington. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Odie Henderson

Nov 17, 2017

But don’t be fooled! This is not Oscar bait at all. Roman J. Israel, Esq. is the kind of horrendous hot mess an actor makes directly after he wins the Oscar. Read full review

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User Reviews

chrisrank88

Nov 26, 2017

A fantastic performance by Denzel Washington carries this novel and engaging legal story about a fringe player with good intentions but unfortunate timing and execution skills. Good supporting cast, direction, and twists keep the plot flowing smoothly.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

cine_a_day

Nov 25, 2017

An ethical thriller featuring a commanding performance by Denzel Washington. Great music and a tone that keeps you guessing. I've seen it twice and enjoyed the moral dilemmas, Denzel's quick witticisms, and vital critiques of the criminal justice system.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

alejandro970

Dec 18, 2020

Lawyer drama. Denzel Washington has enough magnetism to play a lawyer with dubious principles, until the moment that he must make a difficult life or death decision, of his own life. To see a weekend afternoon.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SlyL-BCSF

Dec 13, 2020

L'Affaire Roman J. est un long métrage malin, intelligent et plus intéressant et complexe qu'il n'y parait.

Dénouement prévisible, trop facile ? Peut-être, peut-être pas...

Sly L.
La Videotek

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Dec 7, 2017

Most actors love to challenge themselves with complex and compelling roles and it appears that Denzel Washington is no exception. He plays an attorney with a multitude of idiosyncrasies and a fiercely determined ideology. With various ticks and an idiosyncratic appearance he staunchlyMost actors love to challenge themselves with complex and compelling roles and it appears that Denzel Washington is no exception. He plays an attorney with a multitude of idiosyncrasies and a fiercely determined ideology. With various ticks and an idiosyncratic appearance he staunchly defends his principles until a large corporate attorney (Colin Farrell) introduces him to the business side of the profession. Writer/director Dan Gilroy has presented some interesting situations and allowed Washington to go all out, but there's something complex and confusing about his performance and the statements that the movie is making. Despite an uneven narrative, continuous character setbacks and sometimes abrupt motivations, Washington is worth watching.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

DawdlingPoet

Nov 27, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's not often you can say that Denzel Washington plays a socially awkward character but in this film, he does. At times I shared his frustration at other peoples somewhat aggressive or seemingly unfair, snappy type responses to him and at others, I felt frustrated at the somewhat quirky way he dealt with things. There's some decent dialogue present and I could, on a personal level, relate to his inclination to fidget and his discomfort at being challenged by people on a different level. I respected his motivation in terms of being involved in civil rights.

He becomes somewhat of an understated/subtle do-gooder when he (believes he) spots a potentially criminal situation unfolding. It'd be fair to say that this isn't a fast-paced film, neither is it entirely a crime drama. It's more of a slow character drama. There were some scenes in which I appreciated the cinematography used made it have a bit more impact than would otherwise be the case. I think, all in all, it felt a bit of a muddled film in terms of the (or lack thereof) obvious plot development. It's not an especially engaging film or very enticing/entertaining but its alright. Given its a character-driven drama about a person who prefers to stay away from the limelight, then I guess that's sort of a given. I did think Denzel gave a pretty convincing performance as the titular character, seeming believably socially uncomfortable (something I have issues with myself), although I couldn't help but wish there was a little more substance or better context to the plot overall. If you're intrigued to see this in terms of discovering Roman on a personal level, as a character, then I would recommend this, not least because it's Denzel Washington playing a character type I'm not sure I'd otherwise have imagined him doing, given he tends to play assertive action/thriller character roles - I liked the character's precision and philosophical thoughtfulness but otherwise, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as such, no. Make of that what you will.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Nov 2, 2018

grows out to be a dragger..

Roman J. Israel, Esq. Gilroy's crime drama is a susceptible victim of its own case. Bound in its own mechanical formula, the feature finds itself piled up on, on fulfilling the necessities more than its luxury. And hence that results into lesser free range forgrows out to be a dragger..

Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Gilroy's crime drama is a susceptible victim of its own case. Bound in its own mechanical formula, the feature finds itself piled up on, on fulfilling the necessities more than its luxury. And hence that results into lesser free range for it to completely open up its hands and welcome the concept or material; it seems like it is taken for granted in here. The narrative is adaptive and layered if not gripping and competent as the makers might suggest. Another major conundrum, is the reminiscence nature script that is on loop, which was intended to create a dramatic impact and instead grows out to be a dragger.

Washington is in his A game. He is vulnerable but not weak, he celebrates and mourns, and he teaches and preaches and in the end most importantly, he learns. Ferrell is supporting him decently but there isn't much material for him to factor in effectively, it is all Washington. The conversations are pragmatic and the dialogues are jaw-dropping-good and with a deliver like Washington, the emotions convey the message crystal clear. Somehow, the tale doesn't feel completely honest, it keeps striking you as a testimony that is polished and filtered and not an honest one; it seems more justified and it makes more sense.

The peak point of the feature itself is mediocre which is something the viewers assumes that it will come in handy considering the plot track, and yet there is very little aspect of cinematic thrills in here. After Nightcrawler, it definitely is a huge step down for Gilroy, the writer-director, whose vision is clearly misplaced and blurred. Roman J. Israel, Esq. is more of a tribute that works only for the makers passion of delivering a cut-throat crime drama, the only issue is, that there is no slicing, no drama and only a bit of a crime involved in it.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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