Just Mercy Story: Based on the true story of activist lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) who defends the wrongly condemned, while challenging prejudice against the poor.
Just Mercy Review: Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), an attorney in Alabama, specialises in defending falsely accused inmates. Under the non-profit Equal Justice Initiative, Stevenson identifies convicts on death row who have not received proper representation during their trials either due to their race, or social status. Along with his Operations Director Eva Ansley (Brie Larson), Bryan takes up such cases when he comes across an inmate Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), facing execution for a murder he did not commit. Bryan quickly realises he must save Walter from the electric chair.
Although the screenplay depicts Bryan Stevenson as a one-dimensional crusader of justice and equality, Michael B. Jordan continues to be a reliable actor, quickly getting the audience on-board with Stevenson’s cause. Similarly, it’s impossible not to feel sympathy for Walter McMillian with Jamie Foxx’s powerful portrayal. While helpless behind bars, Walter was confident in his innocence, and Foxx captures this struggle with conviction. Rob Morgan puts in a heartbreaking turn as Herbert Richardson, in a subplot as a war veteran who has PTSD. A special mention goes out to Rafe Spall as prosecutor Tommy Chapman, whose conflicted stance is portrayed with a lot of subtlety. Brie Larson feels underutilised as Eva Ansley.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton approaches the film like a documentary and decidedly refrains from delving into emotional histrionics. For a movie about a man on death row, a sense of storytelling urgency lacks in the first half of the film. The leisurely pacing weighs heavy at over 2 hours of its runtime. However, there’s a distinct turn of events after a crucial revelation, and the film finds its footing, moving to the climax with more purpose. Nevertheless, some scenes are startling and do more than enough to remind audiences of the harsh reality of life behind bars, besides racial discrimination, while raising essential questions on capital punishment. Most importantly, the film shows us how the legal system can be manipulated by the rich and privileged across the globe. Although ‘Just Mercy’ takes its time to get there, the conclusion is unquestionably impactful.
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