Based on a true story, Just Mercy tells the story of a young lawyer, Bryan Stevenson, (played by Michael B. Jordan) who has just graduated from Harvard Law School. But, instead of taking a lucrative job at a prestigious law firm, Stevenson decides to go to Alabama and work for a non-profit organization trying to defend men convicted of murder and waiting for execution on Death Row.
As you can imagine, the racism and corruption of the Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office is horrific. Stevenson believes he can make a case that can free Walter “Johnny D.” McMillian (played by Jamie Foxx), a man convicted of murdering a white girl. The case moves back and forth in time. We see part of the action that shows Johnny D. could not have committed the crime. But, the White Establishment believe they have convicted the Right Man so Stevenson has to try some audacious tactics to change the legal game.
Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson, Rafe Spall, and Brie Larson make up the talented cast. If you’re looking for an inspirational movie, Just Mercy certainly qualifies. GRADE: B+
Saw it at the movie theater last fall and although it was terribly depressing, it was wonderfully done and eye-opening. Can’t imagine living in a state like Alabama or the rest of the South.
Patti, I was most struck by the depictions of cruelty. How can people be so mean…
No. Life is depressing enough reading and watching the news. I’ll pass.
Jordan is always good, has been since he was in the first season of THE WIRE at age 14.
Jeff, Michael B. Jordan performed will in BLACK PANTHER, too.
Not only am I not interested in seeing this depressing film, I’m not interested in anything depressing. We started watching the RNC last night, but by the time Donald Trump was a minute into his rant, I got physically ill and left the room. After throwing up, scrubbing the toilet and taking a long shower, I felt better, and spent the rest of the evening reading a mystery set in Australia.
NO MORE POLITICS FOR ME! NONE! I have declared a total moratorium on all political news, which means pretty much no news. Barbara, who loves to watch the news, will tell me if something environmental or otherwise important to us occurs. I’ll leave the TV off, and check only email on the iPad. Hopefully I can get the other computers up and do a Tip the Wink post now and then.
NO MORE POLITICS! NO MORE TRUMP OR HIS PARTY OF LIES!
By the way, we have some pretty flowers in the garden.
That should have been Donald Trump Jr. …
Rick, New York State may yank Donald Trump, Jr. into court on a variety of legal issues.
Rick, a lot of our friends have adopted your “Ostrich” approach to political news. Diane and I are pretty much ignoring the Republican National Convention–“Who needs a platform?”–and spending that time catching up on shows we have on our DVR.
That’s a darn good idea, George! Barbara likes it too. Guess we’ll be watching something tonight, maybe an episode of INSPECTOR MORSE.
Rick. a favorite story: around 1969, Jackie got a part time job (while in college) working for the Head of Public Health at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. She worked for his secretary, who hated Nixon so much that every day her husband had to go through the New York Times and cut out every story where Nixon was mentioned. Since he was President then, that didn’t leave much of the newspaper.
For the sake of my blood pressure, I also skipped watching the live convention coverage last night. The news clips of the rabid attack dogs like Gaetz and Jordan (and maybe worse, the specious homilies of Haley and Scott) suggest that I acted wisely. For as much as some of the ivy league Republicans try to disassociate themselves from the Party of Trump, the fact is that Trump was the logical culmination of 50 years of Nixon and Agnew, Reagan’s dog-whistle stories about welfare queens, Lee Atwater, Gingrich, Rove, Palin, and the Tea Party. God save the Republic.
Fred, you’re completely right. Another book that agrees with you is: https://www.amazon.com/Should-Have-Seen-Coming-Trump/dp/0593135156/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=