Just Mercy: First-rate Cast

Just Mercy is another story about real people.

Just Mercy was released on April 14. Viewers can try Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital. The Digital format appeared early on March 17.

MERCY

Just Mercy is ‘Certified Fresh’ on Rotten Tomatoes with 83%. It made about $50 million worldwide.

(It was even one of President Barack Obama’s favourite movies of 2019.)

The film is the true story of a young lawyer named Bryan Stevenson. The book, “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” published in 2014 by Spiegel and Grau, the book has spent more than 196 weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers List - AND is still on the list.

The Harvard graduate decided to move to Alabama to help those who were wrongly condemned or were not afforded proper representation. He has the big support of one local, at least, Eva Lindsay. The creation of the Equal Justice Initiative is born and is something that still exists today.

One of the first cases happened to be Walter McMillian, who in 1987 was sentenced to die for the murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite evidence proving he did not do it.

But people aren’t pleased with the fact that Stevenson is looking into this case.

Destin Daniel Cretton directs the film. The cast included Michael B. Jordan as Stevenson, Oscar winners Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson as McMillian and Lindsay. There is also Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson, Rafe Spall, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Karen Kendrick.

Just Mercy is rated PG-13 for thematic content, including racial epithets.

TAKE

Would I buy this film? Yes.

The cast is first-rate in this. While Michael B. Jordan holds his own in the Creed movies with Rocky Balboa- he is excellent here as the lead. I can’t say I’ve seen a lot of Jamie Foxx’s films, but this feels like one of the best roles of his in years.

Brie Larson has a scaled-back role after movies like Room and Captain Marvel, but she’s a strong here, playing tough as a woman not ready to back down from the fight for what she thinks is right.

The film may have been snubbed at the Oscars but won big at the NAACP Image Awards. (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People.) Best Actor Michael B. Jordan, Best Supporting Actor Jamie Foxx, Best Motion Picture and Best Ensemble Cast.

Having already said that it is a true story, it may play out as predictable. And maybe it feels a little long at 137 minutes - it is a drama, it’s a lot of talking and no action scenes.

But the acting is strong, and I thought there were some very impactful and emotional moments stand out along the way.

While Stevenson struggled with putting a stay of execution for a fellow prisoner, eventually, we follow that prisoner to the execution chair. It’s kind of uncomfortable to watch, but tense all the same.   

It shows that even in the 1980s and early 90s, the colour of someone’s skin can still play into people’s perspective/perception. And, sometimes, the justice system doesn’t always work the way we think it should.

I think it’s a movie that will make some impression on the viewer. It’s the cast that makes a story work so well, even if it may feel like you have seen it before somewhere.

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

Making Mercy (4 minutes, 6 seconds.)

- The behind-the-scenes reel and the fact there were so many diverse cast and crew working on the production.

This Moment Deserves (6 minutes, 7 seconds.)

- A look at Stevenson and the work he does. Some of the prisoners featured in the movie are ones that Stevenson got released.

The Equal Justice Initiative - (8 minutes, 10 seconds.)

- Brian Stevenson talks about the Initiative he started and why. And that it has expanded into other areas than just people on death row.

Deleted Scenes (14 minutes, 31 seconds.)

- Extras like Brian debating in school, working a case with a teenager that he was reluctant to do Etc. 

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