Just Mercy Hits Audiences Hard With Its Powerful Story That Feels Both Engrossing And Timely

 

      Whereas most movies are made with the sole purpose of entertaining their target audience, some films not only aspire to do just that but go beyond in regards to presenting a powerful story to the audience, that ultimately delivers with it a message which resonates with them. Movies like Just Mercy are meant to entertain, inform, and make the audience watching it think as well as reflect on how society as a whole treats one another, and what the presumption of innocence actually means for a certain percentage of American citizens. Films like that are no stranger to controversy nor do they aim to shy away from the brutal reality of the films message. Just Mercy presents itself as being a hard-hitting and moving experience, that doesn't make any attempts to sugarcoat the reality behind its story, but presents it in a way which the audience finds it engaging as well as informative while doing so in a fashion that's both entertaining and doesn't hammer the audience over the head with its message.

      Based upon true events set in the time period between 1987 to 1993, Just Mercy focuses on a recent Harvard Law School graduate (Played by Michael B. Jordan), who opens an office in Alabama to help men sentenced to death on Death Row, while shining a light on a corrupt Southern legal system. One of the first cases he takes involves a man named Walter McMillian (Played by Jamie Foxx), convicted of murder and sentenced to death despite no evidence proving his guilt besides the testimony of a troubled inmate. One of the things that makes Just Mercy such a powerful moviegoing experience is not that it carries with it strong acting performances, steady hand direction, and brilliant writing, but the fact that the film feels both timely and relevant to today's era with the issues the film addresses from the films time period being as important now as they were then. Just Mercy has both a story to tell and a point to make to its audience with it succeeding very effectively in doing both. The film is not a pleasant experience for audiences to endure nor does it desire to be as the filmmakers understand that the best way to convey their message to those watching it, is to put them in the shoes of both the characters. They accomplish that through solid storytelling and a straight-forward narrative, that never loses sight of it's characters nor the films well-intentioned message. The film knows what it wants to be and goes about doing so with the utmost confidence and dedication behind presenting its story. It's a shame that the film was completely overlooked this past award season as Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx give some of the strongest performances of their careers with Brie Larson impressing in a strong supporting role.

      As powerful and emotionally gripping of a story that Just Mercy manages to be, the film owes a great deal of its strength as a film to the terrific performances delivered by its fantastic cast. The acting delivered here is raw and genuinely believable with a feeling of sincerity behind all of the key players. Michael B. Jordan once again demonstrates that he's a talented young actor with tremendous range and a bright future ahead of him. Jordan excels in the role of young Harvard law graduate Bryan Stevenson with Jordan perfectly conveying his characters shock and frustration at a corrupt law system in Alabama, that's deliberately rigged to put innocent people behind bars, particularly African-Americans. The role required an actor who could cover all the different variety of emotions the script called for with the character with Jordan showing that he's capable of meeting those demands and going beyond. Jamie Foxx delivers a strong and compelling performance as wrongly accused Walter McMillian with Foxx delivering his strongest acting performance since his work on Ray. Whereas Jordan's performance is quieter and persuasive, Foxx's is calm, unapologetic when his character vents his frustration, and extremely moving when both seeing the heart and determination that his lawyer has in fighting for his case while dealing with the realistic possibility that he may not be released from prison nor spared execution on Death Row. With both performances, Jordan and Foxx work off each other effectively while showing strong chemistry and respect for both the characters and story they're representing. Brie Larson impresses in her supporting role as Stevenson's loyal friend and co-worker Eva Ansley, whom he also founds the Equal Justice Initiative with. Larson's role is smaller than the ones Jordan and Foxx carry, but she still manages to leave a profoundly impactful role as someone becoming more increasingly aware of the corruption in the South and risks everything to do what's right in setting an example for her children. Larson is a talented actress and makes the most of her characters arc despite the film focusing on both Jordan and Foxx's characters. Her performance can best be described as being the most understated of the main trio as she helps to round out the main leads. Tim Blake Nelson impresses in his supporting role as convicted felon Ralph Meyers with Nelson effectively showing the conflict his character faces in terms of knowing what he did was wrong in regards to wrongfully accusing McMillian of murder with him wanting to rectify the mistake he was forced to make by the authorities, but fears the consequences he'll receive by the authorities for doing so. As a whole, the cast here is terrific and do exceptional jobs in regards to bringing their characters to life, as well as giving the story an emotional punch. The film wouldn't be what it ultimately is without the casts key performances here as everyone shows genuine passion and dedication for wanting to tell this story in the most respectful and honorable way possible.

      The films directing by Destin Daniel Cretton is noteworthy with him directing the film with a firm and steady hand. Cretton creates an atmosphere that feels depressing and somber with him allowing his actors enough freedom to ease into their roles, along with adapting to the atmosphere regarding the films setting. Cretton's work here allows the story to be engrossing with it being appropriately effective, as well as clear handed. He utilizes every minute of the films running time to properly build the story and characters up while presenting the facts surrounding the case to the audience. The film moves at a slow pace but the characters and plot become so engaging once the story begins, that its hard to not want to continue watching it to see what happens next (For those who don't know how the story ends, its even more intense and engrossing). Cretton brilliantly sets up key scenes to show how rigged and discriminatory the justice system in Alabama is towards African-Americans with Jordans character being forced to strip down for a routine search despite being approved to see Foxx's character in prison for no other reason than to be humiliated by the guard on duty. Another scene that reinforces the obstacles that Jordan's character faces in pursuing a retrial is being pulled over and harassed by the local police for no apparent reason other than to intimidate and scare him off. It's moments like those and Larson's character being threatened over the phone with a bomb for helping Stevenson's character defend McMillian, that drive up the sheer power and intensity of the story, ultimately making it an eye-opening experience for audiences largely thanks to the well-executing of those scenes due to Cretton's strong directing. The films cinematography works in regards to showing both the wealth and societal differences between the black and white neighborhoods in Alabama. It also manages to give the film a dream-like feel to it as the audience sits in disbelief at the events unfolding in the story only to realize that its not fiction but reality unfolding. Cretton also makes it a point through the use of the films effective cinematography to give audiences close-up shots of the actors faces during pivotal dramatic moments to capture the emotions on their faces, a move that adds more weight to the films story. As far as the films directing goes, Cretton does an impressive and admirable job of keeping the film both well-balanced and straight-forward with its overall message, without it coming across as being too preachy or manipulative. He allows the characters and story to gradually unfold with the performances being the driving force behind the film being so powerful in terms of being a moving experience with the end being the emotional payoff that audiences anxiously await to see what happens.

      The films screenplay by Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Lanham is well-handled in basing the bulk of its script off Stevenson's memoir titled: Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. The script balances out the development of the characters (Stevenson for example) along with showing the gradual strengthening of the partnership between Stevenson and McMillian in fighting for their case to be reopened. Even though the film opens up with showing McMillian's character being wrongfully framed for the murder he's accused of committing, the heart and soul of the story lies within the development of Bryan Stevenson's character with him witnessing firsthand the injustices of the police system in Alabama while becoming more committed to not just helping Stevenson's character, but the other inmates who are also wrongfully imprisoned with him. Stevenson's determination to win his case becomes absolute when he attends the execution of one of McMillian's fellow inmates in jail, whom he tried to defend simultaneously. For both the audience as well as Stevenson, the scene is disturbing to watch but heightens the stakes in regards to pursuing McMillian's innocence along with his fellow inmates. The script for Just Mercy works as well as it does because it presents the story from the perspective of the young lawyer with him desiring to make a difference in his community, as well as bringing to light the faulty justice system that's purposely rigged against people of color. The audience also witnesses his character become a stronger lawyer as the film progresses with McMillian shown to be objective of his services at first, but later taken by his willingness to visit his family and promise to fight for his release. The message that the film ultimately leaves audience is one that says that true justice is fighting for those who need help the most with film showing that message through the actions of Stevenson, which are reflected during the film as well as the aftermath of the case shown in the films credits.

      What could've easily ended up being a boring made-for-television court drama turns out to be a genuinely moving and powerful experience, that audiences will feel the full impact of long after the credits roll. The film owes much of its success to the stellar performances of its main cast, along with the pure dedication and devotion of the filmmakers in regards to telling the story. The film is affecting in all the right ways and will get audiences angry, shocked, frustrated, and ultimately hopeful as the film shows a real-life version of Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird at work with several references to that story being made in the film. Just Mercy is a film that aims to show an injustice that was prevalent then with its universal plot and characters speaking to now with utmost urgency. In an era where more and more are beginning to question both the fairness and truthfulness of the legal system overall, Just Mercy arrives with a message and characters that speak to the audience it targets. It works best as being a touching and inspirational story about hope that will make audiences think and ask the hard-hitting questions the film poses, while making others want to seek justice for those who truly deserve it. One of 2019's most understated and effective films.

Final Verdict: For fans of Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, and those looking for a solid emotional drama, Just Mercy hits all the right notes and entertains as well as informs.