Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson

Rated PG-13 for thematic content including some racial epithets

In the height of the Great Depression, many Americans, and people around the world, went to the theaters in hopes to escape reality and get submerged in another world. Today, we look at the world and we see that we can no longer go to films to escape reality. We must look towards films in order to educate the public about the struggles many people face today. Recently in light of the George Floyd protests, Warner Brother released Just Mercy for free to the public. I felt this was the right time to view the film. Just Mercy is a true story of Bryan Stevenson (played by Michael B. Jordan), a young lawyer who works hard to release Walter McMillian (played by Jamie Foxx), a innocent man who was framed for a murder he did not do.

Just Mercy is a film that invokes strong emotions because it is a story that actually occurred. The film not only focuses on McMillian’s story and his struggle, but also other inmates who were not given the opportunity to prove their innocence. We see inmates who had rush trials with officers who are insistent that the suspect is guilty. This story does not take place 100 years ago or even 50 years ago, its a story that took place in the late 80’s and early 90’s. As much as we can say we have evolved and we are doing better with executing people who may be innocent, we are not. The story certainly makes the audience think about how the legal system in the United States is not truly equal for all.

The film is also filled with strong performances from the main leads of Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx to the supporting cast of Brie Larson and O’Shea Jackson Jr. Foxx gives an incredible performance who is wanting to be free. He conveys McMillian as I did not see Foxx on screen, I saw McMillian. Jordan also gives an incredible performance as a young lawyer in a setting he has never been in, Alabama. Jordan is emotional, compassionate, and angry when he needs to be. His role as Stevenson proves why Jordan is a great actor. In the background is Brie Larson as Eva, an assistant to Stevenson. While Larson did a fine job in the role, there wasn’t much for her to do in the film. This is not to dismiss Larson’s acting, but the screenplay doesn’t give much the character to do. It was unfortunately a wasted potential, but was enjoyable whenever she was on screen.

In these uncertain times, Just Mercy is a film audiences need to watch in order to understand the racism and struggle most black people face. While the film was set thirty years ago, the story could have been set in present times and it would not have been different. Just Mercy goes beyond being entertaining and serves as being educational. I implore all audiences to view the film and take away the lesson that we have to do better in our society and in our justice system.

3.5/4