Eva Altman
Just Mercy Review
The movie, Just Mercy, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, portrays the experiences of Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) and several death row inmates including Walter McMillan (Jamie Foxx) and Herbert Richardson (Rob Morgan), whom he defends. This movie adaptation of the book, Just Mercy, written by Bryan Stevenson, offers a visual account of Stevenson’s struggles, failures, and victories, as well as those of his clients.
The film begins with Walter McMillan’s arrest. The police accuse him of killing Ronda Morrison, a young, white woman who worked as a clerk at Jackson Cleaners. The authorities falsely arrest McMillan and keep him on death row before his trial. Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer and Harvard graduate, chooses to take on McMillan’s case, aided by Eva Ansley (Brie Larson), his director of operations. Despite receiving threats for taking his case, Stevenson and Ansley continue to support McMillan and meet District Attorney Tommy Chapman (Rafe Spall) who believes McMillan should be convicted and executed. After a botched hearing, Stevenson and Ansley search for witnesses. Stevenson interviews McMillan’s family members who were with McMillan during the time of the murder. McMillan’s trial receives a large amount of publicity, which ultimately brings about the final verdict.
Bryan Stevenson wrote Just Mercy to expose the injustices of the justice system. Destin Daniel Cretton helps to bring Stevenson’s purpose to life. The judicial system holds Herbert Richardson, a mentally ill veteran, and Walter McMillan, an innocent man, on death row unlawfully. The judge disregarded Richardson’s mental state during his trial, and authorities sent McMillan to death row before his trial. Because of the emphasis on these facts, viewers are prompted to recognize the injustice of the situations. Stevenson and Cretton also work to humanize these men, and many others, instead of letting them be labeled as monsters and killers. In the film, Stevenson tells one inmate, Henry Davis (J. Alphonse Nicholson), that he will not be executed within the next year. Davis begins to cry and says that he will want his family to come see him now. This scene helps viewers relate to Davis.
In addition to helping viewers visualize Stevenson’s argument for justice, Cretton includes symbolism and uses other methods to emphasize the purpose. In one scene, Stevenson drives through a white neighborhood which consists of nice houses with children playing in the front yards. Later in the shot, a black groundskeeper mows the lawn in front of a large house. In contrast, while Stevenson drives through a black neighborhood, the houses appear to be older, less maintained, and smaller than those in the white community. In several scenes, Cretton uses Gospel hymns to set the somber tone while simultaneously inspiring a feeling of community and togetherness, despite the tragedies and struggles shown throughout the film.
Several scenes in the movie differ from those in the book. For example, in the book, Stevenson has an encounter with the police while he listens to music in a parking lot, but authorities pull him over in the film. Additionally, Cretton changed some scenes involving Herbert Richardson. First, Cretton omits Richardson’s family from the scene before his trial. I believe this was a mistake because Richardson being forced away from his family members evokes empathy, and the scene was taken out. Similarly, because of Richardson’s service in the military, he has the opportunity to give an American flag to his family, but because Cretton excluded his family from the film, Richardson’s flag couldn’t be given to his family. Despite these differences, the film was still very well made. If someone were to watch the movie without reading the book, they would still be able to interpret Stevenson’s purpose.
This film truly moved me; to say it is poignant is an understatement. I believe movies such as Just Mercy are extremely relevant to today’s society. The justice system still needs improvement, and this film’s story has the potential to inspire change. I would love to see the film again, and I would recommend it to anyone, especially those who may not know about the injustices of the judicial system. Because of some differences between it and the book, I rate the Just Mercy movie a 4.5 out of 5. The film is truly amazing and inspirational.
Just Mercy Review
The movie, Just Mercy, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, portrays the experiences of Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) and several death row inmates including Walter McMillan (Jamie Foxx) and Herbert Richardson (Rob Morgan), whom he defends. This movie adaptation of the book, Just Mercy, written by Bryan Stevenson, offers a visual account of Stevenson’s struggles, failures, and victories, as well as those of his clients.
The film begins with Walter McMillan’s arrest. The police accuse him of killing Ronda Morrison, a young, white woman who worked as a clerk at Jackson Cleaners. The authorities falsely arrest McMillan and keep him on death row before his trial. Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer and Harvard graduate, chooses to take on McMillan’s case, aided by Eva Ansley (Brie Larson), his director of operations. Despite receiving threats for taking his case, Stevenson and Ansley continue to support McMillan and meet District Attorney Tommy Chapman (Rafe Spall) who believes McMillan should be convicted and executed. After a botched hearing, Stevenson and Ansley search for witnesses. Stevenson interviews McMillan’s family members who were with McMillan during the time of the murder. McMillan’s trial receives a large amount of publicity, which ultimately brings about the final verdict.
Bryan Stevenson wrote Just Mercy to expose the injustices of the justice system. Destin Daniel Cretton helps to bring Stevenson’s purpose to life. The judicial system holds Herbert Richardson, a mentally ill veteran, and Walter McMillan, an innocent man, on death row unlawfully. The judge disregarded Richardson’s mental state during his trial, and authorities sent McMillan to death row before his trial. Because of the emphasis on these facts, viewers are prompted to recognize the injustice of the situations. Stevenson and Cretton also work to humanize these men, and many others, instead of letting them be labeled as monsters and killers. In the film, Stevenson tells one inmate, Henry Davis (J. Alphonse Nicholson), that he will not be executed within the next year. Davis begins to cry and says that he will want his family to come see him now. This scene helps viewers relate to Davis.
In addition to helping viewers visualize Stevenson’s argument for justice, Cretton includes symbolism and uses other methods to emphasize the purpose. In one scene, Stevenson drives through a white neighborhood which consists of nice houses with children playing in the front yards. Later in the shot, a black groundskeeper mows the lawn in front of a large house. In contrast, while Stevenson drives through a black neighborhood, the houses appear to be older, less maintained, and smaller than those in the white community. In several scenes, Cretton uses Gospel hymns to set the somber tone while simultaneously inspiring a feeling of community and togetherness, despite the tragedies and struggles shown throughout the film.
Several scenes in the movie differ from those in the book. For example, in the book, Stevenson has an encounter with the police while he listens to music in a parking lot, but authorities pull him over in the film. Additionally, Cretton changed some scenes involving Herbert Richardson. First, Cretton omits Richardson’s family from the scene before his trial. I believe this was a mistake because Richardson being forced away from his family members evokes empathy, and the scene was taken out. Similarly, because of Richardson’s service in the military, he has the opportunity to give an American flag to his family, but because Cretton excluded his family from the film, Richardson’s flag couldn’t be given to his family. Despite these differences, the film was still very well made. If someone were to watch the movie without reading the book, they would still be able to interpret Stevenson’s purpose.
This film truly moved me; to say it is poignant is an understatement. I believe movies such as Just Mercy are extremely relevant to today’s society. The justice system still needs improvement, and this film’s story has the potential to inspire change. I would love to see the film again, and I would recommend it to anyone, especially those who may not know about the injustices of the judicial system. Because of some differences between it and the book, I rate the Just Mercy movie a 4.5 out of 5. The film is truly amazing and inspirational.