Bryan Stevenson (Michael B Jordan) is a newly qualified lawyer who sets up a company in Alabama to provide legal representation to people on death row who otherwise would not be able to afford it. One of his earliest clients is convicted murderer, Walter McMillan (Jamie Foxx). McMillan claims to be innocent and when Bryan looks into his case, it seems that a gross miscarriage of justice has taken place. But can he overcome the racist law enforcers, a slippery new District Attorney (Rafe Spall), and the hostility of the wealthier, white local people to get Walter his freedom?
Based on Bryan Stevenson’s memoirs, this is a solidly made film, with Jordan and Foxx giving committed performances. Brie Larsen as advocate Eva Ansley does a lot with a small role and Rob Morgan brings a real dignity to his part as an inmate suffering from PTSD. It is probably a bit too stretched at 2 hours 15 minutes and the last section does have a few court room scenes that felt designed to catch Oscar voters attentions. The film has failed to gain any major awards recognition, though, which seems odd after the inferior Green Book did so well last year. The cynical might believe that is because the 2019 Oscar winner had a white hero….
Just Mercy deserves to get more attention in the crowded awards season market.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10