It always seems like there is that one movie every year that many
think could be an Oscar contender but it keeps slipping under the radar. Then it has that big January opening and sneaks up on everyone. That film this year feels like Just Mercy. A racial drama based off a true story starring A-List talents, how can this not be getting any traction? Will it come in late and disrupt awards season? Unfortunately, I do not believe so. While a terrific film with a strong message, Just Mercy just doesn’t have that “wow” factor to push it over the edge into awards conversation. However, this is still an important film told with immense care and passion that deserves an audience.
Just Mercy is the true story of attorney Bryan Stevenson who comes to Alabama to free Walter McMillian , a man falsely accused of murder and put on death row. In a time of high tensions and backwards views, Bryan does all he can to bring justice to both Walter, and the justice system. The justice system has always been heavily flawed. At the end of this film you see the statistic that for every nine people put on death row, one of them is proven innocent. That is a staggering statistic to say the least and it makes you wonder why they are even there in the first place. The death penalty is something that is inhumane and wrong, but for some reason still exists. The way this story is told is handled with such sympathy and passion that you feel as if you are reliving everything Walter had to go through. The trauma and stress of this unfair situation is constantly at the forefront of the film and it never fails to let its presence be known.
What is so impressive about this film is the abundance of important themes and issues Just Mercy manages to balance without using a heavy hand. It tackles the issue on racial injustice in the court of law. How African American people are automatically at a disadvantage when it comes to guilt or innocence. What director Deston Daniel Cretton does is instead of beating you over the head with this issue, he makes it feel natural. The way films can manipulate a story and make them abnormal, it is very impressive to see a film make an important matter real. Race is at the forefront of this film but there is also an indictment on the death penalty. They mix it in so seamlessly and it starts to become a part of the overall goal of the entire film. Finally, this film also tackles how corrupt the justice system can be. How it does not matter how much evidence you have, if the system is against you, the system is against you. Cretton guides the way so wonderfully and powerfully that the message is sent without shoving it in your face. When you can take something away from a film after seeing it, it only makes the experience even more special.
What really brings the film home is the performances of its lead actors. There have been criticisms of Michael B. Jordan lately, that he is just a face actor, meaning, he is just a version of himself in every film. First off, that is wildly inaccurate and secondly you definitely cannot say that after Just Mercy. He brings the weight needed to truly portray this important figure and the contributions he has made to society. Jordan doesn’t just keep a straight face, he holds in all the emotion that is built throughout and when it finally comes out, the payoff is perfect. Jamie Foxx plays McMillian in this film, the man wrongfully convicted. Foxx has always been one of the best and most underrated actors working. He brings us on a journey of a man who has lost all hope but then discovers that his life is worth fighting for. He is getting awards attention for this film and he certainly deserves it. Finally, Brie Larson is great as the supportive friend. Instead of just being that receptionist who relays information to the lead, she makes her character feel important, something other actresses are not able to accomplish.
So while Just Mercy is a powerful film that handles heavy subjects with care, it doesn’t have that “wow” factor to push it over the edge. All the ingredients are there and handled excellently, there is just something missing that keeps it from being one of the best of the year. Regardless, this is a film that hammers home a message that needs to be heard and the audience can absolutely take something away from.
The Verdict