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3

HeroicAge616Nov 1, 2021

Just Mercy has an important tale to tell, but muddies its message through emotional manipulation and an unsubstantiated hatred of capital punishment for actually guilty criminals.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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10

Traceyr6Jan 20, 2020

This movie was excellent! It's unfortunate that so many out of touch, non-African American "film critics" chose to dismiss the current and real life experiences of Blacks through powerful performances and a well developed script. The reasonThis movie was excellent! It's unfortunate that so many out of touch, non-African American "film critics" chose to dismiss the current and real life experiences of Blacks through powerful performances and a well developed script. The reason that the film was predictable is because is a true store. This is how the absence of justice consistantly plays out in the American court room. So if you've seen it before , It's because that's how it is.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

Prinzo10Feb 9, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. To think this film is based on true stories, it's one of the best films I've watched in my life. Michael B Jordan couldn't have produced a better performance than that.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

christianpedMar 31, 2020

No comment other than i was fully attentive the whole film and couldnt tale my eyes off the screen

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

JLuis_001Jan 8, 2020

It's Oscar bait, plain and simple and the handling and direction are very usual and known. There's no surprises or something to make it stand aside from films of this kind, nevertheless it's a fine film.

The emotional manipulation is thereIt's Oscar bait, plain and simple and the handling and direction are very usual and known. There's no surprises or something to make it stand aside from films of this kind, nevertheless it's a fine film.

The emotional manipulation is there and I was expecting it but the reason why the movie ends up working better is because the story is good no matter what.
The theme is completely relevant and devastatingly painful and real.

The performances will undoubtedly also remove it from the immediate oblivion and to be honest is a good option.
It's a safe bet for sure but that isn't really an issue.

This is my last film for the year. It was another great year.
Let's see what the new decade has in store for us.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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6

tropicAcesDec 26, 2019

Well-acted, but we’ve seen all of this before. Some nice heartfelt moments but also some heavy-handed ones. It’ll get an A+ on CinemaScore and win the People’s Choice though, I’m sure.

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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10

MikeA747Jan 14, 2020

Awesome movie. Best I have seen in the past year. Michael B. Jordan is amazing as always and so were Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson. A powerful statement against racism, corruption and the death penalty at a time when our country sure needsAwesome movie. Best I have seen in the past year. Michael B. Jordan is amazing as always and so were Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson. A powerful statement against racism, corruption and the death penalty at a time when our country sure needs every positive statement it can get. A 10+ plus for me.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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6

TVJerryJan 24, 2020

Criminal justice reform is a hot political topic these days and this movie lands squarely in the middle of the discussion. It's based on a true story about a young black lawyer (Michael B. Jordan), who travels to a small racist Alabama townCriminal justice reform is a hot political topic these days and this movie lands squarely in the middle of the discussion. It's based on a true story about a young black lawyer (Michael B. Jordan), who travels to a small racist Alabama town to save a man who's been falsely accused of murder (Jamie Foxx). While there are some moving moments, this film spends more time trying to generate outrage than to create effective drama. The performances are effective and the story is certainly important, but the relentless messaging and a solemn pace inhibit the film's full potential.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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10

Cin1983Mar 27, 2020

It is a good movie, there are a lot of innocent people in jail, most of them are black. Of course we have seen a lot of these kind of movies. I hope that this movie makes people aware

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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9

zmgalen2000Jan 3, 2020

A heartbreaking cultural phenomenon, Just Mercy concludes 2019 and kickstarts 2020 in an astute depiction of racism. By virtue of its proper pacing, raw emotion, and stellar performances among Jordan, Foxx, and Larson, the film is aA heartbreaking cultural phenomenon, Just Mercy concludes 2019 and kickstarts 2020 in an astute depiction of racism. By virtue of its proper pacing, raw emotion, and stellar performances among Jordan, Foxx, and Larson, the film is a hard-hitting homerun whose pure ingeniousness makes its digestion difficult yet necessary. The well-written script further aggrandizes the film's overall sentiment, which will leave audiences spellbound when leaving the cinemas.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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8

Brent_MarchantJan 11, 2020

Despite some occasional pacing issues and a storytelling approach that's fairly conventional for films of this type, "Just Mercy" nevertheless reaches out and grabs viewers with an intensity that earns the genuinely heartfelt emotions itDespite some occasional pacing issues and a storytelling approach that's fairly conventional for films of this type, "Just Mercy" nevertheless reaches out and grabs viewers with an intensity that earns the genuinely heartfelt emotions it evokes from audiences. With fine performances by Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx, the picture touches in ways that movies of this stripe typically don't despite similarity in subject matter and narrative. One would think in this day and age that we shouldn't have to be shown films that embody stories such as this, but, given the prevailing conditions found in our ever-increasing polarized society, it's obvious the need is still there, and thankfully, we have pictures like this to step up and fill that void.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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10

AilunchiuJan 11, 2020

This movie needs to be in the Oscar. I’m shocked by the review score is so low. If you don’t watch it, you can’t to understand how powerful this movie means. It is base on true story and I love how bold and beautiful that the film tells theThis movie needs to be in the Oscar. I’m shocked by the review score is so low. If you don’t watch it, you can’t to understand how powerful this movie means. It is base on true story and I love how bold and beautiful that the film tells the story as it is. Acting and music are amazing, I couldn’t take my eyes off the scene for a second. This is a meaningful film that it will exceed your expectation, worth every penny and your time to watch it in the theater. This film is the best gift for a true story lover.

God Blessed.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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8

GreatMartinJan 14, 2020

Before I say anything else, even though I am rooting for Antonio Banderas or Adam Driver for the Best Actor Oscar, Jamie Foxx deserved a nomination!!

Of the previous 4 pictures I have seen, "1917", "Uncut Gems", "Cats" and "A Hidden Life",Before I say anything else, even though I am rooting for Antonio Banderas or Adam Driver for the Best Actor Oscar, Jamie Foxx deserved a nomination!!

Of the previous 4 pictures I have seen, "1917", "Uncut Gems", "Cats" and "A Hidden Life", equaling over 10 hours of film putting them all together didn't move me as much as "Just Mercy" including a 10 minute combined scene of a courtroom and a prison cell that had tears running down my face and I didn't care who saw it if anyone could through their tears.

A cliche is defined as "something that has become overly familiar or common place" and, sadly, this is a movie full of cliches because so much that is wrong in race relations has not changed in centuries. When a black man is pulled over by the police he will raise his hands above the wheel so they can see he has no weapons in his hands. Have you ever seen, even in a movie, a white man do this? When a white girl is raped and killed in Alabama can you guess what will be the color of the man arrested? The court scenes have been seen in many movies and in most of them you get what you expect in a deep south State in the U.S.A. but there area few differences there as in the rest of the movie mainly because of Foxx.

"Just Mercy" is based on the true story of Bryan Stevenson, a black man, who, after graduating from Harvard, headed to Alabama to work for/with the Equal Justice Initiative which helps with the defense of those wrongly condemned and can't afford or get legal help . Part of the film takes place in Monroeville, Alabama, the home of Harper Lee who wrote "To Kill A Mockingbird". The book was published in 1960 taking place in the 1930s while the case of Walter "Johnny D." McMillan takes place in the 1980s and 1990s and shows that not much has changed over the 60 years including a threat to a white woman who works with Stevenson.

Bryan Stevenson is played by Michael B. Jordan, who, unfortunately, has to say a lot of the cliches written by Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Lanham and plays the lawyer/advocator adequately but is out-shined by Foxx and Rob Morgan, as a Vietnam veteran living with PTSD, on death row in the cell next to Foxx. Brie Larson, as Stevenson's paralegal and colleague, really hasn't much to do while many other cast members, black and white, have cliched--there's that word again--roles you see in every movie about the South.

"Just Mercy" should be seen and yet in today's showing there were 8 people! Maybe if people would understand that what happened in 1930, 1960, 1980 is still happening today as the following headline in today's news was:

Detroit man exonerated after nearly 30 years in jail "always had faith this day would come"… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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8

Compi24Jan 27, 2020

Similar to this past year's "Dark Waters," "Just Mercy" may not be blowing anybody's hair back in terms of technicality, but the thematic soul of this movie is as disarmingly pure as they come. Destin Daniel Cretton is no stranger toSimilar to this past year's "Dark Waters," "Just Mercy" may not be blowing anybody's hair back in terms of technicality, but the thematic soul of this movie is as disarmingly pure as they come. Destin Daniel Cretton is no stranger to schmaltz. Though, what he seems to present behind all the treacly goodness is a real sense of stake, couched with a genuinely troubling issue in the American sociopolitical landscape. "Mercy" is no exception, laying out a richly nuanced and utterly infuriating case of undeniable injustice, elevated with terrific supporting turns and a third act that'll be sure to make you feel at least something. Whether it's Oscar-bait or not, it's hard to deny the importance of what's being communicated here. We're only as strong as our weakest link, and if our penal system is any indication of how weak things truly are, then we all have a lot of work to do.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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10

SergeantSozJan 17, 2020

Just Mercy is the best film of the year, all 10 days of it. I haven’t had a film punch me in the gut like that in forever. All the actors were amazing and I expect some oscar nominations. It was a very POWERFUL movie with a great message. ItJust Mercy is the best film of the year, all 10 days of it. I haven’t had a film punch me in the gut like that in forever. All the actors were amazing and I expect some oscar nominations. It was a very POWERFUL movie with a great message. It actually changed my stance on death row. Long after it’s over, you’ll be thinking about it. I could barely talk on the car ride home because I was so lost for words. This is what a good movie does. It feels real because it is real. This is a serious problem in our country. Its a great look in the mirror at the American justice system and I think everyone including politicians and law enforcement should see it. We see a mugshot on TV and no one sees the human side to them. We just see the picture and the media convinces us they’re guilty. Innocent until proven guilty is a lie and men have spent their lives locked away just because the justice department puts the importance of closing cases and getting convictions rather than punishing the person who actually did it. They don’t care, as long as someone takes the fall. And I don’t see how victims families sit with that when the real killer is still at large. If this movie doesn’t make your eyes water, then you’re not even human. On final note. the film was perfect - the writing, directing, and acting were all perfect.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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8

FilmreactiviewJan 8, 2020

"Emotional Depth and Sense of Purpose"

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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10

AjmoviesJan 15, 2020

A super good movie and probably the best of 2020 so far. Or if you want to count this as a 2019 film your choice just a good film.
Rating- 93%

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

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10

DCA123Dec 30, 2019

Extremely moving film about a great man and an important issue. Could not be more timely or inspiring.

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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7

moviemitch96Jan 9, 2020

This is based on a true story about a young lawyer named Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), who comes to the defense of a convicted death row inmate (Jamie Foxx) he strongly believes is innocent and has been wrongfully accused of a murderThis is based on a true story about a young lawyer named Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), who comes to the defense of a convicted death row inmate (Jamie Foxx) he strongly believes is innocent and has been wrongfully accused of a murder with the help of a young and resilient mother (Brie Larson). It's a standard courtroom drama, but it does contain a lot of heart and committed performances from all involved, even if it does follow a lot of familiar courtroom/biopic tropes. Furthermore, the film encourages thought and empathy above all else in a rather graceful yet effective manner, while there's also a fair share of tense moments and conflict. Overall, it's definitely a well-meaning true story, even if it does feel a little 'been there, done that' when it comes to courtroom and justice biopics.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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8

Rebecca31Jan 26, 2020

Based on real events, Just Mercy leaves you speechless. It's a harrowing journey that will make your blood boil and stay with you long after you leave the cinema.

World-renowned civil rights defence attorney Bryan Stevenson (Michael B.Based on real events, Just Mercy leaves you speechless. It's a harrowing journey that will make your blood boil and stay with you long after you leave the cinema.

World-renowned civil rights defence attorney Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) moves to Alabama in the 1980s to defend wrongly condemned death row prisoners. With the help of Eva Ansley (Brie Larson) he works on his first case, Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx). Although the case was built on very little evidence and some questionable testimony, McMillian was put on death row for the murder of an 18-year-old girl. Bryan delves into this case in a desperate attempt to free a man condemned to death for a horrific crime.

Michael B. Jordan doesn't give an angry shouty storming around the courtroom type of performance you almost expect him to give. Instead giving a much more subtle but very powerful performance that dominates every scene. Foxx gives an equally moving performance as the tormented death row inmate. There's lots of opportunities to develop their characters and how both performances were completely overlooked for any awards is beyond me. There's a lot to dislike about awards season and this kind of blatant snubbing is one of them. Stevenson comes up against constant racism and bias during his time working with convicted dead row inmates. Just Mercy is definitely a movie to make you re-evaluate your stance on the death penalty.

I was not familiar with any of the details of this story and the injustice and corruption is not only shocking in itself it's also shocking as to how recent this is. Just Mercy gives you a lot to think about, highly emotional and highly recommended.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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8

MarkHReviewsFeb 10, 2020

Writer/Director Destin Daniel Cretton seems to specialize in crafting films that are stripped-down, direct and straightforward. While his movies consistently are profoundly moving, it’s not because of action scenes, because of cute cameraWriter/Director Destin Daniel Cretton seems to specialize in crafting films that are stripped-down, direct and straightforward. While his movies consistently are profoundly moving, it’s not because of action scenes, because of cute camera angles or jarring editing (I’m looking at you, Safdie brothers) or due to soaring exposition. It’s because they offer unvarnished truth. “Just Mercy” continues that trend.

Cretton’s first major work was “Short Term 12,” a live-action short later developed into a feature film that chronicled Cretton’s experience working in a California care unit for at-risk teens. In 2017, he co-wrote and directed “The Glass Castle,” a story of family dysfunction based on the first-person memoir of a surviving child. “Just Mercy” is a true story based on the memoir of Bryan Stevenson (portrayed here by Michael B. Jordan), a Harvard-educated lawyer who moves to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1989 to work on appeals for death row inmates.

In 1988, as the film begins, Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx) is arrested on trumped-up charges for the death of a white woman in a dry cleaning store in Monroeville, Alabama. The only “fact” tying McMillian to the crime is the testimony of a white convicted felon, who eventually recants his coerced testimony. Despite a disintegrating case and a complete lack of evidence, the trial judge declines to grant a new trial. The scales of blind justice start to look particularly wobbly.

The acting here is consistently first-rate. Jordan, who first came to prominence in “Fruitvale Station” and the Creed series of Rocky reboots, is outstanding. Jamie Foxx is equally effective as McMillian, not necessarily a good man, but an innocent one. Brie Larson is Eva Ansley, who helps Stevenson set up his law practice, despite the overwhelming indifference and occasional threats from a white majority who like things just the way they are.

Ultimately, this is a story about restraint in the face of blatant injustice. The scene depicting a prisoner execution in the middle of the film is an emotional high point, but it’s also a master class in reserve and restraint, not shocking sensationalism. With real understatement, the audience is informed at the end of the film that “for every nine people who have been executed in the US, one person on death row has been exonerated and released, a shocking rate of error.” By the end of “Just Mercy,” you’ll be feeling a slow burn of righteous indignation because you’ve been informed, not emotionally manipulated.

Another virtue of “Just Mercy” is its own honesty. It has the self-confidence to recognize that the truth of its story is self-sufficient. The drama is kept real, but pared-down. The exposition is minimal and understated, though occasionally elegant.

After seeing this film, audience members should agree on three things: Michael B. Jordan is not just a boxer. Jamie Foxx is not just a former comedian. And “Just Mercy” is not just a run-of the-mill story about injustice.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

UncleWillardMar 29, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wrongful conviction is a huge crime in this country and it would be disingenuous to claim race wasn't a major factor, but to suggest it is the only factor is as dangerous as ignoring it. Wrongful conviction is a problem with the legal and law enforcement communities, who have traded expediency for justice. Just Mercy barely touches on this, favoring a tired, melodramatic narrative that's been done to death. In that, though it has good performances and competent direction, makes it a failure as a film.. it fails because it is a vanity project posing as a noble cause movie. Unless all the proceeds went to legal aid for wrongful conviction cases, this is just pandering and marketing. It does more harm than good.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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9

Chicano99Jan 19, 2020

Well written book material, with excellent acting. A timely movie about hope in the setting of injustice and corruption.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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7

bradens584Dec 20, 2020

Just Mercy is a great story. The true story the film is based on is absolutely amazing, but the execution leaves something to be desired. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a good film, Jamie Foxx is great, the writing is well done, but it lacksJust Mercy is a great story. The true story the film is based on is absolutely amazing, but the execution leaves something to be desired. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a good film, Jamie Foxx is great, the writing is well done, but it lacks the punch a story like his should have. If you’re interested in the tale of a lawyer representing Death Row inmates in Alabama, then this film can serve as a conduit to convey the information, but it may fall a little short on the emotional level. However, this film is saved by the amazing complexity of the characters, no one is clear cut bad, and with the exception of the weakest characters (Michael B. Jordan and Brie Larson), no one is clear cut good. However, as with the emotional moments, it doesn’t feel like it takes it far enough.… Expand

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9

bfoore90Jun 2, 2020

Could not be more timely. Michael B Jordan and especially Jamie Foxx are incredible in this story about a man fighting for wrongly convicted death row inmates. Its a powerful piece of film against systematic racism and corruption and how farCould not be more timely. Michael B Jordan and especially Jamie Foxx are incredible in this story about a man fighting for wrongly convicted death row inmates. Its a powerful piece of film against systematic racism and corruption and how far having just a bit of mercy and empathy can go in our justice system.… Expand