Saint Judy

Name: Saint Judy
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: March 1, 2019
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 51
Cast: Alfre Woodard, Alfred Molina, Ben Schnetzer, Common, Gabriel Bateman

2019

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 26 Ratings

See All

8.1

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.1	Your Score
8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 26 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Saint Judy

Now Playing: Saint Judy

Movie Details & Credits

Forefront Media Group | Release Date: March 1, 2019 | Not Rated

Starring: Alfre Woodard, Alfred Molina, Ben Schnetzer, Common, Gabriel Bateman, Leem Lubany, Michelle Monaghan, Mykelti Williamson, Peter Krause, Waleed Zuaiter

Summary: Saint Judy tells the inspirational true story of immigration attorney Judy Wood and her fight that changed American asylum law forever. In her first case, Judy represents a woman forced to flee her home country after being persecuted by the Taliban for opening a school for girls. While juggling her life as a single mother, Judy fightsSaint Judy tells the inspirational true story of immigration attorney Judy Wood and her fight that changed American asylum law forever. In her first case, Judy represents a woman forced to flee her home country after being persecuted by the Taliban for opening a school for girls. While juggling her life as a single mother, Judy fights tenacious battles in and out of court, not only saving her client's life, but changing the Law of Asylum in the United States. … Expand

Director: Sean Hanish

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 106 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Tiffany Tchobanian

Mar 1, 2019

Although the pace lags at times and the narrative is a bit cliched, Saint Judy reminds us what America represents to the world. This timely and inspiring film instills faith in justice and human decency. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Mar 4, 2019

Saint Judy has a serious agenda and, in service of that, it eschews action scenes, thriller elements, and conventional contrivances. It tells a worthwhile story and provides a primer on aspects of immigration law without becoming didactic. Read full review

Stephen Farber

Feb 28, 2019

It is Monaghan who keeps the movie on track, capturing Judy’s fire along with her sometimes aggravating tenacity. This honest actress is incapable of idealizing the characters she plays, and her modest, energetic performance makes Saint Judy — which might have been a dry textbook lesson — engaging and moving. Read full review

Monica Castillo

Mar 1, 2019

It’s a letdown for a movie that has its heart in the right place to resort to so many clichés. Read full review

Glenn Kenny

Feb 28, 2019

While the viewer can intuit that Hanish has a strong clear story to tell, the director too often tricks things up. Read full review

Nick Schager

Feb 28, 2019

Monaghan radiates a winning measure of defiant resilience and dignity, even when she and her illustrious co-stars are reduced to mouthpieces for political sentiments (as in Common’s censure of ICE) — which is depressingly often. Read full review

Robert Abele

Feb 28, 2019

The early glimmers of something soulful and sobering — rooted in investigative details and detention center realities — ultimately give way to the tired mechanics of give-it-all uplift. Read full review

SEE ALL 7 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Beccapierce

Mar 6, 2019

The cast of Saint Judy is all established and popular actors and actresses. The cast did this movie justice and as well as Judith Wood justice. It is clear that these actors care very much for this movie and the true story behind it. The heart and soul of leading actress, Michelle Monaghan,The cast of Saint Judy is all established and popular actors and actresses. The cast did this movie justice and as well as Judith Wood justice. It is clear that these actors care very much for this movie and the true story behind it. The heart and soul of leading actress, Michelle Monaghan, shines through in her performance as she flawlessly embodies the grace and courage of Judith Wood. In addition, other big names such as, Peter Krause and Alfre Woodward, were excellent in this movie and made the story come to life and have soul. The actors made the audience and myself care about immigration law and its injustices. After this movie, everyone will be googling Judith Wood.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

erikchristian

Mar 5, 2019

Saint Judy is the story of Judy Wood and how she changed the interpretation of political asylum in the United States. The film followed Judy as she tried to grant asylum to Afghan refugee Asefa. The human rights message the film projects is profound and overall the plot is very uplifting.Saint Judy is the story of Judy Wood and how she changed the interpretation of political asylum in the United States. The film followed Judy as she tried to grant asylum to Afghan refugee Asefa. The human rights message the film projects is profound and overall the plot is very uplifting. Aside from the story, I really enjoyed the cast, Michelle Monaghan plays Ms. Woods and Common makes an appearance as the opposition in court; both provide excellent performances. The rest of the cast did a good job of bringing realism to the film by giving emotion to their characters. Director, Sean Hanish, did an excellent job with the flashbacks which serve to reveal depth and complexity in both the characters and the situation. This is a fantastic telling of Ms. Wood's story, led by a talented cast, which makes this an easy movie to recommend.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ThomasSmith

Mar 6, 2019

In order to do carry out change at the federal level, there has to be a tenacity and hunger for doing the right thing. “Saint Judy” is a powerful story of inclusion, perseverance, and equality for women that shows there is a lot of work to be done regarding human rights in our country.In order to do carry out change at the federal level, there has to be a tenacity and hunger for doing the right thing. “Saint Judy” is a powerful story of inclusion, perseverance, and equality for women that shows there is a lot of work to be done regarding human rights in our country. Immigration attorney Judith Wood took on the case of a young woman Asefa, from the Middle East seeking asylum here in the states to avoid a traditional “honor killing” that stemmed from her founding a school that taught young girls to read and think independently. There couldn’t have been a more important time for this films release, and the message paired with the timing gives a generational theme of honoring human rights amongst all genders.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

nicolevaughn

Mar 14, 2019

Saint Judy not only had an incredible cast, but also a greatly informative and interesting storyline based off true events. Following the narrative of Judy Wood (Michelle Monaghan), an immigration lawyer, and her fight to defend the case of Afghan immigrant Asefa (Leem Lubany). AsefaSaint Judy not only had an incredible cast, but also a greatly informative and interesting storyline based off true events. Following the narrative of Judy Wood (Michelle Monaghan), an immigration lawyer, and her fight to defend the case of Afghan immigrant Asefa (Leem Lubany). Asefa desperately seeks asylum in the United States after being arrested in Afghanistan by the Taliban for enabling young girls to read—if forced to return home, she will face execution. Judy’s adamant battle for Asefa’s life transforms into a combat against the United States law of asylum for women. Also featuring Alfre Woodard and Common, the cast incredibly portrays this true story, and its pivotal moment for immigrants and females in American history. I highly recommend you watch Saint Judy, as the plot and performances really gripped my attention.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

maxebryan

Mar 5, 2019

Saint Judy is a fantastic biopic, one that made such a lasting impression on me that I felt compelled to write about and promote it. Ms. Judith L. Woods, an immigration lawyer, takes on the case of Asefa Sachwar in which her pursuit of asylum in America, in order to escape the Taliban inSaint Judy is a fantastic biopic, one that made such a lasting impression on me that I felt compelled to write about and promote it. Ms. Judith L. Woods, an immigration lawyer, takes on the case of Asefa Sachwar in which her pursuit of asylum in America, in order to escape the Taliban in Afghanistan, is being challenged by the US Government (they held her in detainment for over a year before Woods was able to take on the case and represent her). This is a mild spoiler, but the case ends up being a landmark case for women seeking asylum in America (I say mild because I’m sure it’s on Wikipedia). Ms. Wood’s, and Asefa’s, story is all the more relevant and poignant when considering the political climate today and all of the choppy water surrounding immigration. However, something great about this film is that it does not set out to push a particular agenda or appeal to a particular politically motivated crowd. It simply sets out to tell the story of a lawyer and her client, and in the process helps to paint a picture for those that are too often depicted as evil and criminals long before they even step foot on American soil. Nowadays, a discussion about immigration is nothing but hostile and will automatically place you in one of two categories, liberal or conservative, which will consequentially place you at the receiving end of various and numerous insults and attacks. This film does not seek to attack either of the aforementioned groups, or even address them, it instead seeks to retell a true story without skimping on any of the emotion; of which it does beautifully.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

MikeyJohn96

Mar 14, 2019

If you are an attorney, in law school, or even just have a great interest in law you want to go watch this movie. Saint Judy is a profound movie, and is based on the real-life story of immigration attorney Judy Wood and her battle against the court system. She fought for a change in theIf you are an attorney, in law school, or even just have a great interest in law you want to go watch this movie. Saint Judy is a profound movie, and is based on the real-life story of immigration attorney Judy Wood and her battle against the court system. She fought for a change in the rules of political system and didn’t take her foot off the gas pedal once. The movie is one of the best “feel-good” movies I’ve seen and I’d even highly suggest it even if you don’t have an interest in law.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Dec 4, 2020

The need to be corny and melodramatic make this film take a fatal blow for their best aspirations. It's probably Michelle Monaghan's most decent role in many years, but it's clearly very low-key.

Forgettable stuff.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 19 REVIEWS