MORAL OF THE MOVIE

Justice is meant to be blind, but those in power of overseeing the justice be done are able to see and often become swayed by race. It is up to those in positions of power to make sure that the only deciding factor in a conviction is hard evidence... not the way one looks.

WHO I THINK WOULD MOST ENJOY THIS MOVIE

People looking to get a better understanding of the African-American experience with a justice system rigged against them and how the flawed system can be defeated. Also, fans of films based on true stories that offer a bit of inspiration and hope for a better future to come.

ADDITIONAL NOTES/COMMENTARY

I took a lot from this movie. Before I get into it though, I wholeheartedly commend the producers of this film that made it free to watch for a period in time this summer during the global Black Lives Matter movement in order to provide a perspective to better inform the general public about the African-American experience with the justice system. To say that this film was an emotional ride is an understatement. Watching films like these that emphasize the sorts of acts of prejudice that African-Americans experience on a daily basis always enrages me. I also then think about all the other stories that go unheard because they weren’t deemed movie-material. Nevertheless, movies like Just Mercy adds another level to this process by showcasing the hope that one can have for true change and progress towards a brighter, more equal future. Films like Just Mercy along with the pacific movements across the world provide an outlook into perspectives that aren’t shown in the mainstream and inform us, the general public, about how change is possible, is happening in some places, and can be furthered with committed leaders like Bryan Stevenson. This film did something for me that most of its kind shy away from: it inspired me. I think it’ll inspire just about anyone who watches it in the right mindset. Change isn’t easy nor is it welcome most times, but it can be done when you do what is right and best for everyone, not just a select few. Just Mercy showcases just that throughout its entirety in a much more touching and considerate way than I am describing. Lastly, none of this would have hit me as hard as it did if it were not for the great performances by Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan as well as the masterful direction by Destin Daniel Cretton. This movie marks a second film for Michael B. Jordan (with the first being Fruitvale Station) that helped me better understand a slither of the African-American experience, especially with the justice system.