JUST MERCY
US, 2019, 137 minutes, Colour.
Michael B. Jordan, Brie Larson, Jamie Foxx, Tim Blake Nelson, Rafe Spall, Robert Morgan, O' Shea Jackson Jr.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
Justice and mercy have met, proclaims the Psalm. This is certainly not the case in Alabama in the late 1980s, early 1990s. In fact, instead of justice, there are many travesties of justice. This is especially the case for prisoners on Death Row.
Just Mercy is a very interesting film, an exploration of the justice system, an expose of the injustices, campaigns for true justice – and a powerful argument against capital punishment.
It is based on a true story, the life’s work of campaigner, Bryan Stevenson, a young African American from a poor family in Delaware, who experienced the unjust murder of his grandfather, was educated at Harvard and did an internship in Alabama in the mid-1980s, encountering men on Death Row. On graduation, he packed his bags, his mother very afraid of the dangers for a black man in the south, and drove to Monroeville, Alabama, the home of Harper Lee, the home of that most exemplary of American lawyers, Atticus Finch.
Bryan Stevenson was a man on a mission (and, it should be said about his dedication and success that he is still on that mission after 30 years). With the help of a local assistant, Eva (Brie Larson) is able to set up an office, initially rejected, and has the names of six prisoners whom he wants to interview, hostility interrogated by the guard at the prison, humiliatingly strip-searched, treated with some suspicion by the authorities.
The principal focus of this story is on one of the inmates, Walter McMillian? (a strong performance by Jamie Foxx) who was put on death row even before his trial, a man with solid alibis, held up on the road by hostile police, targeted by an even more hostile sheriff, found guilty on the most unreliable testimony of alleged witnesses. McMillian? is against any help but Bryan Stevenson goes to visit his family. He takes on the case, confronting the local DA (Rafe Spall) who is racist and under the influence of the sheriff (with the final credits informing us that the sheriff was re-elected for 30 years, until 2019)..
Which makes the plot interesting in terms of detection, investigation, potential witnesses, the confrontation with the main witness (an excellent cameo from Tim Blake Nelson), hopes, judicial frustrations, appeals to good nature and true justice.
There is a moving subplot with another prisoner, Herbert Richardson (Robert Morgan), a Vietnam veteran with PTSD who created and planted a bomb which killed a woman, is repentant, hopes for a stay of execution which is not granted. The film’s audience goes into the execution was Bryan Stevenson, a jolting experience to watch.
Bryan Stevenson is played by Michael B.Jordan who has emerged as a strong heroic character in recent films (Fruitvale Station, the Creed films). Here he is required to be 100% sincere and heroic, which he is.
As with so many films these days, there are photos of the main protagonists, further information about the characters, but a fine tribute to Bryan Stevenson and his dedication. There is an epilogue with Brian and Walter McMillian? testifying to Congress.
There is a fine phrase at the end of the film: there is a place for “Unmerited Grace� in our lives.
1. The title? The implications for justice and for mercy, the prisoners, those on death row? And the final comment that there is a place for “Unmerited Grace� in our lives?
2. A true story, Alabama, the law, justice, the particular cases, malpractice? Bryan Stevenson, his life, his ambitions, his work? The final credits and the information, his later work, photos and clips?
3. Audience attitudes towards the law and justice, towards capital punishment? The statistics about one in nine death row prisoners victims of bad justice? The emphasis on the experience of observing and execution? The significance of the final speeches, the justice hearing? The reality of capital punishment in the United States?
4. The opening, filling the trees, trees and the sky, Johnny D, the space, his work, independence, driving? Held up by the police, racial implications? His being arrested?
5. The introduction to Bryan, studies at Harvard, his internship? Alabama? The encounter with the prisoner, chatting, the friendliness, the reaction of the guards? Bryan and his ability to listen and help?
6. Brian completing his studies, someone from the north going to the south? The Delaware background, the scenes of his home, the poverty of his home, his mother not wanting him to go, her fears? The story of his grandfather, the murder? His idealism, aware of the dangers, aware of the race issues? The late 1980s?
7. Arriving in Alabama, meeting Eva, her personality, volunteer work, her family and the meals? The threat with the bomb under the house? The refusal for the office? The background of Harper Lee, Atticus Finch, the townspeople talking about her, the monument and library, Atticus Finch and justice and racial issues? The status of To Kill a Mockingbird in American consciousness? Eva finding a place, the room, eventually the building, the ever-increasing staff, Brenda, reception, her motivation, and trim the phone? The movement for justice?
8. Bryan, his list of men to visit, the humiliation of the strip search? The attitude of the guard (and his later changes)? The interrogation? The discussions with Herbert Richardson, with Ray Hinton, with Walter McMillian? Assessment, documents, files? Walter’s refusal?
9. Herbert, his plea, the story of the bomb, post-traumatic stress disorder, his nerves, the planting of the bomb, the death of the woman? Communication with the other prisoners, their encouraging him for breathing deeply? The petition, not being granted, his being ready for execution, shaved, the playing of the hymn, Bryan and his visit, talking in comfort, going to the execution, the preparation for the electric chair, the Minister, those watching, the death, the effect on Bryan, talking with Eva afterwards?
10. The decision about Walter, Bryan going to visit his family, the discussions, their not having to pay, the background story of Walter, his affair, his wife forgiving him? The alibis, the case, unreliable witnesses, the sheriff and buying off the witness? The boy in the store, providing an alibi, his being arrested, fears, possible perjury? The investigation, the help from the team, the documents, the tapes and their revelations? The lies of the witness?
11. Chapman, his role in the County, his attitudes, racist, justice, meetings with Bryan, polite but hostile, his fixed ideas, the influence of the sheriff, Bryan visiting his house and his resentment?
12. The sheriff, for 30 years, his wanting the case solved, blaming Walter? The threat to Myers, to be on death row, the testimonies in court? Smiling presence but yet sinister? Bryan blocking him in the court so that Myers could not see him?
13. The dangers, the races in Alabama, the police, confronting Bryan at gunpoint? The bomb threat to Eva’s house?
14. The issue of the sheriff and the offices protecting society? Which society? White or black?
15. Petitions, documents, Myers and his background, the robbery, his friend, condemned, guilt by association? The discussions with Bryan and his visits, wanting the sweets and drink, confronted again, the threats, his reaction, his son? Going to court? His testimony? And the irony of the judge not accepting?
16. The influence of 60 Minutes, the program, everybody participating, the King of the interviews, the general effect?
17. The issue of re-trial? Bryan and his appeal to Chapman? The effect on the family, Walter’s son and his calling out, contempt of court? Walter and his anger, grief, put in solitary?
18. The proposal that the charges be dropped, the judge and her attitude, brisk? Chapman and his change of stance, the reaction of the sheriff? In the court, the case and charges dropped?
19. The success in 1993, Walter and his being on death row for almost 5 years, even before he was found guilty? The range of injustices?
20. The aftermath, Bryan and his work for 30 years and the number of cases?
