Justin Kemp is a 30 something, recovering alcoholic – with a heavily pregnant wife. He is called to Jury duty, and is put on a case where a man murdered his girlfriend not long after leaving a bar after an argument.
When the details of the case are revealed, Justin goes back in time to that night himself – when he was at the same bar – and when he left – he hit a ‘deer’.
Now wracked with guilt over the possibility that he was responsible for the death himself, he must work out his next moves in the deliberation.
Direction
Directed by legendary film maker Clint Eastwood (in is what is probably going to be the current 94 year old’s final film behind the camera).
Eastwood focus’ more on narrative and character, rather than flashy camera work or computer generated imagery.
Cast/Characters
Nicholas Hoult plays Justin, and once again proves that he has grown into more adult roles. This is far from some of his earlier roles of his career such as About a Boy, X-Men and Warm Bodies.
Toni Collette plays Faith, an ADA who is put on the case against the ‘supposed’ killer of victim Kendall. as the film goes on, she begins to suspect that the man might be innocent and investigates herself. I was not overly sold on her ‘Southern’ accent, and it was a little jarring.
JK Simmons plays one of the fellow jurors who has a minor narrative arc throughout the film, when he begins to investigate the crime on his own. This end somewhat abruptly, and I felt he was only used because of name recognition.
Kiefer Sutherland also has a smallish role as Justin’s AA sponsor and lawyer. This too was a little under developed – and should have been either fleshed out more – or had more of a finality to it.
There were only a handful of scenes in which Hoult and Collette appeared in the same frame, and I thought this was done well – considering the duality of the fact the narrative did not need them to be together – and that it tease of the fact they played mother and son in About a Boy almost 25 years ago.
Screenplay/Setting/Themes
I loved the ‘mundane’ aspects of Jury duty that is usually never seen – such as how the juror’s are selected, and later the deliberation scenes in which characters fight and argue.
While I went in blind with this film, having not seen the trailer for it, I found the ‘reveal’ that Justin might be responsible for the woman’s death happens too early.
Justin’s ‘backstory’ as an alcoholic – which is only mentioned in passing – is one of the key factors he is unable to come forward (presented in well explained dialogue between Justin and his lawyer). We also never get to see him like this, and only get his ‘rock bottom’ story – and how ‘people can change’.
One of the things I really did not like was that Justin’s wife’s change of attitude and opinion about the case. At the beginning of the trial, she seems supportive of his role in the case – but then she completely changes her attitude.
The film finishes with an ‘open ended’ ending. This has both ups and downs, because we do not really know how the ‘next’ part of the story will go. As I discuss in my podcast, had the film ended a few minutes earlier – after the on the bench discussion – this would have given it just an edge on what occurs instead.
Overall
A stellar swan song for Eastwood, who appears to be retiring from filmmaking. He was 93 when he directed this, so it is well earned.
Some sound roles from Hoult and Collette (despite that accent), and some wonderful secondary cast like Simmons, Sutherland and one of my favourite actresses Amy Aquino as the judge.
While far from perfect, still enjoyable.
3.5/5
I also discuss this on my podcast.
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