Opened: December 25, 2019

Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson, Rafe Spall, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Michael Harding, Karan Kendrick, C. J. LeBlanc, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Dominic Bogart, Lindsay Ayliffe, Ron Clinton Smith, Hayes Mercure, Kirk Bovill, Terence Rosemore & Rhoda Griffis

Released months before racial unrest exploded in America, Just Mercy expertly portrays the unfairness in the justice system toward black people.

Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx) is on death row for the 1986 murder of a young white woman despite lack of evidence and his claim of innocence. Young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) teams with Eva Ansley (Brie Larson) to start the Equal Justice Initiative and takes on Walter as one of their first cases.

It’s hard to believe that the events of this film took place from 1986 to 1993 – less than 40 years ago. One resounding scene is when Bryan first enters the prison and is forced into a strip search by a white cop.

Jordan and Foxx both give stellar performances that will stick with you after the film ends.

Final say: Black lives matter. ★★★★★