4 Stars — Powerful
The struggle with racism is both individual and corporate. There are those individuals who knowingly harm those of other races because of their own hardness of heart. But there are far more who do harm by supporting or at least ignoring the systemic injustice within the justice and economic systems. When these two are combined, their destructive power is overwhelming. This reality is presented in powerful form in the film version of Bryan Stevenson’s book “Just Mercy.”
This true story of the early 1990s is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and tells of Stevenson’s (Michael B. Jordan) work as a Harvard-trained lawyer who chose to go to Alabama to overturn the death sentence of prisoners there. It is then that he is introduced to Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx). Wrongfully imprisoned by a corrupt sheriff with the support of prosecuting attorneys and racist judges, Stevenson seeks the truth and McMillian’s freedom.
To assist him and others who did not have fair representation in their cases, Stevenson founds the Equal Justice Initiative with the help of a compassionate woman, Eva Ansley (Brie Larson). Having witnessed firsthand the lack of legal representation for the poor people in Alabama who were primarily black, Ansley dedicated her life to bringing them help at great risk not only for herself but also for her family.
We won’t spoil the account of Stevenson and McMillian’s journey together except to note that their mutual faith in God and in His truth and justice provided a foundation for their hope. Facing a world where the leaders of our communities use the power they hold to harm rather than serve and protect is far too rampant. It is easy to become so discouraged that we give up hope. Yet when we look to the one who holds the future in his hands, we recognize that we are not captive to this world and its temporary power systems, but rather we are in harmony with the direction of all history that truth and justice will prevail.
Although not an easy film to watch, the truth that we are continuing to make progress is encouraging as the statements at the end of the film affirm. It is this progress that we celebrate in the moments when we are beaten down by the racist acts of individuals and of our own communities.
Discussion
» Stevenson writes: “We are all implicated when we allow other people to be mistreated. An absence of compassion can corrupt the decency of a community, a state, a nation. Fear and anger can make us vindictive and abusive, unjust and unfair, until we all suffer from the absence of mercy and we condemn ourselves as much as we victimize others. The closer we get to mass incarceration and extreme levels of punishment, the more I believe it’s necessary to recognize that we all need mercy, we all need justice, and-perhaps-we all need some measure of unmerited grace.” What are you doing to bring a just mercy into your own community?
» Stevenson’s mother did not want him to use his Harvard law degree to help the poor of Alabama primarily because of her concern for his own well-being. Do you have people who love you yet talk you out of doing something risky but significant with your life?
» Corrupt Sheriff Tom Tate, who manipulated circumstances to put McMillian on death row, was re-elected six times after “60 Minutes” showed his racism. Why do you think we excuse leaders who act in racist and inhumane ways and continue to elect them to power?
The real people in this story can be seen by clicking here.
— Cinema in Focus is a social and spiritual movie commentary. Hal Conklin is a former mayor of Santa Barbara and Denny Wayman is the retired pastor of Free Methodist Church of Santa Barbara and lead superintendent of Free Methodist Church in Southern California. For more reviews, visit www.cinemainfocus.com, or follow them on Twitter: @CinemaInFocus. The opinions expressed are their own.