The film opens with a brief prologue, which shows Monroeville, Alabama, freelance laborer Walter McMillan (Jamie Foxx) arrested for the murder of an 18-year-old white woman. The film opens with the introduction of Bryan Stevenson (Jordan), a young law student sent to deliver news to a death row inmate. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. He also insisted that the parallel story of Herbert Richardson (Rob Morgan), a guilty man whose conviction remains in place and whose execution is seen in excruciating detail, be part of the movie. Herberts narrative here reinforces that.". Just Mercy reminds us of the power of identity and perspective. Their eyes are in focus. Im really proud of the film and excited for people to see it.. As you can see in the 60 Minutes clip, Tim Blake Nelsons performance eerily recreates Myers tics and delivery, while Just Mercys makeup team recreate the injuries Myers suffered in a childhood fire. For his part, Stevenson was apparently even less of a fan of Chapmans in real life than he appears to be in either version of Just Mercy. Just Mercy is a new film about a lawyer who helps death row inmates who can't afford it. But it didn't matter. Not only does it provide some hope to the people fighting for Walter's life, but it also means those fighting to keep him behind bars have to face their friends and family with the evil they are allowing. Herberts new love symbolizes the new beginning he isnt permitted to have, and it explains the fervor of his last-minute efforts to dispute his sentence. And they are in cells on death row in Alabama. It is a powerful moment of humanity in an unexpected place. Richardson's arc is the one truly successful element of "Just Mercy," and Morgan's excellent, heartbreaking performance is being unfairly overshadowed by Foxx's this awards season. In any event, if the film version of Just Mercy underplays the slightly disreputable things McMillian may have done before being railroaded, it also underplays the horror of what was done to him. I went over to Herberts wife as she held him tightly, sobbing softly. Just Mercy emphasizes social justice, enumerating the variety of flaws of a criminal justice system blinded by racism and handicapped by poverty. Then he stared crying. There we see all Walter's family, friends and neighbors are still standing by him all these years later despite being ignored by authorities. -Graham S. By describing Herberts history of loss, abuse and violence, Stevenson attempts to show Herberts humanity and explain the events that affected his mental health. During his years in prison, he seeks redemption. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. "We did not show it. In reality,Richardson requested to beblindfolded and never saw the room. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." I don't want any defendants in my courtroom without their lawyer.'. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Tate was also responsible for the scene in which McMillians son Johnny is tackled by deputies in the courtroom. RELATED: Just Mercy: 10 Jamie Foxx Characters Ranked From Heroic To Most Villainous. You wont be able to achieve the kind of justice that has to be achieved.. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Walter returns to his jail cell one last time following the dismissal of his charges. The film is about inertia as much as anything: When Stevenson looks into McMillians case, it is immediately apparent he had nothing to do with the crime, but it still takes years to clear his name, simply because the gears of justice have started grinding. Stop reading now if you don't want to know. A few years later, lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) moves to Alabama to start offering legal services to death row clients. He returned to death row, having already served his time on bail there after his arrest a year earlier; guilty until proven innocent. He spends the bulk of the book on the specific case of Walter McMillian and his efforts to get him not only removed from death row, but to get him exonerated completely. video. And I mean, youll see how close we are. Heres Stevensons account of a conversation he had with McMillian in the common room of a nursing home he was staying in, years after hed been completely exonerated: Well, it looks like Im back here, [McMillian] said with a heavy sigh. "But at the same time, [the women] were really frightened. Unfortunately, Walter has had many lawyers promise him many things and fail him, so he's uninterested in going down that path again. Just Mercy tackles the issues of racism head-on and barely leaves a minute for viewers to catch their breath so its no surprise that Jamie admits it was hard to stomach getting into the mindset of Walters impossible situation. new video loaded: Just Mercy | Anatomy of a Scene, Hi, my name is Destin Cretton. The movie is centered on Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), a young black man from Delaware who graduates from Harvard Law. Theyre directly next to each other. ", How accurate is 'Just Mercy'? '", "Bryan, it's so strange," Stevenson recalled his client telling him. McMillian's case is just one example of the systemic racial bias that ran rife through America's justice system. -Graham S. The timeline below shows where the character Herbert Richardson appears in. The corruption displayed in the film regarding Walter's conviction is staggering and infuriating. Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx in Just Mercy. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Despite the intensity of his earlier efforts to fight the courts, it appears that he has now decided to make the best of his last moments. The real Bryan Stevenson continues to fight for people on death row to this day. He stumbles over his words, stalls and finally admits that he agrees with the motion to dismiss all charges. His trial lasted less than two days. Finally, in real life, Stevenson isnt quite as good-looking as Michael B. Jordan, but few people are. When he was sentenced to death, Herbert's lawyer ignored his request for appeal. And it allowed the two actors to really be in it and respond to each other. I was fuming and angry, and I allowed that anger and confusion to fuel the character. Rena Mae Callins, was the niece of a woman whod been in a relationship with Richardson, The war veteran, who reportedly had unexplained crying spells among other issues during his service, was put to death on Aug. 19, 1989, according to an archived report from. It goes like this: Jamie Foxx gets into a lift in a hotel in Chicago, hoodie on, covering part of his face. The scene where this happens is masterful filmmaking that is both unbearable and demands our unwavering attention. In addition to his work as Screen Rant, Colin is also a writer of News, Feature and Review pieces at Game Rant. Part 4, "Old Rugged Cross", portrays the narrative of Vietnam War Veteran Herbert Duncan, whose case lights up the battles Veterans frequently have in getting the restorative and emotional wellness bolster they require, while Chapter 6 ("Surely Doomed") delineates how across the board lawful foul play is for adolescents, a . Pic: Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. Due to your consent preferences, youre not able to view this. Struggling with distance learning? LitCharts Teacher Editions. You know, this is a man who educated people in the city. He told me he was going to stop that. And then Tate said, according to McMillian, I ought to take you off and hang you like we done that nigger in Mobile, but we cant stand that suit.. Pic: EJI/ Warner Bros, Stevenson spoke about the film in the House of Lords ahead of its UK release, Death row inmate Herbert Richardson (Rob Morgan) is in some of the most heartbreaking scenes in the film. Southern Prisoners Defense Committee (SPDC), Voting Rights Protests of 1965 (Selma-to-Montgomery Marches). "Each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done.". Theyre going to execute me for no good reason, and I dont want to die in no electric chair. He was crying now with a forcefulness that alarmed me. You can see it, Michael was engaged, everyone on that set. Herberts mood contrasts with the sobriety of the situation. Tate couldnt charge Walter McMillian with the murder of Ronda Morrison on the basis of Ralph Myers testimony alone, but Myers say-so was enough to arrest him on a sodomy charge. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. As well as racial injustice, Just Mercy highlights the monstrosity of capital punishment, innocent or not; a scene involving one of McMillian's fellow death row inmates, Herb Richardson, is one of the film's many heart-breaking moments. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. We have so many people who are literally dying for legal assistance on our death row, we have hundreds of people who can't find lawyers. We need an era of truth and justice in America. But the drama (in theaters now)also tellsthe story of black Vietnam War veteran Herbert Richardson, who was guilty of his crime andexecuted despite the efforts of Stevenson and hisnon-profit Equal Justice Initiative. He did really play The Old Rugged Cross over the prison P.A. Along with movies, Colin stays up-to-date on the latest must-see TV shows. Where were they when you were 7 and you were experimenting with drugs? I was holding his hands, standing there with him and thinking, Yeah, where were they when you were 3 when your mom died? I don't like visiting jail. Stevenson says he was initially reluctant to see his story translated to the big screen, worried it might receive the Hollywood treatment to make it more entertaining. "We still have to recognise that if you have a system that treats you better if you're rich and guilty than if you're poor and innocent, that is not a system that can be defended. Based on the real-life experiences of attorney Bryan Stevenson, "Just Mercy" is a legal drama about the plight of a wrongly convicted inmate on death row in Alabama. The woman's 11-year-old niece, Rena Mae Callins, waskilled when she picked it up. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. The scenes with Herbert are some of the heaviest and emotional moments in Just Mercy. Teachers and parents! 20 of the best book quotes from Just Mercy. Though heartbreaking at times,it is also filled with stirring moments. Stevenson demystifies and personalizes the death penalty by describing Herberts time with his family in the hour before his death. "It was important to me that this be part of the story. Im the director of Just Mercy. This is a scene between Walter McMillian. Just Mercy came out in select theaters at the end of 2019 and was somewhat overshadowed by the bigger, attention-grabbing films at the time. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. "It was so clear to me that Herbert Richardsonwas more than the crime he committed. Walter McMillians ordeal is more or less accurately portrayed in Just Mercy: He was arrested in 1987 and charged with the murder of Ronda Morrison, an 18-year-old white woman who was shot in broad daylight at the Monroeville, Alabama dry-cleaning shop where she worked. How does Stevenson get close to the incarcerated people he is helping? Download on Amazon - The Old Rugged Cross Play on Apple Music . While Bryan takes on many cases in Alabama, the main focus is that of convicted murderer Walter (Jamie Foxx), whose entire case is based on very flimsy witness testimonies and no physical evidence. Flipboard. The book "Just Mercy" is essentially a memoir from Bryan Stevenson about his life, post Harvard, aiding death row inmates in the South. The Word file is viewable with any PC or Mac and can be further adjusted if you want to mix questions around and/or add your own headers for things like "Name," "Period," and "Date." The Word file offers unlimited customizing options so that you can teach in the Michael B Jordan, who in turn admitted he wanted to make his idol proud. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. As he's led into the room with shaved eyebrows and prison whites, his legs buckle dramatically. But I found "Just Mercy," from director Destin Daniel Cretton ("Short Term 12"), profoundly moving and, at times, almost unbearably sad, as when Walter's fellow death row inmate, Herbert . The next day there were articles in the press about the execution. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Complete your free account to request a guide. To convince Walter that he is here to help, Bryan visits Walter's family in the poor African American community. Just Mercy - False Testimony: Myers (Tim Blake Nelson) admits to giving false testimony.BUY THE MOVIE: https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/details/Just-Mercy/1317631?cmp=Movieclips_YT_DescriptionWatch the best Just Mercy scenes \u0026 clips:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZbXA4lyCtqowg0ZnvrtziNC6_JbFn0Z9FILM DESCRIPTION:After graduating from Harvard, Bryan Stevenson heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or those not afforded proper representation. The scene is emotionally distressing, though filmmakers decided not to show Richardson when 1,800 electrical volts were sent through his body. This story encompasses over twenty-five years worth of impactful cases and how policy changes, due to major Supreme Court cases, were dealt with locally. To capture the performances of this scene, we actually shot with two cameras running simultaneously, with Jamie Foxx in one cell and Rob Morgan in the other which was very helpful for a scene like this, because it was quite loose. He continued: Look what he did with Fruitvale Station and the narrative that he had with Killmonger which was the villain [in Black Panther], but at the same time his narrative was about our culture. Photos by Warner Bros. and Brad Barket/Getty Images for POLITICO. At a hearing for a new trial, Bryan brings Myers to the stand to question that testimony again. he hears one of the women exclaim, the relief palpable. Twenty-nine states - more than half - still have the death penalty. The State decided to invoke an unprecedented theory of transferred intent. By providing historical context about the Supreme Court in the late 1980s, Stevenson allows Herberts experience to illustrate overall political trends. Everyone I saw at the prison seemed surrounded by a cloud of regret and remorse. Entertainment reporter "Just Mercy" opens in limited release on Christmas Day, and hits theaters everywhere on Jan. 10. As hinted at in his previous remarks and seen in the final scene, Bryan's fight for justice did not end with Walter's release from prison. Jordan, who rose to fame in films such as Creed and Black Panther, says he has been "forever changed" by being a part of Just Mercy. "Sometimes, less is more. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. All rights reserved. Richardson, who had survived a harrowing attack that killed the rest of his platoon, was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army because of apsychiatric illness developed duringhis service. "Pheeew. We can be inspired by Stevenson, who often worked for years to free a client, spending hundreds of hours on one case. tunefind. Destin Daniel Cretton shot that scene, but choseto focus instead on Stevenson's horrifiedreaction in the glassed-off viewing area. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. The moment is a nice mirror of Herbert's goodbye, but this time they are cheering a man leaving in the right way. McMillian was convicted after a trial that lasted only a day and a half. Where were they when you were a young teenager returning from Vietnam traumatized and drug-addicted? From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. It is this narrative of racial inferiority, this ideology of white supremacy. I sat down at the defence counsel's table and when the judge walked out and he saw me sitting there, he got angry. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Stevenson set up the EJI, a non-profit organisation based in Montgomery, Alabama, to provide legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced or abused in state jails and prisons, and works to challenge the death penalty. We are all better than the worst thing we have ever done. Hed made the national news again that February, when it emerged that hed pocketed more than $110,000 in funds the state paid him to feed inmates, the beneficiary of an old Alabama law that allowed sheriffs to keep any excess money they didnt spend on prison food. Except for 60 Minutes and a constant scrum of reporters outside the courthouse, the media is mostly absent from this story about someone being railroadedfor a movie with the exact opposite problem, see Richard Jewelland thats a shame, because Chapman spent almost the entire process complaining to the Monroe Journal about the case. Just Mercy shows an African American lawyer fighting injustice in the U.S. legal system. "When you have to keep navigating all of that stuff, [when] you have to keep worrying about calming down other people because they are afraid of your blackness, it gets exhausting. Stevenson feels the tension between logistical limitations and Herberts life-or-death circumstances. They create enough noise for Herbert to hear and remember that he is not alone in his final moments. Bryan Stevenson said in his book that you cannot really fully understand a problem unless you allow yourself to get very close to it. In the memoir, this happens while meeting with a different client at a different prison, and the guards change of heart comes after hearing Stevenson testify about the horrible abuse his client suffered in the foster care system, because the guard was also a former foster kid. Was sentenced to death, Herbert & # x27 ; ve ever &! 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