37/36
2 intrigued me with its premise alone
Line of Events
Family man Justin Kemp faces a serious moral dilemma as he serves as a juror on a high-profile murder trial…one he could use to influence the jury’s verdict and potentially convict or acquit the wrong killer. Kiefer Sutherland got his share by writing to Clint Eastwood telling him how great he was and that he would like to do one of his movies before he retires. I always enjoy watching thrillers with a good hook in theaters, and the juror no. Clint Eastwood may be inconsistent as a director, but he’s created so many acclaimed classics that any film he directs deserves at least a modicum of attention.
I love a good courtroom drama, and the film used its hook very successfully to wring every bit of tension out of these scenes
Since this was supposed to be his last film, I had to believe it was going to be something special, and if this was indeed the end for him, it sure ended on a high note. The script does such a good job of putting the viewer in the mind space of the main character, and it left me with mixed feelings in just the right way. Nicholas Hoult is great in a role that would demand a lot from any actor, and his few scenes with Zoe Deitch really charmed me with the character. I was constantly wondering how it was going to end and it gave me one of the best questions I could have after watching a movie, what would I do in the same situation?
another so far
The script has a lot to say about the justice system and its inherent flaws, and I was very pleased that the film didn’t end on a stereotypically happy note, but rather on a rather sweet note that left me with mixed feelings as much as anything. The commentary isn’t always as deep as it tries to be, but many of the observations land on a fairly superficial level. A lot of that has to do with the supporting cast, especially the other judges, who all ended up on a very one-dimensional note with very little depth. They felt like commentary rather than well-rounded characters, and I found their dialogue to be off-putting very quickly.
I also wish the overall technical skill was a bit stronger
Eastwood is a legend for a reason, but I just wish he would do more interesting things behind the camera here. The way the main dilemma is revealed is quite disappointing and there were parts of the second act that started to drag for me as the court scenes can be repetitive. But there’s nothing about it that offends me, it’s fantastically edited with a really good soundtrack, but I just couldn’t help but wonder what a director with a slightly different visual style could have done with this material. The Juror #2 was exactly what I wanted it to be, and I think it’s a travesty that Warner Bros.
is giving them
not interested in promoting it properly. It is always exciting and intriguing because it always makes the most of its space. I wish the commentary was deeper and the technical skills a little stronger, but it’s nice to see a director of Eastwood’s caliber come up with something as quiet and meditative as this. Movies like this are in short supply these days, and they deserve much better than what Warner Bros.