It's not a movie that particularly needs to be seen on a big movie screen, but this movie has a fine, mannered performance by Denzell Washington as a back-room activist lawyer. He has spent more than three decades writing briefs for his courthouse partner. When that partner has a stroke, he finds himself pitched out into the assembly-line world of the law as administered in the courts and stumbles around a bit, round-shouldered and discovering that speaking truth to power just gets you into a lot of trouble. Colin Farrell recognizes him as a bit of a savant and tries to use him; Carmen Ejogo recognizes his authenticity and tries to succor him and help her maintain her own moral center, but in the end, his own human fallibility overwhelms him.
It's a nice role for Washington, who seems to be retreating from the cookie-cutter action roles and into more interesting performances recently. It won't set any houses on fire, but it will please the patient viewer.
It's a nice role for Washington, who seems to be retreating from the cookie-cutter action roles and into more interesting performances recently. It won't set any houses on fire, but it will please the patient viewer.