Danielle Solzman
Juror #2 is getting buried in only 50 theaters but people might be wondering if this is the final Clint Eastwood film to hit the big screen.
David Zaslav is doing an injustice to the Oscar-winning filmmaker by burying Juror #2 in very few theaters. It’s as if he has no respect for a filmmaker with one of the longest relationships with the studio. The studio’s treatment of filmmakers during the pandemic drove Christopher Nolan to Universal Studios. Meanwhile, Zaslav has buried films in every which direction so as to take a tax write-off rather than release them in theaters or streaming. In making a film about the legal system, perhaps Clint Eastwood should have had David Zaslav on trial for his horrid treatment of filmmakers and hurting the Warner Bros. branding. This does not even begin to take into account how Zaslav took it for granted that Turner Sports would keep the NBA rights. Shame on Zaslav.
The 42nd film directed by Clint Eastwood is a described as “an engrossing drama and psychological thriller.” Excuse me–the second transphobic ad airing during Game 4 of the World Series just disturbed my train of thought while writing. Now where was I? Oh, right. It’s a film that will provoke its audiences into thinking about what they might do in this situation. With all that said, I’ll try my best to keep spoilers light. Unfortunately, it’ll be a while before the film reaches Max and a wider audience.
Juror #2 follows Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult)–soon to be a new dad with wife Allison (Zoey Deutch) expecting–during his service on a murder trial in Chatham County, Georgia. It’s a high-profile murder case and in any other circumstances, he might have been struck from the jury. While prosecutor Faith Killebrew (Toni Collette) and defense attorney Eric Resnick (Chris Messina) present their case, Justin finds his past is beginning to catch up to him. He’s facing a serious dilemma that could change the direction of the jury deliberations. He consults with AA mentor and attorney, Larry (Kiefer Sutherland), about what to do. Larry’s advice probably isn’t what one might expect but it’s what anybody in Justin’s situation would do if it means protecting his family. The film not only has audiences wondering if the accused killer will go free but if they are even guilty at all for murder.
Whenever there is a high-profile murder case, people always want justice. This just goes without saying. In the film’s case–maybe it’s intentional so as to serve the story–the police and prosecutors fall short in their investigation. Rather than look at all possible options, they decide that the boyfriend is the only possible suspect. But is he? It’s something that comes up during the jury deliberations as Justin’s past starts to haunt him. There’s a gray area here and that’s really what the film is seeking to explore. But knowing what I know about jury selection in some states, I’m curious why the attorneys didn’t due their due diligence. Why allow a former detective, Harold (J.K. Simmons), in the jury? Or what about someone who is pre-med or in med school and could contradict the medical examiner’s findings? And then you have the fan of true-crime television providing the comic relief.
Juror #2 isn’t a basic courtroom drama–it’s a thought-provoking thriller.
DIRECTOR: Clint Eastwood
SCREENWRITER: Jonathan Abrams
CAST: Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, Chris Messina, Gabriel Basso, Zoey Deutch, Cedric Yarbrough, Leslie Bibb, and Kiefer Sutherland, Amy Aquino, Adrienne C. Moore
Warner Bros. Pictures will release Juror #2 in theaters on November 1, 2024. Grade: 4/5
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