THE BURIAL
Cert 15
126 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language
Apparently, Jamie Foxx is not even in the mix for an Oscar despite his exceptional portrayal of a fast-talking lawyer in The Burial.
If that is the case, I am looking forward to seeing some wonderful performances over the next few months.
Foxx lights up the screen as Willie E. Gary who is the surprise choice to take on a lawsuit against a huge corporation in the funeral industry.
Gary represents Jeremiah O'Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) who has agreed on a contract with the corporation's chief executive (Bill Camp) to buy out a portion of his company.
However, months later it becomes clear that the deal is being stalled in an attempt to send the smaller firm into bankruptcy.
If the premise sounds dry, the film is certainly not.
This is a picture where greed is pitched against good and flamboyance is thrust against the lower-key forensic approach to law.
The result is the most entertaining courtroom drama since Sully or even A Few Good Men.
Gary faces three key obstacles - his client has a weak case, his opponent has hired a top-notch team and his own giant ego is prompting complacency.
He is brought in on the suggestion of O'Keefe's bright young counsel (Mamoudou Athie) who knows the case is likely to be heard in front of an African-American jury in deep-south Mississippi.
And he also has to find common ground with O'Keefe's long-time lawyer and friend (Alan Ruck) who is a barely concealed racist.
The race issue is never far from the surface of Maggie Betts' film as the winner-takes-all motivation of the corporates emerges.
And its trump card comes in the form of its lead attorney, played with great gusto by Jurnee Smollett.
The towering battle in the courtroom and outside is one to savour.
Reasons to watch: Jamie Foxx is electric
Reasons to avoid: heavy legal stuff
Laughs: Four
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 9/10
Did you know? In 1991, Willie Gary pledged $10.1 million to his alma mater Shaw University. He has also donated millions of dollars to dozens of historically African American colleges and universities throughout the United States.
The final word. Maggie Betts: "I tried to follow the exact formula. I wanted to make it like those movies. It wasn’t accidental. It was a very purposeful attempt to recreate the feeling of a ’90s courtroom dramedy type thing." Indiewire
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