Directed by Clint Eastwood (American Sniper (2014); J. Edgar (2011); Gran Torino (2008); Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)) and starring Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy (2002); Warm Bodies (2013); The Favourite (2018)), Toni Collette (Dream Horse (2020); Nightmare Alley (2021); The Estate (2022)), Kiefer Sutherland (Phone Booth (2002); Designated Survivor (2016-19); 24 (tv series, 2001-10)) and Zoey Deutch (Not Okay (2022); The Outfit (2022); Set It Up (2018)).
Drama; 113 mins; 12+
A slow-moving courtroom drama which sees expectant father Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) - whose partner Allison Crewson (Zoey Deutch) is expecting their first child - called for jury duty.
Looking for a way out to support his partner as the due date nears, particularly as they previously lost twins before their due date, he gets selected as juror #2.
Shortly after public prosecutor Faith Killebrew (Toni Collette) starts putting out her case in a murder trial, the events of that fateful night come flooding back to Justin as it soon becomes clear that was the same night he hit what he thought was a deer with his car during a torrential downpour; however, the audience is led to believe that it could very well have been the victim in the murder trial.
While the rest of the jury is convinced that the defendant is guilty, at least initially, Justin's conscience gets to him and he tries to sway the jury verdict and convince his fellow jurors of the defendant's innocence without drawing too much attention and making it too obvious.
Faced with a serious moral dilemma, he seeks counsel from Larry Lasker (Kiefer Sutherland), the leader of his AA group and mentor, and eventually confides in him.
As the drama unfolds, and his unborn child's due date nears, we learn more about Justin and both his background and the events of that evening while, at the same time, seeing more of the characters, personalities and backgrounds of his fellow jurors.
An interesting premise, but a slow burn that doesn't reach the heights of other Clint Eastwood-directed dramas, or courtroom dramas for that matter.
Currently screening at Kinepolis in Luxembourg.
