I chose to review a fairly well-known movie that encompasses ideals regarding inequality between races as well as socioeconomic classes. The movie Just Mercy stars Michael B. Jordan as Bryan Stevenson and Jamie Foxx as Walter McMillian. This movie is formed on the basis of Bryan Stevenson, a Harvard Law School graduate who begins to intern and work for the Southern Prisoners Defense Committee. Stevenson represents many death row inmates, but the movie focuses more specifically on Walter McMillian, a death row inmate who has been wrongfully accused through false testimonies, suppressed evidence, and bribed witnesses. This movie is the epitome of wrongful, systematic injustice in the law system. In class we have dived into the inequalities that are foreseen in everyday life as well as how power and identity impact different marginalized groups. Through the use of two African American main characters, this movie gives different viewpoints on how socioeconomic status plays a role into power construct. More specifically, focusing on how Bryan Stevenson, a successful African American lawyer is treated in the judicial system versus those of other races, is a valuable place to start. Furthermore, the depiction of the justice system in place during Walter McMillian’s arrest is imperative to the overall development of injustice foreseen. Another seemingly important aspect in the movie could be related to the power of a single story. Throughout the movie, media influence becomes a large impact on how the public gets information regarding different cases. This can be extremely detrimental to opinions of criminal justice issues. All going to show that the media can be used to either educate, while attempting to lessen the issues of inequality within the justice system, or rather perpetuate injustice through sensationalism.
Just Mercy definitely gives viewers a wakeup call for change. The storyline, acting, and overall production makes for an extremely successful movie and really showcases systematic injustices and inequality within the law system, between races, and amongst differing socioeconomic statuses. I highly recommend you watch this movie!