A Critical Approach to the Movie ‘Just Mercy (Literature & Language Essay)

Rocky Guo
Benjamin Scott Blickle
Writing as Exploration, Section 070
2020.10.22
A Critical Approach to the Movie ‘Just Mercy’
'Just Mercy' is a biographical fiction film of 2019 based on a book written by Bryan Stevenson himself. The movie features various serious topics including, class discrimination, social injustice, the corrupt court system, and careless attention to an unfair legal tradition. A lawyer, Bryan Stevenson in Alabama, devoted to saving wrongly accused persons behind bars, is determined on his mission. He found Walter McMillian, on death row with wrongful conviction. Stevenson fights for justice for McMillian unless his struggle brings fruits. The movie has various characters, interesting setting, touching plot, surprising twist, and final resolution.
All of the characters in the movie have realistic portrayals because it was a true story. They provide insight into the significant social, cultural, legal, and traditional stigmas in American society through their comprehensive dialogues and course of action (Books, 2017). However, in my perspective, the two characters, Bryan Stevenson and Walter McMillian grab more attention than any other in the movie for their leading roles.
Stevenson is the writer, storyteller, and protagonist of the film. He lives in a marginalized black community in Delaware. After graduating from Harvard, he moved to Alabama working as an activist and lawyer to on a mission to free the prisoners sentenced to death. He is a cooperative lawyer and establishes close bonds with his colleague, Eva Ensley. Characterized by performing in a story based on reality, he symbolizes African American outcry for justice by starting his fight as lawyer and getting fervent as an activist. His endless struggle to demand justice metaphorically represents the vitality of the black race standing firm in front of the broken American dream with hopelessness. As a narrator, his tone is sympathetic, patient, and sometimes frustrated over the dilemma of socially marginalized people in America who helplessly die on the electric chair for doing nothing. However, he is hopeful in his journey to justice, which poses his rhetoric stance on the cruelty of courts in America privileged by the affluent class and white Americans; he says to the judge while defending McMillian, "And I understand much time has gone by, but I believe that it is never too late for justice" (Entertainment, 2020). His facial expressions are essential in building the movie's influence; for example, the soberness of face in the courtroom deepens the matter's gravity.
All in all, he is hopeful, devoted, resilient, just, and helpful to others. Stevenson’s facial expressions are a blend of his resolution and revolt against the prevalent justice system. He frequently frowns to indicate his annoyance over racial discrimination rooted in the judicial system and norms of his society. Simultaneously, there is grimness on his face, which is also suggestive of his discontent. However, the spark in his eyes reflects the solidity of his resolution and firmness of his belief.
Walter's legal sentence is of central importance in the movie. He has come from a lower-class black ancestry in the adjoining town of Alabama....