Juror #2

Family man Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) receives a jury summons and must leave his loving wife Allison (Zoey Deutch), who is in her third trimester to attend a trial. He becomes (wait for it) Juror #2 and of course will cast a ballot that will eventually help the court decide whether or not the accused man (Gabriel Basso) is guilty of murder. But director/producer Clint Eastwood has quite a few twists up his sleeve, which is why this film is best viewed going in as blind as possible. However, this first reveal is not a spoiler: the facts are that this man and his girlfriend Kendall (Francesca Eastwood, the director’s daughter) both went to a bar that fateful night, got very drunk, and then got into a fight. We see these events from the perspectives of multiple witnesses, who all testify that she wound up walking back home on this dark and rainy evening. Then the girl’s body was discovered at the bottom of a creek underneath a highway.

Here is where what initially seems like a simple plot thickens. The more our protagonist hears about this night one year ago, the more he remembers driving home around the time of the murder. But his peaceful drive is interrupted when he hits something. Was it a deer? Justin’s not so convinced anymore, and as the screws tighten, the events of that night are called into question. With a wife at home and a baby due any day now, what will he do? Should he come clean with his testimony, or leave this man to rot in prison for murder?

Eastwood is undeniably a legend, both behind and in front of the camera. Not every movie that he has starred in or made has been equally successful. He is one of those filmmakers who is hit-or-miss, but he is no stranger to courtroom dramas, specifically with his adaptation of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Juror #2 is a top-shelf production, with a plot that has plenty of twists and turns, an edge-of-your-seat momentum, and outstanding performances from seasoned actors–most notably Hoult, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, and Kiefer Sutherland. The script from Jonathan Abrams keeps you in suspense, even though the majority of the film consists of people talking.

If a few reveals leave you wondering, “Why didn’t this character mention/remember this information sooner?”, you’re not alone. After all, the plot hinges on a man suddenly having his memory about last year jogged. To the filmmakers’ credit, this is addressed at least once. Still, this courtroom drama still has the ability to string you along and keep you asking what will happen next, and what verdict will be reached.

Perhaps the best choice is the ending, which would be a crime to spoil. It is the kind that is meant to leave audiences talking long after the credits roll. We are constantly presented with moral dilemmas and questions about what true justice means. I could certainly understand if some people not liking it, but that is the beauty of great art. It’s also nice that Eastwood has given us a film that stands alone, untethered from big franchises. Whether or not it is–as rumors have suggested–his last project remains to be seen. But if you have never had the opportunity to see his latest, you owe it to yourself. The court is now adjourned.

Rated PG-13

1 hour, 54 minutes