Just Mercy
Just Mercy is a 2019 American biographical legal drama film that tells the story of young defense attorney Bryan Stevenson who represents poor people on death row, especially Walter McMillian, a wrongfully convicted man of a crime he never committed whom he must defend.
- Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton; Produced by Gil Netter; Screenplay by Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Landham; Based on the book Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
Every generation has its hero. Meet ours.
- I came out of law school with grand ideas in my mind about how to change the world. But Mr. McMillian made me realize we can't change the world with only ideas in our minds. We need conviction in our hearts. this man taught me how to stay hopeful, because I now know that hopelessness is the enemy of justice. Hope allows us to push for word, even when the truth is distorted by the people in power. It allows us to stand when they tell us to sit down, and to speak when they say be quiet.
- [in the US Senate hearing about the death penalty] Through this work, I've learned that each of us is more than the worst thing that we've ever done; that the opposite of poverty isn't wealth, the opposite of poverty is justice; that the character of our nation isn't reflected on how we treat the rich and the privileged, but how we treat the poor, the disfavored, and condemned.
Dialogue
[edit]- Judge Foster: Ralph Myers took the stand before this court, swore to tell the truth, and proceeded to recant most if not all of the relevant portions of his testimony at trial. Clearly, he has either perjured himself at trial or in front of this court. After careful review, it is this court's opinion that conclusive evidence has not been provided that Ralph Myers purged himself at the original trial, and that pressure put on him since his trial testimony could tend to discredit his recantation. Therefore, it is ordered a judged and decreed that the trial testimony of Ralph Myers is not found to have been perjured testimony, an now new trial shall be granted at this time. Walter McMillian shall be returned to Holman Correctional Facility where he is to face death by electrocution. [the court congregation murmur outrageously]
- John McMillian: [stands up from the seat] You can't do this to us again, Judge.
- Judge Foster: Sit down, young man.
- Bryan Stevenson: John.
- John McMillian: It's my dad, sir.
- Walter McMillian: John, I want you to sit down now.
- John McMillian: He didn't do nothing wrong.
- Walter McMillian: Listen to your father. Not here.
- John McMillian: He didn't do nothing wrong!
- Judge Foster: Sir down right now, or you'll be arrested for contempt of court.
- Bryan Stevenson: Judge, just give me one second, please. Judge, hold on one second.
- Judge Foster: I won't say it again. Sir down!
- John McMillian: Not of you're gonna kill my dad for no reason. Not if you're gonna kill my dad for no reason! He didn't do nothing wrong! YOU'RE KILLING MY, FAMILY, SIR!! YOU'RE KILLING MY FAMILY, SIR!! YOU!!! [as the bailiffs try to escort John, he struggles aggressively and the bailiffs pin him to the floor face-down]
- Walter McMillian: John!
- Bryan Stevenson: Judge! Judge, he's not resisting!
Cast
[edit]- Michael B. Jordan as Bryan Stevenson
- Jamie Foxx as Walter McMillian
- Brie Larson as Eva Ansley
- Rob Morgan as Herbert Richardson
- Tim Blake Nelson as Ralph Myers
- Rafe Spall as Tommy Chapman
- O'Shea Jackson Jr. as Anthony Ray Hinton
External links
[edit]
- Just Mercy quotes at the Internet Movie Database