Movie review: 'Just Mercy' reminds us to remain vigilant about human rights | ABS-CBN

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Movie review: 'Just Mercy' reminds us to remain vigilant about human rights

Movie review: 'Just Mercy' reminds us to remain vigilant about human rights

Fred Hawson

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Updated Jan 27, 2020 04:19 PM PHT

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Michael B. Jordan leads the powerhouse cast of 'Just Mercy.' Handout

In 1986, African-American lumberjack Walter "Johnny D." McMillian was convicted of the brutal murder of a white teenager Ronda Morrison. In 1989, a fresh Harvard law school graduate Bryan Stevenson set up his office for Equal Justice Initiative in Alabama, aiming to provide legal help to the underprivileged, especially those on Death Row.

He took up Johnny D's case when he discovered serious lapses in police investigation and legal procedure that led to his conviction and date with the electric chair. Being African-American himself, Stevenson would personally experience the extreme prejudice his client experienced from the authorities in small town Alabama.

"Just Mercy" was directed by Destin Daniel Cretton from a screenplay he adapted from the memoirs of Stevenson himself. The pace may have been calm, measured and steady, but those instances of blatant racism and human rights violations can still really shoot your blood pressure up. Everything felt so neat and one-dimensional. The good guys (even those on Death Row) were so good, and the bad guys (police and lawyers alike) were so bad. That led to an ultimately predictable conclusion, although Cretton did try to throw some wrenches in between for some excitement.

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I found no fault with the actors who all gave earnest performances. Everyone was just so dignified in posture and profound in sentiment, save for the occasional expression of frustrated emotion. Michael B. Jordan, coming off powerful performances in "Creed" (2015) and "Black Panther" (2018), was so pristine in his portrayal of such a noble character as Stevenson. In that scene where he was strip-searched prior to entering the prison, his indignant face was raising hell in silence.

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Jamie Foxx quietly played Johnny D. like a veritable saintly martyr in that immaculate white long-sleeved prison shirt he wore. Brie Larson may have seemed to be the token balancing white female in the mix, but there was an Eva Ansley in real life assisting Stevenson in his advocacy.

Rafe Spall played the local prosecutor Tommy Chapman, who never gave Stevenson's evidence a second look. Tim Blake Nelson played controversial witness Ralph Myers who was offered a lighter sentence for false testimony.

For a film telling about a case that happened as recently as 1986, it is infuriating to realize that such bigotry can exist totally uncaring for the innocent lives lost in this system. And then you realize that this class struggle does not only happen in the US, but even in backyards all over the world. Human rights continue to be trampled with impunity, such that sensible reminders like this movie are important to keep the flames of vigilance burning.

This review was originally published in the author's blog, "Fred Said."

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Popular K-pop stars to headline PH events in March

Popular K-pop stars to headline PH events in March

Jaehwa Bernardo,

ABS-CBN News

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ENHYPEN, Blackpink's Jisoo, and Girls' Generation's Taeyeon. Photos from the X accounts of Belift Lab, Blissoo and Taeyeon

Filipino K-pop fans are in for a treat this March with a lineup of big-name artists set to hold concerts and fan meetings in the country.

Boy group ENHYPEN will open the month with the Bulacan leg of their "Walk the Line" concert at the Philippine Sports Stadium on March 1.

The seven-member act, with 8.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify, are returning the country following their brand-sponsored "Des7ined" fan meeting in Manila last December.

On March 2, Jay B, who leads the boy group GOT7, will stage the Manila stop of his "Tape: Re Load" tour at the SMX Convention Center.

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Meanwhile, Blackpink fans, called Blinks, are expected to troop to the Araneta Coliseum on March 14 for Jisoo's "Lights, Love, Action!" fan meeting tour — held in promotion of the singer-actress' latest extended play "Amortage."

Minho, a member of the long-running boy group SHINee, is also coming back to the Philippines for his  "Mean: Of My First" concert, happening on March 16 at the New Frontier Theater.

On March 22, rising group BOYNEXTDOOR will bring their "Knock On Vol. 1" tour to the Big Dome, marking their first solo event in the country.

On the same day, Changsub, a member of vocal powerhouse BTOB, will also hold his "The Wayfarer" concert at the SM North EDSA Skydome.

Girls' Generation member Taeyeon is set to serenade her Filipino fans once again through her "The Tense" concert, happening at the Mall of Asia Arena on March 29.

Also on the 29th, Red Velvet sub-unit Irene & Seulgi, boy group RIIZE and the South Korea-based all-Filipino band HORI7ON will take the stage of the Araneta Coliseum for the "IAM K-pop" concert.

FROM THE ARCHIVES



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