Clint Eastwood's new movie, "Juror #2," directed by Jonathan Abrams, brings an interesting spin to the courtroom genre. This film debuts at the AFI Fest, continuing Eastwood’s tradition of presenting his latest releases at the event. In "Juror #2," audiences will follow the story of a recovering alcoholic and staff writer, Justin Kemp, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, who is summoned for jury duty on a high-profile murder trial.
The case involves a county prosecutor campaigning for the district attorney position, who has charged James Sythe with murdering his girlfriend. Interestingly, the alleged murder happened at the same location and date where Justin had an accident with his Toyota which he attributed to hitting a deer at that time. However, the case brings back memories of the incident, leading Justin to question what really happened that night.
Much like Sydney Lumet’s 1957 classic, "12 Angry Men," the jury deliberations in the film are intense, with Justin being the only one initially opposing conviction. Eastwood focuses mostly on Justin's moral quandary rather than the legal implications, arguing for the existence of reasonable doubt in the case. But this stance leads to questions among the jury members, creating an air of suspicion and tension in the courtroom.
The film's strength lies not only in its compelling narrative but also in the performances of the cast. Hoult, with his subtle display of emotions, convincingly portrays a character tormented by the past. Toni Collette, who plays the ambitious prosecutor, delivers an increasingly intense performance as the verdict impacts her political career.
A strong supporting cast bolsters the lead performances, including Chris Messina’s dedicated public defender and J.K. Simmons as an excused juror with a hidden agenda. The drama's complexity and suspense are further enhanced by Eastwood’s long-time collaborators, including editor Joel Cox, cinematographer Yves Bélanger and production designer Ron Reiss.
Originally planned for streaming by Warner Bros. Discovery, "Juror #2" was later switched to a PG-13 theatrical release. Despite it only getting a limited run in fewer than 50 theaters nationwide, the film is set to enter this year's awards conversation with Eastwood once again a strong contender for consideration.
