Just Mercy is a 2019 biographical legal drama film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. The movie is based on the memoir 'Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption' written by Bryan Stevenson. The story follows Stevenson as he moves to Alabama in the late 1980s to set up the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a non-profit organization that provides legal representation to prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted or denied a fair trial.
In Alabama, Stevenson takes up the case of Walter McMillian, an African-American man who had been wrongly convicted of the murder of a young white woman, despite evidence proving his innocence. McMillian is sentenced to death, and Stevenson is determined to get him exonerated. However, he faces a difficult battle against a biased judiciary and a corrupt legal system that is stacked against him.
The movie depicts Stevenson's tireless efforts to free McMillian, despite facing threats and intimidation from the powerful authorities. He gets the help of Eva Ansley, a local activist who becomes his ally, and together they uncover evidence of police misconduct, witness intimidation, and other irregularities in McMillian's case. Their efforts eventually lead to McMillian's release after spending six years on death row.
Just Mercy stars Michael B. Jordan as Bryan Stevenson, Jamie Foxx as Walter McMillian, and Brie Larson as Eva Ansley. Other supporting cast members include Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson, Rafe Spall, and O'Shea Jackson Jr. The film received critical acclaim for its powerful performances, engaging storyline, and emotional resonance. It has been praised for shining a light on the issues of racial profiling, mass incarceration, and the school-to-prison pipeline in the United States.