FILM REVIEW: Juror #2

At 94 years old, Clint Eastwood still has musings. What is Justice? Can it be cleanly pursued? Are any of us immune from its pitfalls? Juror #2 does a solid job of presenting its argument. This is a movie you can use as an example when people say “they just don’t make them like they used to!” They do (Oppenheimer, Thelma, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret., The Bikeriders, Inside Out 2, Little Women), and I am happy another movie is being added to the list, with its imperfections.

The biggest strength of the film is its central curiosity. Everything is in service to questioning, which works in its favor. We are introduced to Justin (a really solid Nicholas Hoult), who is about to serve jury duty. He tries to get out of it, considering his partner Allison (Zoey Deutch, who is also currently starring in the wonderful Broadway revival of Our Town) is about to give birth to their child. The judge dismisses his plea, and he is chosen as (surprise) Juror #2. He discovers that the case he is looking over hits close to home. Really close. Now he must decide whether to do what is right and tell the Truth, or face the consequences. Another question: is his Truth even real?

I am hesitant to continue giving the plot, as I feel like on paper it looks like one giant plot hole. Rest assured, what makes the film work is the motivations behind each beat. As we get to know the other jurors in 12 Angry Men-esque discussions, we believe them enough to go along with what the film is showing us. The dialogue can feel surface-level, but that also gives its punches a bit more straightforward impact. It is not here to throw bells and whistles out at you. It has a job, it accomplishes it efficiently and effectively, then leaves. Refreshing.

It also helps that we have good work from other cast members. Toni Collette provides some nice gravitas as the wanna-be District Attorney trying to win the case for the Prosecution. J.K. Simmons also has some fun as one of the other jurors with a small secret that could also be a stretch but because J.K. is so good we believe it just enough to go on. That is okay when the point of the story is not about the plot, but of the questions it presents and leaves us with. Nicholas Hoult, though, has the biggest job. Every move he makes in the film has to work, or the foundation cracks. This is where Eastwood’s experience comes to play. He knows that and plays to Hoult’s strengths as an actor. It is difficult to make a character like this not only likable, but one that also makes you say “I could see myself doing the same thing”. Solid work.

It is bittersweet knowing this might be the last work of someone that represents American Cinema so prominently. Instead of going the Spielberg Fabelman’s route, this entry is not a personal reflection, but a moral one.

Are we better or worse than we think we are?

A question of Balance that even Lady Justice cannot answer.