Movie Review: Jamie Foxx leads a crowd-pleasing courtroom drama in ‘The Burial’

Film Review: Jamie Foxx Shines in Captivating Courtroom Drama ‘The Burial’

In the movie ‘The Burial,’ Jamie Foxx skillfully deploys his movie star charm to portray a litigator with abundant swagger, resulting in a highly entertaining courtroom drama.

Certainly, whether it’s Jamie Foxx, George Clooney, or any seasoned actor, their ability to exude slick and appealing charisma seems effortless to us. We often underestimate the tremendous effort that goes into crafting each role.

‘The Burial’ fits this mold perfectly, with its glossy and appealing presentation that effortlessly captivates the audience. Director and co-writer Maggie Betts, in her sophomore feature, proves her commercial acumen beyond doubt. A glance at the movie’s marketing campaign poster reveals its self-awareness—retro, slightly cheesy, and undeniably confident. Everyone involved in this production knows exactly what it aims to be.

Nostalgically reminiscent of the mid-90s, when such mid-budget “rousing courtroom dramas” were commonplace, ‘The Burial’ breathes life into a genre that has faded from big theatrical releases, akin to the rom-com. While it will grace some theaters for a week, it’s set to land in your living room on Oct. 13 via Prime Video.

The narrative unfolds as a classic David vs. Goliath showdown, pitting Tommy Lee Jones as Jeremiah O’Keefe, a funeral home owner from Biloxi, against billionaire Raymond Loewen, portrayed by Bill Camp. Both hail from funeral parlor families, but while O’Keefe remained rooted in his local community, Loewen expanded the “death care” business on a corporate scale, amassing wealth by acquiring funeral homes across Canada and the United States in anticipation of the impending “golden age of death” with the baby boomer generation approaching the end of their lives. ‘The Burial’ draws loose inspiration from a true story chronicled by Jonathan Harr in The New Yorker in 1999.

The film’s focus sharpens on Willie E. Gary, portrayed by Foxx, a self-made personal injury law success who boasts an impeccable record of never losing a case. Jeremiah’s case, though contractual in nature, prompts a young associate (Mamoudou Athie) to insist that they need a Black lead counsel to stand a chance in a trial set in a predominantly Black, economically disadvantaged area. Jeremiah’s longtime lawyer, Mike Allred, played by Alan Ruck, is blatantly racist—a chilling detail that he doesn’t deny when confronted by a team of Black lawyers.

Willie eventually accepts the challenge of stepping out of his comfort zone, driven by the promise that this case could catapult him to fame on par with Johnnie Cochran. However, he encounters a steep and humbling learning curve, with Jurnee Smollett’s Ivy League-educated lawyer representing the Loewen Group serving as a formidable opponent.

Maggie Betts shares screenwriting credits with Doug Wright, a Pulitzer and Tony-winning playwright who has been involved in the project for years. Initially attached to direct was Alexander Payne. Betts, fresh from her promising but modest debut with the religious drama “Novitiate,” demonstrates assurance and clarity in her storytelling. She fearlessly tackles themes of race, privilege, and inequality head-on. Although at its core, the story revolves around two older white men battling over a contract, Betts and Wright expand its dimensions with sensitivity and nuance. As with many compelling courtroom dramas, this case transcends the individual protagonists.

Jurnee Smollett’s character, Mame, stands out as a pivotal addition to the film. Unlike the typical one-dimensional attempts to diversify male-dominated narratives with exceptional women, Mame is a multi-faceted character—brilliant and accomplished yet acutely aware of the tightrope she must walk compared to her male counterparts. At times, you may even find yourself rooting for her victory, despite the movie’s clear-cut conclusion and a readily detestable villain.

Nonetheless, ‘The Burial’ truly belongs to Jamie Foxx, and his performance is a delightful tour de force. Watching him command attention, grapple with self-doubt, and charm a diverse jury evokes empathy for a character who is ostentatiously wealthy, whether or not it was an effortless feat for the actor.

‘The Burial,’ distributed by MGM/Amazon Studios, hits theaters on Friday and will be available for streaming on Oct. 13. It carries an R rating from the Motion Picture Association for its use of language and boasts a runtime of 125 minutes. This courtroom drama earns a solid three out of four stars.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Courtroom Drama

More about Courtroom Drama

• IMDb – The Burial
• Variety – ‘The Burial’ Review
• Prime Video – The Burial
• The New Yorker – Jonathan Harr’s Article