Some films stay with viewers long after they finish watching them, especially when the story is emotional, powerful and based on real events. And one drama now streaming for free on BBC iPlayer is being praised for exactly that, with many people calling it one of the most moving films they have ever seen.
Many viewers described it as intense, heartbreaking and impossible to forget. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 99% audience rating and an 85% critic score. Many say the performances, story and message make it stand out from other recent dramas. And for anyone looking for a film that is gripping from start to finish, this is one that viewers say should be at the top of the list.
The film in question is Just Mercy.
One person said: “A masterpiece that will blow you away. I consider it to be one of the best movies I’ve seen in recent years. The film is a quality production and kept my interest throughout.”
Another added: “This movie had me in tears and is so relevant now. The ending message is so important at a time like this. It’s just the most powerful and absorbing drama. Jamie Foxx’s acting was incredible.”
A third wrote: “This is a powerful, absorbing, fantastic movie. I cried my eyes out during almost the entire movie. It kept me thinking about it for a long time.”
Someone else commented: “This was such a beautifully moving film with so much emotion that will either make you cry or be filled with anger.
“The cinematography was stunning and the acting was outstanding. Can’t believe this isn’t getting the recognition that it deserves.”
Released in 2019, Just Mercy is a biographical legal drama based on the memoir of Bryan Stevenson.
It follows Stevenson, played by Michael B. Jordan, as he works to overturn wrongful convictions in the Southern United States.
The story centres on his efforts to defend Walter McMillian, a man wrongfully convicted of murder, portrayed by Jamie Foxx.
The cast also includes Brie Larson, Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson, Rafe Spall and O’Shea Jackson Jr.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before being released by Warner Bros. on December 25, 2019, and went on to gross $50 million worldwide.
Foxx was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, and both he and Jordan won NAACP Image Awards.
Production on the film began in 2015, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Filming took place in Alabama and Georgia.