Roman J Israel, Esq

As Oscar season rages in full force, here are two films well worth your time and money.  Denzel Washington makes Roman J. Israel, Esq. an intriguing character study.  Soirese Ronan is teenager “Lady Bird” McPherson in an occasionally painful coming-of-age tale of female adolescence.

Roman J. Israel, Esq. (Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo) – Denzel Washington belongs in the pantheon of great American actors.  Since his first starring role in the feature film Carbon Copy (with George Segal) in 1981, he has commanded the screen in a way few actors not named De Niro, Pacino, and Hoffman have.  He has won two Oscars (Glory, Training Day) and been nominated for five others.  He won a Tony for Fences in 2010.  And he directed the aforementioned Fences plus Antwone Fisher and The Great Debaters.

 

In Roman J. Israel, he plays one his most intriguing characters.  Israel is a 60-ish attorney who is a socially inept, (perhaps) autistic savant.  He can recite statutes from memory but he is a loner who has worked behind the scenes in the same very small law firm for over 30 years.  In the first Act, we find him dealing with the sudden death of his mentor and partner, a legendary social justice advocate and criminal defense attorney.  The law firm is forced to close down, and the practice is being turned over to slick mega-attorney George Pierce (Colin Farrell), who was a student of the founder, but who may have lost his passion for socially conscious work.  After unsuccessful attempts at finding another job, Roman lands with Pierce in what seems to be a match made in hell.

 

Roman takes on a few cases himself, always awkwardly and sometimes disastrously.  In a pivotal scene, he finally succumbs to temptation, gets a taste of the good life, and sacrifices a principle of two in the name of becoming successful.  

 

But Roman has had an impact on Pierce, who decides that his own assembly line-like lucrative practice of law needs to provide him with more meaning.  Before long, the two seemingly mismatched lawyers find equilibrium.  However, Roman’s turn to the dark side has consequences, too, leading to an unlikely denouement.

 

Washington plays this character as morally righteous, slightly disturbed, and physically frumpy.  The film is essentially a character study. 

 

When the movie tries to be more, it misses.  This is particularly true in a side story about a woman running an inner city non-profit agency, Maya (Carmen Ejogo), who finds inspiration in Roman’s commitment to criminal justice.  It is almost like Gilroy said to himself: “I need a female character dedicated to social justice and potentially a love interest for Roman.”  Maybe he did but this sub-plot just is not well developed.

 

Roman J. Israel, Esq. is a fine vehicle for Washington, who continues to churn out exceptional work at age 63.

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