Review: Clint Eastwood's latest film is a commendable drama

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When Clint Eastwood’s latest film Juror #2 hit theaters last December, it was released in only a handful of locations nationwide. Despite the cast’s pedigree (Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette and J.K Simmons play some of the main characters here) and a compelling premise, the drama arrived and then quickly disappeared from theater marquees.

One can only hope that this intriguing drama finds more of an audience now that it’s arrived on Blu-Ray.

The drama focuses on Jonathan Kemp (Nicholas Hoult), a young father-to-be who is summoned for jury duty. After being selected as a juror, Kemp faces an intriguing personal dilemma: He realizes belatedly that he might’ve been responsible for the crime that the case's plaintiff James Michael Slythe (Gabrial Basso) is charged with. Slythe, a man prone to violent outbursts and rage, is accused of murdering his girlfriend. However, Kemp thinks he might’ve been responsible for the victim's death.  

One of the most intriguing elements of the story is the premise, which keeps the drama involving. It's hard not to wonder how the story will unfold and how Kemp will react. However, there aren’t enough surprises and turns here to truly build the premise into a truly unforgettable story. Instead, Eastwood relies on the premise itself to tell a commendable (but never outstanding) feature.

Written by Jonathan A. Abrams, the script has elements that one might find in a John Grisham novel.

There are parts of the story here that will likely remind the viewer of great films that really took advantage of their premises. Many of the jury scenes are reminiscent of 12 Angry Men (1957) while the concept of a criminal investigation occurring long after a suspect has been fingered feels like a nod to The Fugitive (1993). Juror #2 offers a number of odes to those films but never puts its own unique spin on those concepts and never makes raises the tension as much as one would hope.

Fortunately, the cast does a nice job bringing the characters to life and making them relatable and sympathetic. Hoult does an admirable job in the title role as his character has to express most of his feelings through his knowing facial expressions. The actor does a lot in few words as he's forced to manipulate events (especially in the jury room) without raising too many suspicions. Likewise, Toni Collette does a nice job here as prosecutor Faith Killebrew, an attorney who wants to use the trial to propel herself into higher office while realizing belatedly that the case is more complicated than it seems.

Kiefer Sutherland, who appears as Kemp’s friend from Alcoholics Anonymous who is a defense attorney, is sadly wasted here in a supporting role. He’s more of a sounding board for Kemp’s character, rather than a unique character in his own right.    

Although Juror #2 doesn’t stand out as a remarkable legal thriller, it’s a well-crafted drama that deserves more of an audience than it did in theaters. This is another satisfying drama from director Clint Eastwood, who continues to make compelling films even in his nineties.