Clint Eastwoods’ Juror #2 puts twists on the courtroom classic Twelve Angry Men. Directing an intelligent script by Jonathan A. Abrams, Eastwood remains behind the camera using close ups and brightly lit sets that work well on a small screen; though shot for theaters, the movie moves quickly to streaming services since it lacks box office staples like chases, gunplay, and sex. Instead, it presents serious moral conundrums that involve people talking. Events start low key with an average guy named Justin called to jury duty, which he hopes to avoid because of his wife’s late stage pregnancy. His excuse fails, opening the door to an unusual set up: unknown to him before sitting in the jury box, he holds information that would jeopardize his lifestyle but could possibly save the defendant. The dilemmas pile up, some revealed through flashbacks and others ongoing given the prosecuting attorney’s political aspirations. So it turns out the first syllable of Justin’s name flows into every aspect of the story, which questions both the justice system and human temptations to put personal needs above a community’s. While a statue of Justice looms in repeated shots, Eastwood blends subtlety into the mix, adding layers to the choices and decisions made by characters. His cast steps up to the challenge, and Eastwood once again displays his finesse with actors, though few ever question the ability of leads Toni Collette, Nicolas Hoult, and J.D. Simmons. Their skills negate any need for flashy production values, and Eastwood works comfortably with low key settings in Savanah, Georgia. With a movie making style where descriptors like “solid” and “absorbing” apply, Juror #2 makes a strong appearance in Eastwood’s legacy as a renaissance filmmaker.
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