Release Date – 1st November 2024, Cert – 12, Run-time – 1 hour 54 minutes, Director – Clint Eastwood
Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) is called to jury service with just a matter of weeks until his wife (Zoey Deutch) is due to give birth, however when he may have committed the murder the case is for he tries to find the accused innocent while avoiding suspicion towards himself.
With marketing having begun just a month before release, claims of a release in no more than 50 US cinemas, scepticism around whether there will be any box office reports and no awards push whatsoever Juror #2 seems to have been left out to die by Warner Bros, who initially intended the film for debut on streaming service Max. It’s a strange set of circumstances for a new, and reportedly final, Clint Eastwood directed film with a rather starry cast at the centre. The kind that’s safe and conventional enough to, in years gone by, have been nominated for Best Picture, and potentially won (subsequently having its reputation as a perfectly likable drama shattered because of it).
While, yes, safe and conventional there’s little wrong with that in the case of this courtroom, and deliberation room, drama as the traditional nature works very much in its favour. An old school feature, the kind that when it pops up people claim it as ‘the kind of film they don’t make anymore’, when the credits rolled I simply sat back and thought ‘that was really good’. An uncomplicated yet engaging drama delving into the moral complexities and conflictions of writer Justin Kemp (Nicholas Cage) who finds himself called to serve as a member of the jury on a murder trial.
Unable to get out of it, despite mention of his pregnant wife (Zoey Deutch), in the third trimester of a difficult pregnancy, the couple lost twins due to complications the year before, he realises as the opening arguments unfold that he may have been the one to cause the murder, a haze of emotions and distraction causing him to think he hit a deer rather than a person. While his worry and guilt stirs and settles in throughout the trial it’s not until facing his fellow jurors when trying to reach a verdict that he must confront it. Everyone is certain that the accused boyfriend of the victim is guilty, however Justin claims that innocence is worth discussing, and tries to plead the case, while still avoiding suspicion being directed towards him.
Hoult gives a strong lead performance as the worries and conflictions of his character grow alongside the tension he feels as deliberations seem to go nowhere. He talks to a lawyer friend, and leader of his Alcoholics Anonymous group (Kiefer Sutherland), about what he should do, told that if he comes forward, or is eventually found after a series of events in the case of a mistrial, that his previous record due to alcoholism will mean he’s put away for life – not there for his wife and child. Confliction spins throughout as every situation and discussion poses a sense of panic for the central figure, creating a more compelling drama as in certain circumstances, particularly in his relationship with another juror played by J.K. Simmons, he appears to make things worse for himself as personal feelings and experiences begin to fly across the table in the jury room.
Throughout Eastwood creates an engaging drama where the stakes for the central character are clear and make for a compelling set of events, both in and out of the courthouse. It all makes for a solid film where safety doesn’t matter because of just how well made and effective the film itself works. A solid piece of work that, if this is to be Eastwood’s final film, deserves better treatment, particularly from the studio the 94-year-old has had a working relationship with for almost 50 years.
A traditional, well-constructed drama of moral confliction, led by Nicholas Hoult on great form, Juror #2 gives plenty to be caught up in from start to finish.
Just A Little Bit Random 