This film essentially falls into two settings - setting the lead characters' back stories, personalities and the set up of legal battles with their nemesis. What impresses is the first part of the settings - here writers had taken liberties and shown creativity in setting up the characters especially Willie Gary, played marvellously by Jamie Foxx. Supported by a wonderfully subdued performance by his client McKeefe played with such subtlety by Tommy Lee Jones. Kudos to Mame Downes played by Jurnee Smollett. But when the real legal battle starts, the script begins to weaken and wander showing its impact on lead characters' (inconsistent) performances. The court scenes, the arguments and after effects appear disjointed, especially when they are supposed to elevate the bar justifying the spectacular verdict that gets read at end.
Review of The Burial
