A group of kidnappers take the son of a wealthy presidential candidate in Haiti. Doc and Zoe are two amateur gangsters tasked with delivering the young man to their ruthless boss. With a hitman on their trail, Zoe accidentally kills the hostage. Panicked, Doc and Zoe come across Patrick and his very pregnant wife Laura. Patrick looks exactly like the senator’s dead son. Doc and Zoe decide to abduct the couple and replace the candidate's son with Patrick.
In all actuality, “Just Mercy” should be labeled a “wall punching narrative.” Constantly, the flick throws high forms of adversity our way, amping up our most inner levels of discomfort. Filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton wonderfully paces the film in such a way that replicates the slow-burn nature of justice.
Spoiler Warning
Although Christmas is a time of year for love and cheer for all, holiday cinema has not always represented diverse communities. Being a holiday with Christian origins, much of its media consists of straight white families or straight white romances. Luckily, modern years have been bringing with them plenty of POC and LGBTQ+ representation that the holidays so desperately need.
A film for the post-MeToo era that inverts the narrative with an ironic coda, Tár depicts the duality of a sensitive artist capable of great evil and vile manipulation.
The power of a talented female director like Patty Jenkins and an overall diverse cast is what makes this film worth watching for me.
Where we leave the characters is in such a peaceful and optimistic place. It feels well-earned to ensure everyone gets their own specially-crafted happy ending.
