Creating a competent legal drama requires a lot of work to make sure that it sounds like more than just mumbo-jumbo. Roman J. Israel, Esq. succeeds in a number of ways, and while it’s legal side isn’t overly fleshed out, the personal drama is what works well. Denzel Washington plays the title character, a lawyer whose interpersonal skills are wanting, but his knowledge of legal loopholes makes him indispensable. When he gets a taste of the other side of the law he finds his ethics tested. The plot is a little difficult to embrace, but Denzel’s performance, with a little help from Colin Farrell and Carmen Ejogo, makes this film worth a watch. Washington proves here that his powerhouse talent can turn any movie around and pass two hours quickly and impressively.
Thanks to the talent of Denzel Washington, this film is significantly better than it could have been.
Not the best effort by Dan Gilroy, but full of great performances that bump it up a level, I give it…
3 out of 5
Movies 
One thought on “Roman J. Israel, Esq. – 2017”