Despite being 94 years old, Clint Eastwood has proved through his movie direction, once again, that age is just a number. His latest film, “Juror #2,” is a thrilling courtroom drama that presents an intriguing moral dilemma and expands upon it with a solid cast and interesting plot. With impressive acting, writing, and profound meaning, this movie was definitely a worthwhile watch. The movie was released to a small number of theaters on October 27, but its wider release came with its HBO Max debut on December 20. It stars Nicholas Hoult as a juror in a murder trial who discovers that he, not the defendant, is behind the victim’s death. Additionally, acclaimed actors Toni Collette and J.K. Simmons have significant roles.
The movie is set in Savannah, Georgia, and follows Justin Kemp (Hoult), a lifestyle journalist who recently achieved sobriety after struggling with alcohol abuse. He and his wife (Zoey Deutch) are expecting a child, and Kemp hopes to be home for the birth, but he is called to serve as the second juror in a high-profile murder trial.
Initially, the case seems simple. An area man, James Sythe, was charged and arraigned for the murder of his girlfriend, Kendall Carter, from the year prior. Prospective District Attorney Faith Killebrew (Collete) is the lead prosecutor, hoping to get a conviction on account of Scythe’s domestic abuse in order to boost her campaign.
But when the crime scene is shown and the manner of death is explained, Kemp notices that the timeline and location of events lines up perfectly with a hit-and-run he had committed. Remembering that he had hit an unseen object in heavy rain, he realizes that it was Carter, and not a deer crossing the road like he previously thought. Kemp feels remorse for his crime, but after a defense lawyer advises him against admitting his guilt, he decides his best option is to argue for Sythe’s innocence.
An important theme throughout the film is capability of people to change, and whether their past mistakes can ever truly be forgotten. It explores bias and background, and how they may have an outside influence on a person who is arguing for or against a case.
While primetime TV has seen many successful legal shows, like Law and Order and Suits, the courtroom genre can be hit-or-miss. One such hit was 1957’s 12 Angry Men, with which “Juror #2” draws multiple parallels. One particular scene, in which Kemp faces off against 11 other jurors who are sure of the defendant’s guilt, was excellent in mirroring the deliberation of the 1957 film.
The cast of the jury is particularly strong, depicting a diverse, modernized group of people that represent all corners of both Georgia and the United States itself. These characters range from a True Crime fan, to a Gen Z-gamer, to a former police officer (Simmons) who looks to investigate the case himself.
Across the board, the acting is excellent, with particular standouts in Chris Messina as Sythe’s lawyer, Cedric Yarborough as a rival juror to Kemp, and even Eastwood’s daughter, Francesca Eastwood, as Carter. While nepotism roles have been heavily scrutinized in Hollywood over the past few years, the younger Eastwood is good either way in her short time playing the victim.
J.K. Simmons’ character is well written, well acted, and unique, as he is a former member of law enforcement serving on a jury, though the movie could have benefitted from giving him some more time on screen.
Hoult, who gained fame for playing Hank McCoy in the X-men franchise, adds his third leading role in a hit film in as many years, having played important characters in 2022’s “The Menu” and 2024’s “Nosferatu,” which came out just five days after “Juror #2’s” streaming release.
“Juror #2” is a movie that inspires its audience to think critically about the events, depicting them in a modern, realistic, and comprehensible way in order to best relate to people. Suspense is used efficiently, and while most of the events being deliberated on are revealed at the beginning of the film, new perspectives allow the story to progress, leading to a conclusion that intentionally leaves complicated loose ends. While not his most flashy film, Eastwood accomplished exactly what he was trying to achieve through “Juror #2.” Not everyone will be interested in legal thrillers like this one, but I thought it was the best trial movie I have seen in years, and a five out of five.
