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MARSHALL – Review – We Are Movie Geeks

Review

MARSHALL – Review

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With the movie awards season in full gallop, this week sees the release of a perennial favorite of Academy members: the big screen biography. Now this is a special type of “biopic” in that it doesn’t focus on the entire life (or many years of the life) of the subject, as with films like RAY or THE AVIATOR. Really this new work zeroes in on a year or so of this great person’s career, much as Steven Spielberg’s LINCOLN concerned the last few months of the ole’ rail-splitter. Actually this may be closer to John Ford’s terrific YOUNG MR. LINCOLN as it concentrates on a very early case, long before his great fame. And, in a way, this could be considered an “origin” story, much like the initial entries of movie hero franchises (or the first issues of comic book heroes). Yes, this man’s a hero alright (and he’s portrayed by one of the newer additions to the Marvel movie roster). Decades before he donned the judicial robes, movie goers can now see a trial from the early career of Thurgood MARSHALL.

 

In the early 1940’s, with minorities in need of competent law council, the NAACP (the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) only had one attorney they could send out to provide free legal defense, thirty-something Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman).  As we meet him, he boards a train just before some local thugs “congratulate” him on another victory. His NYC reunion with pregnant wife Buster (Keesha Sharp) is cut short when his boss, Walter White (Roger Guenveur Smith) assigns him another case, this time in Connecticut. An itinerant black chauffeur named Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown) has been arrested for the rape and attempted murder of his employer, society matron Eleanor Strubing (Kate Hudson). With Spell’s life on the line and the town out for blood (the local paper runs a front page editorial cartoon with him as a snarling gorilla), Marshall rushes in. But he will have to work with a local attorney. Sam Friedman (Josh Gad), who has spent nearly all of his time defending businesses, is assigned the case by his firm. But Sam’s not confident working a criminal case, or about teaming up with Marshall. But after speaking with Spell, Marshall is sure of his innocence (the NAACP will only offer free council to the innocent), and the long process begins. Their defense hits a snag when Judge Foster (James Cromwell), angered by an out of state attorney, bans Marshall from speaking in court. Friedman will have to do all the talking. As the men work together they form a bond of mutual respect, but their research reveals many more deceptions and secrets. As the town’s atmosphere becomes more hostile, can they make certain that Spell receives a fair trial?

 

 

With his fedora always cocked at a jaunty angle Boseman is pure “swagger” in the title role, earning him an acting “hat trick’ as his third icon (after Jackie Robinson in 42 and James Brown in GET ON UP). Even without speaking in the courtroom, he’s still a commanding charismatic presence. Eloquent, but also a man of action when the bigots start circling. Though confident in his physical abilities, we can see his eyes dart about, looking for an escape route when the odds are overwhelming, calling more on his brain than brawn. Plus he’s a terrific partner/ coach to Gad’s Sam. When last we saw him, Gad was camping it up as a fun but fussy (more cartoony than the 91′ original) LeFou in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Here he’s subtle, drawing us in to the conflicted lawyer. We see his disgust at defending, and winning for, the big companies over the abused poor locals. When this big criminal case falls into his lap, Gad alternates between sweaty panic (Spell’s life is literally in his hands) and annoyance at Marshall. He shows us how a “bromance” blooms as the two become true co-workers through the trial. Also going the subtle route is Hudson, who finally escapes the bounds of “rom-com” purgatory to make Strubing a sympathetic character despite of her accusations. She’s trapped by 40’s society’s conventions, though not nearly as much as the man she testifies against. Brown conveys all the moral complexities and contradictions as the proud, but fearful Spell. Marshall and Friedman must make him hope once more. Cromwell’s masterful as the iron-willed judge, And kudos to Gad’s recent co-star Dan Stevens (the Beast himself) as a most sneaky and smart, very formidable prosecutor.

 

In his first feature film in nearly 15 years (lotsa’ TV) Reginald Hudlin (HOUSE PARTY, BOOMERANG) guides the story from historical drama to courtroom thriller (a dash of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD mixed with a bit of Perry Mason) to, well, unlikely buddy comedy. Save for an odd sidetrip to a  NYC jazz club filled with some other icon celebs, the film races along at a steady clip, hitting just the right dramatic beats before its compelling conclusion. The period costumes and vintages autos look very convincing as does the East Coast location work. And, sure it’s a bit of a fan letter to the great man, but the superb cast never lets the zippy script from Jacob and Michael Koskoff seem mawkish or fawning. This is a great movie for school groups, both informational and highly entertaining. As far as “origin’ stories go, MARSHALL makes you wish for another “issue”. After all, he’s got to don his super suit…uh…judicial robes (well, it’s nearly a cape).

 

4 Out of 5

 

Jim Batts was a contestant on the movie edition of TV's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" in 2009 and has been a member of the St. Louis Film Critics organization since 2013.