Review of Marshall (2017) by Greg C — 15 Oct 2017

This movie should have been called Marshall and Friedman. The drama rides high on the chemistry of its costars, Chadwick Boseman and Josh Gad. I do not recall any other films where someone takes a chapter in the life of someone who eventually becomes a Supreme Court justice, and gives that person living breathing humanity.

This Thurgood Marshall is no saint. He starts the film swaggering and condescending. This leads him to a path of hubris and near calamity for his case. Gad as Friedman has a nerdy anxiety that provide a really great foil to Boseman's Thurman.

This is the also best performance I have ever seen from Kate Hudson as a socialite victim. The movie sheds light on the relation of the Jewish-American and African-American alliance in the civil rights movement.

On the technical front, the film is marvelous . There is a film noir feel to its costumes and lighting despite its full color palate. Kudos go to cinematography Thomas Newton Sigel. Music is another strong point for the film.

The 20th century jazz may have been an obvious choice, but the use of its syncopated beats in place of classic incidental score moments takes the sound design of movement (walking/driving/etc) in the film to another level.

The chief strength of this film is that it takes place in a few months, maybe a year, instead of 60 years. This makes it one story and not a scattering of episodes. As a romanticized fiction this film is flawless.

As a documentary, it shows strains on its credibility. In conclusion ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the Marshall is more than the sum of its parts.