Review of Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) by Elpolloloco82 — 27 Nov 2017

Denzel Washington was absolutely spectacular as Roman J. Israel, Esq. The movie surrounding him, was much less mesmerizing and definitely not at all spectacular. Roman J. Israel is an autistic, legal genius.

He's also an idealist, who's ideals revolve around being a champion for the systemically oppressed. I failed to see the point of the movie. It didn't seem like there were any real goals to be met or achieved.

Also, you're essentially left with a cliff hanger at the end of the movie. It's hard to explain these things without containing spoilers, but I will try without revealing major plot points. The cliffhanger I speak of has nothing to do with what happens to Roman J.

Israel, Esq; but rather what happens with his life's work. The majority of the movie revolves around the idea that Roman J. Israel could not function in social setting, so his legal work was done in support of a partner where the partner will perform all the social duties of being a lawyer, while Roman was the legal researcher and in charge of filing legal briefs.

Roman's original partner ran a pretty charitable firm, and they shared the same ideals and Roman was convinced to work with this partner for a ridiculously low salary (I think he said $500/week) because of the work they were doing to attempt to achieve their idealistic goals.

During the coarse of the movie, he presses these ideals upon his peers. Most resist, but the right people start to warm up to these ideals. However, Roman then forsakes these ideals to get a taste of personal enjoyment.

Even when getting surrounded with praise for his past self, and how that past self affected them so profoundly. He rejects this, and presses on them they should look toward themselves instead of others.

In the end, it wasn't the positive relationships; but the fear from the negative ones that drove him back to his old self and ideals. Both of these changes came from a place of personal selfishness, rather than some profound revelation.

There was also a legal briefing he spent his life working on, and this takes a back seat throughout 99% of the and doesn't reveal itself again until the very end. This was his legacy, and how he planned to make a name for himself.

Alas, we get no closure from the briefing, but the filing of said briefing signals the closure of the film. Even a superb performance from Denzel Washington couldn't save this film for it's bout with mediocrity.

I'd suggest to wait for this to come on one of the many streaming services or Red Box. It's not worth the money to see at the theater.