Powerful Conversation with the cast of “Just Mercy”
“At this point I only do stuff that feels irresistible, and this was that,” Tim Blake Nelson quickly response when we asked him about choosing this role. Joined by the man who penned this story, Bryan Stevenson, and fellow actress Karan Kendrick, the cast talk about the new movie Just Mercy:
This tragic and inspiring movie – which is already receiving Oscar buzz – is changing what the justice system is in America. (reasons #1 – 100 to listen to the interview). We also got a few juicy tidbits about the new “Watchmen” series from Tim (reason #101 to listen).
Just Mercy opens January 10, 2020
Synopsis: A powerful and thought-provoking true story, Just Mercy follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley.
One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian, who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence and the fact that the only testimony against him came from a criminal with a motive to lie. In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings and overt and unabashed racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him, with the odds—and the system—stacked against them.