Friday, October 13, 2023
The Burial
In 1995 Mississippi, an independent funeral services provider with financial troubles is caught in a squeeze play by a large corporation trying to buying him out. Jeremiah “Jerry” O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) tries to sue the Canadian-owned Loewen Group for breach of contract. To go up against this powerful opponent, Jerry decides he needs Willie Gary (Jaime Foxx), a flashy successful attorney from Florida as his lead consul. The story sets up like the classic David versus Goliath scenario. It’s an intense courtroom battle as each side takes potshots each other trying to undermine their witnesses & their side of the story. Jones & Foxx are terrific as well as Jurnee Smollett who plays the lead opposing attorney. I️ really liked the personal relationships portrayed between all of the interacting characters… between lawyer/client, lead/associate attorneys, opposing attorneys, & husbands/wives. By the end of the film, it’s revealed that this movie is based on real events & people. A mid credit clip is shown but its significance, I️ could not determine.
Alien gives it 3 “National Baptist Congregation” stars out of 4.
