I actually heard about this film from reports that Warner Bros had somehow ‘buried’ the film as it was released with minimal fanfare in limited theaters with no plan for expansion. It’s really a bummer not only because it could be 94-year-old Clint Eastwood’s last film, but because it deserves to be seen by more people.

The last Clint Eastwood film I saw was Sully in 2016. With that one, The 15:17 To Paris, Richard Jewell, the 94-year-old has a penchant for retelling extraordinary real-life stories. The plot of Jurors #2 seems to be straight out of a John Grisham novel, but it’s actually based on an original screenplay by Jonathan Abrams.

©Warner Bros

Nicholas Hoult plays a mild-mannered journalist Justin Kemp who gets selected for Jury Duty while his heavily pregnant wife (Zoey Deutch) stays home, anxious about her high-risk pregnancy. The case turns out to be a high-profile murder trial jury of a young man named James Sythe (Gabriel Basso) who faces serious charges for allegedly killing his girlfriend Kendall (Francesca Eastwood) after they fight in a bar. The dead woman’s body was found on the rocky creek below a bridge, the same street Justin recalls he was driving on during a torrential downpour and thought he had hit a deer.

Things are never what they seem in a murder case. It’s soon revealed that Justin is a former alcoholic who might’ve had a relapse when he visits the same bar the night James and Kendall have a fight. At first, Justin’s conscience holds up the jury’s unanimous decision, causing a fiery discussion among the jurors instead of a swift guilty verdict for James. The plot thickens when one of the jurors happens to be a retired detective and Harold (J.K. Simmons) starts to investigate the vehicles that go in for repair around the same time the murder happened. As a fan of murder mystery, I enjoy the whodunit plot deftly interwoven with a legal drama, putting Justin in a tough spot where he has to make a moral decision that could really affect the balance of justice.

©Warner Bros

Hoult has proven himself once again to be one of the most versatile yet underrated actors of his generation. Despite his good looks, the 34-year-old Brit has managed to avoid being confined to just playing the handsome bloke. Here’s an actor who auditioned for Superman and Batman and could convincingly portray those superhero roles, but he’s currently filming his role as Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s Superman reboot. Such acting versatility is a rare find.

The casting of Toni Collette as prosecutor Faith Killebrew who’s campaigning to be the next District Attorney is an inspired one. Not only is Collette a phenomenal actress, but it’s fun to see her reunite with Hoult two decades after playing his mother in About A Boy in 2002. The Aussie thespian can do any accent convincingly, including a Southern drawl as the story takes place in Savannah, Georgia. This story could’ve been titled The Prosecutor as well as it’s as much about Faith as it is about Justin. Chris Messina is terrific as James’ defense attorney; both Messina and Collette have their moments during the extensive deliberations. Amongst the jury, a few of them stood out: Marcus (Cedric Yarbrough), Keiko (Chikako Fukuyama), and Denice (Leslie Bibb).

©Warner Bros

Juror #2 gives a nod to the classic courtroom movies, notably 12 Angry Men, while exploring its own intricate storyline. Compared to flashier courtroom movies like A Few Good Men, Primal Fear, Michael Clayton, etc., Juror #2 is a bit more understated with fewer screaming matches, but it’s just as absorbing. I think the best comparison I can think of is Saint Omer, an equally engrossing French courtroom drama by Alice Diop. The best films in this sub-genre have a strong hook that keeps me guessing about the final verdict. It definitely leaves me pondering the best question to ask after any film: what choices would I make if I were in that position?

©Warner Bros

Abrams’ script also offers a potent critique of the flawed American justice system, as exemplified in the conversation between Justin and his sponsor at Alcoholics Anonymous (Kiefer Sutherland). Eastwood creates tension slowly but surely, letting the characters and us viewers take a moment to reflect on just how high the stakes are in this situation. He also ensures the characters remain center stage so they don’t end up playing second fiddle to the legal case. The quieter moments between Justin and his wife really emphasize the immense pressure he’s under, and a brief off-court conversation between Faith and a witness becomes a turning point for her.

This is truly one of the most captivating and thought-provoking stories in Eastwood’s filmmaking career. I hope he’d still be able to develop another film or two, but if this is indeed his swan song, then he’ll end on a high note. It’s a bummer that this film flies under the radar, but it’s definitely worth seeking out.

What are your thoughts about JUROR #2?