Page 53 - january

ENTERTAINMENT
MOVIE REVIEWS
ROMAN J ISRAEL ESQ.
9

Roman J Israel Esq. Is a very intriguing piece. Denzel Washington as the title character
is thoroughly compelling and thought-provoking mesmerizing you in every scene. His
quirky and incalculable demeanor demands your eyes stay fixated on his performance.
The way this reclusive defense attorney deals with being forced from behind his thickly
veiled behind the scenes comfort zone to thrust into the spotlit front seat of his law
firm as his partner suffers and untimely hospitalization is riveting. A longtime social
injustice activist with a huge heart for the disenfranchised Roman seeks to lend his
efforts to help organizations he feels will support and uplift the culture. This is where he

meets Maya played by Carmen Ejogo. Despite their shaky initial meeting (which is
always how the first meet with Roman and his quirky and stingingly direct personality

goes) she is quickly impressed and enamored with his idealistic and poignant view.
Denzel thrills audiences as he navigates trying to adjust from behind the scenes to the
front lines in a new and more corporate context thanks to crafty and seemingly
cutthroat George played with impressive layers by the very underrated Colin Farrell.
Colin plays George as someone you want to hate but finds ways to keep making you
question if he isn’t actually really a good guy. Practical but complex carrying a clear
respect and even reverence for Roman. The twists and turns of the story may seem like
some to do too much, but I feel like they add to the realism of how big the impact of
crossing the line just one time can be. How much can be undone? What the gravity of
a ripple effect can be especially in such an intricate and connected system. Roman J
Israel Esq. poses a lot of questions and explores a lot of narratives that pay off in very
interesting ways that I think will really take the audience on a worthwhile journey of
human reflection. A 9 out of 10 must see for Denzel fans especially and those ready for
a unique kind of storytelling that’s very rewarding in the end.