The Burial (II) (2023) User Reviews

Entertaining

[alatlantic · 8/10 · 15 October 2023]

Don't let the synopsis of this movie turn you away! It sounds like it would be an utterly boring movie about a funeral home contract. And at its very surface, I guess you could say it is. But this film goes way deeper than that, spinning out stories of friendship, history, race relations, good vs evil and all that.

Even though it has a 2 hour runtime, at no point did I feel it was dragging on, or compelled to check my email or some such like many movies do. There's more than enough substance here to keep your eyes glued through the entire time.

While the supporting cast were all great, Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones were absolutely phenomenal in this one. One of the best performances I've seen to date by both actors. Highly recommend.

What a treat to see Jamie Fox and Tommy Lee Jones hit it out of the park!

[imseeg · 7/10 · 7 October 2023]

Simply watching the first 5 minutes I instantly KNEW I was in for a good movie. Why?

No spoilers here: but the very first 5 minutes reveal to me that this is a movie with a HEART, with terrific, subtle HUMOR and with a story that is out of wack but still very much TRUE to life. (Based on a true story, which is explained during the very end credits of this movie).

The good: watching Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Fox knock it out of the park is such a treat. I mean these 2 actors have proven themselves to be some of the finest American actors and they simply pull it of again. They NAIL IT. They really do!

Any bad? The first hour is the best, that's when we get to see how Tommy Lee Jones (a funeral home director in need of money) and Jamie Fox (a famous lawyer) get to know each other and make plans to sue one of the wealthiest corporations.

The second hour is a bit timid and lacking in spark and punch though, because it consists of mostly court hearings and those hearings arent as good as I hoped for. Not bad, but I have seen better.

Another slightly disappointing thing is that the supporting actors are kinda mediocre. Again they are not bad, but lacking in charisma, which does matter, because they are the main cause that this movie is lacking in true drama.

A charming, lighthearted courthouse story with lots of civil rights issues written into it. Not the greatest, but it left me with a smile on my face. I'll settle for less...

The courtroom scenes have little relationship to reality

[steiner-sam · 6/10 · 18 October 2023]

It's a legal drama set in 1995 in Hinds County, Mississippi. It follows the case of Jeremiah O'Keefe, the owner of eight funeral homes in Southern Mississippi, against the Loewen Group, LLC., the owner of over 1,000 funeral homes at the time.

"The Burial" initially introduces us to fast-talking African-American Florida lawyer Willie E. Gary (Jamie Foxx). He's a very successful personal injury lawyer with only Black clients. We then meet Jeremiah O'Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones), a 75-year-old third-generation funeral home operator in Southern Mississippi. Jeremiah and his wife, Annette (Pamela Reed), have run into financial problems because of issues with an insurance company he owns. His lawyer, Mike Allred (Alan Ruck), suggests three of his funeral homes to the Loewen Group, headed by Ray Loewen (Bill Camp). The Loewen Group is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. O'Keefe agrees to a contract with the Loewen Group, but the deal is never closed. O'Keefe then sues Loewen Group for damages.

The Loewen Group uses a brilliant young African-American attorney, Mame Downes (Jurnee Smollett), to argue its case. O'Keefe hires Willie Gary to work with Mike Allred and a young attorney, Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie). The film follows the ebbs and flows of the court case that ends with a massive settlement for the O'Keefes.

"The Burial" is entertaining but logically confusing. Legal procedure is depicted entirely unrealistically (the lawyers make lengthy statements when supposedly questioning witnesses). The film provides no logical reason for including the Loewen Group's arrangement with the National Baptist Convention in the case--how was the case allowed to expand as much as it did?

Foxx, Jones, and Camp play stereotypes but with a certain entertaining verve. Athie is an excellent young lawyer. Smollett is serviceable as the young female attorney for the Loewen Group.

"The Burial" does not mention that Ray Loewen came from a Mennonite family operating a funeral home in Southern Manitoba. That's a blessing. The courtroom scenes have little relationship to reality. I encourage interested people to look up the 1996 article in the New York Times about the trial. The legal linkages become much more apparent, and the issues of the O'Keefe Insurance business become clear.

Worth Watching, but...

[scottkolflat · 6/10 · 13 October 2023]

I just got done watching this and I have to say it is definitely worth watching. Tommy Lee Jones did a fine job acting, but Jamie Foxx stole the show. There were some really enjoyable moments, especially when Jamie Foxx was on screen. I really wanted to give this movie a solid 7 out of 10 stars, but in the end, the court case the movie focused on was pretty uninteresting and I'm kind of tired of all the race stuff in movies and the ending was predictable. Were it not for Jamie Foxx's performance, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the movie as much as I did and I probably wouldn't be recommending anyone see it. The weird thing about the ending though is the director handled it really poorly. The character's reaction was opposite of what you'd think their reaction would be and it just felt really odd and the tone of the movie suffered for it. I ended up deciding on a 6 out of 10.

Can I get an Amen for this Sugar of a movie?

[BoBo_Goal32 · 7/10 · 16 October 2023]

Didn't have any reasons not to watch the new Amazon film. It has Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Fox on the cover. What could go wrong? Nothing. It is not a masterpiece but it is a piece of history you should know that happens inside the courtroom and it is worth two hours from your time.

It all begins with a funeral business owner that is going to lose all his savings and he turns into the least expected lawyer to turn to. It is a story about a small business owner against the greedy corporate, but it is also a story about race differences, bridging between those and also about unexpected friendships, that are forged through this long path of the trial.

TLJ and Fox demonstrate an amazing chemistry and this movie works, a lot, because this special bond. The story is great and written well and has a lot of comic relieves in it, to break any tension or drama and those pauses are not taking over the movie, but blend perfectly into the plot and general tone of it.

The movie is almost light headed, but when a real dramatic pause is needed, it knows its way around thanks to its director - Maggie Betts on her third movie as a director. She manages to collect an impressive team of actors, which contains some veterans like Bill Camp, Pamela Reed (Always Phoebe O'Hara from the " Kindergarten Cop") and even Alan Ruck (that I'll never forget from his appearances in "Spin City").

Betts also wisely uses two bright youngers stars on a great performances as Jurnee Smollett and the young Mahershala Ali look-A-Like: Mamoudou Athie. It's just a fantastic movie that couldn't get higher, due to his leaning of a true story, but in a most dramatic and anticipated way. Good job and waiting for Betts next projects, in order to see if she fulfills the promising career that is expected from her.

Totally Enjoyable Two Hours

[Mystic1000 · 9/10 · 11 October 2023]

The movie hits a lot of notes and I came out of the theater thinking, well, most of America will love this movie and 30%, guess who, will not. So read the reviews carefully for hidden agendas. Jamie Foxx is utterly brilliant. I can't believe we almost lost this guy. Jones is perfectly cast. And the pace, writing, and tone kept me engaged with the true story. It's not a comedy as some listings may imply. It's more like real life where people say and do funny stuff to get through the course of a normal day. Kudos to the director, too, who you could tell had grasp of the story and kept a steady, never overplayed hand.

I felt like I was getting bashed

[robdrummond · 6/10 · 16 November 2023]

I felt like I was getting bashed Throughout the whole film. The message coming from it was overwhelming and constant right the way through.

I love Tommy LJ and I thought the other main actors were great. I only knew TLJ before this movie but yeah the cast were great.

The story was great - but to be honest the subliminal beating over my head at every opportunity was too much.

Yes I gave it a 6. Maybe I should have given it a 4 or less. But the actors I loved as did the storyline. The constant guilt trip I did not.

We can't change history and just like the "white attorney" people cannot be held responsible for the actions of others hundreds of years ago.

For thousands of years all over the world there have been slave owners and slaves.

Dig deep over thousands of years and you will find slaves and slave owners all over Africa / thousands of years before anyone ever heard of Europe or the USA - who built the pyramids? Slaves! Who sold the slaves? Who bought the slaves? The people of sub saharan and Saharan Africa. Internal African slave owners was how the tribe chiefs made their money.

Loved this movie

[TaxDayBaby58 · 9/10 · 13 October 2023]

Acting is top notch and story is a great one. Integrity is worth everything - more than some ahole gigantic business owner is willing to pay. Absolutely worth watching as many stories are told Jamie Fox plays a lawyer with tons of money, but his heart is still in the right place. Tommy lee Jones is excellent as usual - great to see him in this movie.

Ending is a bit predicable but still riveting and makes you believe that good will always win over evil.

I highly recommend this movie because you'll certainly feel really good after watching it. Not all movies need to have violence and sex at the forefront.

A class

[rehmankhilji · 7/10 · 14 October 2023]

History is replete with the darkest chapters of human behavior, showcasing how individuals, driven by insatiable greed, can resort to anything to exploit others. While times may have changed, the relentless pursuit of accumulating wealth persists. In the contemporary landscape, these greedy individuals often lurk behind the scenes, orchestrating their actions through the guise of a corporate entity.

The narrative unfolds like a cinematic tale, depicting the struggle of a small businessman against the machinations of a powerful corporation. The film delves into the company's attempt to undermine the entrepreneur, aiming to acquire his business at a fraction of its worth and subsequently turning that investment into substantial millions. The pursuit of wealth becomes so consuming that these corporate leaders lose touch with the very basics of life, such as the cost of their own sustenance.

Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Foxx deliver exceptional performances, bringing sheer class to their roles in this compelling courtroom drama-a definite must-watch.

help me pick up my jaw off the floor

[digdog-785-717538 · 8/10 · 15 October 2023]

You know Jamie Foxx? Yeah, that guy. The clown. The guy from Booty Call, from They Cloned Tyrone .. man, was i ever wrong about someone.

Elderly Tommy Lee Jones is a funeral-home-business owning guy, not poor, but a working man. Due to faults not of his own, he gets into business with Evil Canadian Corporation, who then try to stiff him.

TLJ resorts to hiring successful TV lawyer Jamie Foxx. Now, this guy is a BLACK lawyer. He exploits this by filing his suits in the poorest, most predominantly black circuits, and plays the Victim Of The Man card to win his cases - with, apparently, massive success.

Evil Corportation puts against him equally black lawyeress Jurnee Smollett, up'n' coming Harvard lawyer ready to throw back in his face the race card.

While the film is not race-based, it does not pretend that race isn't a factor when Evil Corporation is willfully targeting the most impoverished areas of the south. There's a few tinges of Erin Brockovitch, and it's dialogue-heavy throughout, but man, you will not believe the quality of a performance that Jamie Foxx puts in for this movie. I would have never in a million years thought this comedy actor had the talent to pull out of his .. coat .. a straight courtroom drama. Don't get me wrong, Foxx plays to his strengths, but he also shows some finesse that, realistically, nobody could have predicted the man had.

NOT as great as Erin Brockovitch, but absolutely worth it.

8/10.

If this is justice, I'm a banana.

[Lomax343 · 7/10 · 11 October 2023]

Props for those who get the reference in that headline.

I should probably state at the outset that I'm not a US citizen, and am looking at the American justice system from the outside - which is probably why I'm having so much trouble making up my mind about this film.

First the basics - it's well-written, well-directed, well-shot and well acted. Jamie Foxx in particular deserves praise for making a repulsive character likeable by the end. Tommy Lee Jones' everyman, on the other hand, didn't quite convince. I was also left frustrated by the way the root cause of his financial difficulties - his business arrangement with someone who later went to gaol (and who doesn't even appear in the film) wasn't explored in any detail.

Instead, we get a protracted courtroom drama on a seemingly-simple case of contract law, which was allowed (for reasons which are not explained) to take bizarre detours into areas which had no bearing on the case (including the political views on one of the lawyers' deceased grandfather).

As an outsider, I had several WTF moments, including the fact that a coffin (casket, if you must) was considered reasonably-priced at $750 at 1995 prices.

Then the verdict. Mr O'Keefe was stiffed - that was plain. He deserved justice - no argument from me. He originally asked for eight million dollars, in the hope of being awarded six. Fair enough, I suppose.

Then he gets awarded half a billion. WTF? I suppose I shouldn't have been so surprised as the US is a country where McDonalds can be successfully sued because they served hot coffee - but if this was a fair outcome, I'm a banana.

That said, I'm supposed to be reviewing the film, not the US justice system. As a film, it scores high in terms of drama and suspense, and I won't get it out of my mind for a while - which makes it a success.

Basically a celebration of racial resentment and jury nullification

[210west · 3/10 · 16 October 2023]

This extremely slick entertainment stacks the deck in favor of "the little guy" against a billionaire businessman. It takes obvious liberties with the trial, depicts the billionaire businessman as saying things no successful businessman would actually say, and lets us hear one attorney's summation but does not allow us to hear that of his rival. Even on the movie's own terms, it wants us to celebrate what is clearly a travesty of justice.

The legal dispute, as presented in the film, is a relatively minor one: whether a Canadian firm delayed several months in delivering a promised contract. The movie makes clear that the Tommy Lee Jones character is in violation of Mississippi's business code, that he's facing bankruptcy, and that his lawsuit against a Canadian billionaire negotiating to buy three of his funeral homes is, for him, a desperate hail-Mary gesture. The movie also makes clear that his attorney, the Jamie Foxx character, goes judge-shopping for a black district with a black judge, and then proceeds to win his case -- along with a ridiculously large punitive amount -- by appealing to the black jury's resentment toward a white entrepreneur, especially the kind who owns a $25 million yacht.

Although these extraneous matters have nothing to do with the case -- which, we understand from the start, is a technical contract dispute -- we see that the jury is swayed by them and that it awards the Jones character half a billion dollars (later somewhat reduced) because it feels the Canadian has been charging too much for funerals. Here's the chance to stick it to a wealthy white guy.

We often read these days about the absurdly high judgments that irresponsible juries, swayed by emotion, render against perfectly legitimate businesses in defiance of a case's legal merits. This movie depicts exactly that sort of abuse -- and expects us to applaud it.

Extremely dull and totally predictable

[Makkers1 · 13 October 2023]

Came across this on Prime amongst oceans of other movies I had never heard of. Some spare time on my hands and a sucker for all things TLJ, why not? I thought.

Based on a true story (aren't they all). A funeral home director, O keefe played by TLJ feels hard done by an investor who wishes to run the business to the ground after a supposedly contract deal.

Jamie fox plays the hot shot lawyer trying to recover the damages. This bit I didn't understand as to why exactly they were taking the investor to court.

The film was dull, I mean really dull. With implausibility and cliches circling like a poltergeist haunting nothing was capturing my attention. Everything was predictable, zero surprises. The opposition lawyer, Mame, supposedly a super-lawyer who had never lost a case was a complete amateur.

The production standard is quite good and tongue in cheek performance by Jamie Fox gives a few chuckles but that's about it.

One to avoid. In fact movie standards have crashed in the last 20 years and this film bears all the hallmarks.

Great acting but inconsistent script

[suryasays · 6/10 · 17 October 2023]

This film essentially falls into two settings - setting the lead characters' back stories, personalities and the set up of legal battles with their nemesis. What impresses is the first part of the settings - here writers had taken liberties and shown creativity in setting up the characters especially Willie Gary, played marvellously by Jamie Foxx. Supported by a wonderfully subdued performance by his client McKeefe played with such subtlety by Tommy Lee Jones. Kudos to Mame Downes played by Jurnee Smollett. But when the real legal battle starts, the script begins to weaken and wander showing its impact on lead characters' (inconsistent) performances. The court scenes, the arguments and after effects appear disjointed, especially when they are supposed to elevate the bar justifying the spectacular verdict that gets read at end.

Willie Gary is in the house

[ferguson-6 · 7/10 · 12 October 2023]

Greetings again from the darkness. "Let's shake on it." There was a time when a person's word and their handshake was enough to seal a deal - whether it was settling on the price of a horse, the bottom line on a new car, or the buyout of a business. Most of us realize those days are long gone, and now it's too often about winning and taking advantage of every situation, regardless of whether that's at someone else's expense. Jonathan Harr's article from "The New Yorker" serves as the source of this "inspired by a true story" tale, with a script from writer-director Maggie Betts (NOVITIATE, 2017) and co-writer Doug Wright (QUILLS, 2000).

Every movie lover recognizes the advanced warning of "inspired by" and prepares for some artistic license being taken. Enter Oscar winner Jamie Foxx as Willie Gary, a personal injury attorney who is flashy to the point of gaudy. His suits are as colorful as his speech patterns, and he zips through the sky in his aptly named jet, "Wings of Justice." We've all been berated with TV commercials from these obnoxious lawyers, and Willie Gary is all of them rolled into one third-person speaking courtroom orator.

Foxx nails the role and is the perfect counterpoint to his first white client, 75-year-old Jeremiah O'Keefe (Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones), a Biloxi, Mississippi funeral home owner in a financial bind. While Willie Gary and his wife (Amanda Warren, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI, 2017) live a life so high it's featured on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", Jeremiah is a salt-of-the-earth type who shares 13 kids and 24 grandchildren with his wife (Pamela Reed, THE RIGHT STUFF, 1983). Jeremiah cuts a deal with Ray Loewen (Bill Camp, "The Queen's Gambit), owner of a multi-million-dollar conglomerate. Or at least Jeremiah took it as a deal since the two men shook hands on it aboard Loewen's stunning yacht.

What follows are a few too many courtroom drama tropes that would drag the film down if not for the fine performances of the cast. Jeremiah and Willie develop a friendship, despite their contrasting styles and personalities. Willie's adversary in the case is Mame Downes (Jurnee Smollett, SPIDERHEAD, 2022), a top of her Harvard Law Class attorney who has the upper hand on legal issues and a competitiveness to match. Adding depth to the story are Alan Ruck (FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF, 1986), Jeremiah's long-time attorney and friend, and Mamoudou Athie (UNDERWATER, 2020) as Hal Dockins, the rookie attorney who brings fresh eyes and keen observations to the proceedings. Athie is a standout here.

There are multiple aspects to the film. The core of the case is about doing what you say you are going to do (the phrase "my word is my bond" comes to mind), while at the same time, elements of racism and bigotry hover over most every scene - sometimes to the extreme (a burial ground for slaves). Since there are no shortage of ultra-serious deep dives into racism and predatory business practices, filmmaker Betts takes a different approach. The end result is an entertaining crowd-pleaser with a few too many close-up shots and a creative use of Toni! Tony! Tone! And other music to set the era for us. This is one that allows the entertainment value to take the lead, while not totally overshadowing the key points it wants to make.

Opens in theaters on October 13, 2023.

Compensatory Damages

[lavatch · 7/10 · 14 October 2023]

Based on a true story of a lawsuit filed by a small-time owner of funeral homes against a big conglomerate, "The Burial" developed an effective blend of courtroom drama, slick comedy, and woke ideology.

The actors were outstanding, especially Jamie Foxx as the flamboyant Florida attorney Willie Gary, who progressed to minor ambulance -chasing gigs to a major contract law case in Mississippi. In the course of that trial, Gary's character developed, as well as his courtroom style.

Veteran actor Tommy Lee Jones was also good as the defendant Jeremiah "Jerry" O'Keefe. And Jurnee Smollett, the sister of convicted criminal and erstwhile actor Jussie Smollett, was good in the role of the prosecuting attorney, Mame Downes. Another actor who really shined in this film was Mamoudou Athie, who played an assistant attorney on the team supporting O'Keefe. His character, Hal Dockins, plays a crucial role in discovering evidence pivotal in the case.

It stretched credibility to believe that the compensatory damages suit of O'Keefe could have been expanded in the courtroom to include allegations about misconduct of the Lowen organization that should have fallen under the purview of a class action suit. But as this film was based on an actual legal case in the 1990s, the screenwriters have presumably done their homework and provided a fairly accurate representation of the trial.

The scripting of the film was razor-sharp with lively dialogue and sly humor. This is another great offering from woke Hollywood checking all of the necessary boxes for political correctness!

Solid solid movie

[brandonneicke · 8/10 · 14 October 2023]

Very well acted. Well written. Well directed. The story was stressful and I definitely did predict a few scenarios but that's mostly cause it's based on a true story so it's easier to predict a real scenario. It has some good love and heart. It's definitely entertaining for a drama. Very stressful and if it's a true story it's hard to complain about the outcome since it's what actually happens. This is a true story that's well told. Well captured and has a strong impact. Emotions flow through the movie. That's hard to get. This is a very good movie and I'd recommend it to anyone that actually likes heart felt court room dramas. I would have gave it a 7 but i picked 8 to make up for the racist people who didn't like the outcome.

True story would have been good - lazy fact finding insulting

[cbandks-15201 · 6/10 · 19 October 2023]

The baseline story about the lawsuit would have been fascinating - pointing out the systemic racism regarding higher prices in poor neighborhoods and lack of compensation for deals with black organizations, and big companies stalling and ignoring contract agreements with small companies would have provided a great movie, the fact that no one could be bothered to understand Mississippi enough to accurately describe it's geography illustrates to me the continued biases that the entire state of MS is some backwoods place not deserving of accurate portrayal. Reminded me of the time after Hurricane Katrina when a news anchor referred to MS as "the land mass between Mobile and New Orleans!" Shame on the folks who wrote and produced this. Pay attention when you depict a place. Hinds County is not a "backwoods" county. It is home to Jackson - the state capital. And you go "up" to Jackson from Biloxi, not "down". Yes - the devil is in the details - and these are just a few of the details that were wrong and wasted the talent who acted in this production.

David versus Goliath ... a very underrated and inspirational film. A perfect 10!

[Ed-Shullivan · 10/10 · 19 October 2023]

I just hope Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones star in more films together. Foxx is such a chameleon that he can star in any type of role whether it be in a comedy (TV's.1991-1994 In Loving Color, and 2011 Horrible Bosses) a biography/drama (2004 Ray Academy award winner Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role), and even in a western (2012 Jango Unchained) just to name a few of his most memorable roles.

Corporate lawsuit films have been done before (such as with Julia Roberts in 2000 Erin Brockovich, and in 2019 Dark Waters) but what sets this film apart is the human connection between the flashy African American ambulance chaser lawyer Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) and his Funeral owner client Jeremiah O'Keefe, (Tommy Lee Jones). In many past films Tommy Lee Jones previous characters have always been smart, savvy and tough action type heroes, but in this film he plays the funeral owner Jeremiah O'Keefe, who is an aging dinosaur with strong moral convictions who inherits his fathers funeral home business only to fall victim to not one, but to two con men whose greed had no boundaries.

This is no doubt an inspirational film with the little guy hiring a questionable choice for a corporate lawyer for a contract lawsuit taking on the massive corporation and a team of high profile lawyers. One of the most memorable scenes is between Willie Gary and Jeremiah O'Keefe while up in the air in Willie's private plane Jeremiah asks Willie why he became a lawyer, and Willie tells his heart wrenching story of what single personal family incident motivated him to become a lawyer with a must win attitude.

Ms. Shullivan and I were so pleased after watching the film that we both agreed we have to purchase the film for our Top Ten film library. No doubt it is worthy of a perfect 10 out of 10 IMDb rating and I would be disappointed if it does not receive several Oscar nominations.

Fell Short For Me

[OzoFriendly · 6/10 · 14 October 2023]

The Burial is based on the true story of an embattled funeral-home underdog taking on Big "Death Care". So no-one can honestly complain that they were disappointed by a predictable outcome.

Unfortunately, the story of Willie Gary's impassioned prosecution of the unscrupulous and discriminatory practices of the Loewen Group, (owned by a suitably reptilian Bill Camp), *was* disappointing. Where it should have been clarion and incisive, instead it felt disjointed and superficial.

With surer-handed screenwriting and less indulgent direction, the Burial might have been as inspirational and moving as Dark Water, but the script was never really convincing in the courtroom, and was either too frivolous or awkwardly misty-eyed out of it. It didn't help that - the "Black American Dream" aside - Gary's own ostentation was so antithetically conspicuous. That his wealth got more screentime than the very victims the Loewen group exploited struck me as counterproductive at best, and cynical at worst.

That said, Jamie Foxx and Tommy-lee Jones were both excellent, with a solid supporting cast, (especially Mamoudou Athie), and the actual story was still compelling, even if I felt it could have been better told.

Should win an Award

[Advocate1 · 10/10 · 14 October 2023]

This is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. The casting is great. The screenplay is great. Jamie Foxx & Tommy Lee & Journee really are exceptional in this movie. It also has a favorite of mine, Amanda Warren. You may remember her from the East New York show on cbs that was inexplicably canceled. This is what the movie is based on: Under a 1995 deal between Canada-based Loewen and the nation's largest association of African American churches, Johnson's church and its pastor also share a 6 percent commission for recruiting him to sell Loewen products. An additional 5 percent goes to the 8.5 million-member National Baptist Convention USA for its Christian Education Fund. And every congregant Johnson converts into a customer gets a 10 percent discount off Loewen's regular prices.

Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones Deliver Stellar Performances in the Well-Made and Entertaining Courtroom Drama, "The Burial"

[markthepig-94874 · 7/10 · 4 November 2023]

The Burial is a 2023 American courtroom drama film directed by Maggie Betts and starring Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones. The film is loosely based on the true story of Willie E. Gary, a flamboyant civil rights lawyer who took on a multi-billion dollar corporation in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Foxx plays Gary, a successful lawyer who is known for his flashy style and his big personality. Jones plays Jeremiah O'Keefe, a mild-mannered funeral home director who is suing a corporation after they reneged on a promise to pay him a commission on the sale of his business.

The film follows Gary as he builds a case against the corporation, which is represented by a high-powered legal team. Gary uses his wit and his charm to win over the jury and to expose the corporation's wrongdoing.

The Burial is a well-made and entertaining film. Foxx is excellent in the lead role, and he is ably supported by Jones and a strong supporting cast. The film's script is sharp and funny, and the courtroom scenes are suspenseful and engaging.

The Burial is more than just a courtroom drama, however. It is also a film about friendship, loyalty, and justice.

I would highly recommend The Burial to anyone who enjoys a well-made and entertaining film. It is a film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.

The Burial

[henry8-3 · 5/10 · 14 October 2023]

Jerry (Tommy Lee Jones) runs a number of funeral homes in South Mississippi, but is in debt and agrees to sell a number of them to the giant Loewen funeral company, headed by sneering filthy rich CEO Bill Camp. When Loewen fails to fulfill its end of the bargain, Jerry sues and hires exuberant lawyer Jamie Foxx.

Fun Hollywood razzamatazz featuring an apparently heavily dramatised and rather familiar true story of the little man taking on the evil giant that is Corporate America. It pretty much goes in the direction that you think it will, pressing home a few points on racist America along the way. What makes this watchable though is the cast with Foxx on fire shouting and gesticulating at the jury through a ton of gold jewellery, Lee Jones considerably less angry, fast talking and cynical than his usual role and Camp, a nice baddy doing his own little bit of 'Colonel Nathan Jessop' towards the end of the trial. It's quite good fun with jolly turns by the 2 leads although I'll be honest, whilst the Loewen Company are lousy through and through, not sure I understand what law they've broken here - anyway, that's neither here nor there.

Confusing, lost plot.

[cpj79 · 6 January 2024]

Being a Brit, not sure if I just don't "get" this movie or if there are cultural differences that just dont translate across the pond.

This movie is about the little man taking on the big awful corporation, and could have been a great story to tell if done properly, similar to the movie "Percy" with Christopher Walken, but it misses the mark.

Race is a major theme throughout this movie and I just don't get why. It doesn't add anything to the movie, story is not based on anything racial, and seems like a lazy writing attempt to tackle a sensitive subject.

This is also supposed to be a drama/thriller, but is too whimsical to successfully deliver up that genre, not really a comedy either, just missing the mark.

In short; this movie is bit of a mess for my liking. Poorly written, lost storytelling where it just fizzles out. Avoid it, not worth your time.

One more of lawyers and lawsuits... but good

[R_A_P · 7/10 · 17 October 2023]

There are many movies about lawsuits and trials.

There are many that are based on real events, many of them in cases of victims of unscrupulous corporations that even threatened people's health and lives.

There are other trials that are fictitious and are only based on imaginary characters.

But in this film we find the case of a small family businessman who, faced with economic problems, tries to solve them by turning to a powerful millionaire with excessive ambition who tries to monopolize an area as sensitive as funeral homes and their insurance.

A true story where a black lawyer who is only interested in million-dollar cases and never white cases, accepts the challenge of starting a lawsuit that, at first, seems like a lost cause.

Very good performance by Foxx (as always) in a role that required a sometimes even exaggerated impersonation.