Drama

History

The Burial

Double Nickel Entertainment

Bobby Shriver Productions

Foxxhole Productions

Maven Screen Media

Amazon MGM Studios

Big Indie Pictures

United States of America

English

Tommy Lee Jones

Jamie Foxx

Jurnee Smollett

Alan Ruck

Mamoudou Athie

Pamela Reed

Bill Camp

Amanda Warren

Dorian Missick

Tywayne Wheatt

Lance E. Nichols

Keith Jefferson

B.J. Clinkscales

Doug Spearman

Gralen Bryant Banks

Olivia Brody

David Maldonado

Billy Slaughter

Christopher Winchester

Lorna Street Dopson

Erika Robel

Fracaswell Hyman

Donna DuPlantier

David Alexander

Dan Sheynin

Andrea Frankle

Logan Macrae

Jalene Mack

Sam Malone

Summer Selby

Evan Brinkman

Cat Wilkinson

David Shae

Eric Mendenhall

Dan Thorp

George Ketsios

Mike Harkins

Jason Bayle

Jim Klock

Vince Pisani

Willie E. Gary

LeBaron Foster Thornton

Margaret Betts

Ashley Clements

Michael Abels

Ian Watermeier

Celine Rattray

Trudie Styler

Maryse Alberti

Lee Percy

Kim Taylor-Coleman

Kay Lee

Adam Alonso

Eric Jihwan Jeon

Joie Todd Kerns

Claire Sanchez

Mirren Gordon-Crozier

Michelle Cardoza

Melissa Forney

Laura Gorman

Alana J. Hogg

Shawn Janifer

Allison LaCour

Suzy Laney

Anouck Sullivan

Scott Foundas

Chelsea Krant

Pamela Monroe

Steve Lonano

Joe May

Lee Blaine

Alice Alward

Michele Bardwell

Jubilate Cox

Stephen Dudro

Gregory T. Geniusz

Twig Leveque

Evan Maddalena

Michael S. Martin

McKensie McNeely

Katia Nájera

Marine Pascetta

Eric Ringbloom

Cydney Tucker

Erik van Haaren

Benjamin Farthing

Dustin Fleetwood

Liam Hoppe

Nicolas Decara

Daniel Fradkin

George Loucas

Matt Russell

Cameron Target

Martín Zequeira

Raheem Allen

Austin Alward

Cole Thomas Barranco

Adam Barth

Mason Blair

Skip Bolen

Chip Carey

Brandon Dauzat

Ryan Goss

Aha Hasan

Josef Hensgens

Ryosuke Kawanaka

Bruce Vincent Logan

Andy Luce

Fernando MacFarlane

Nick Nicolay

Joseph Paolucci Jr.

Jack Patterson

Paul Rahfield

Nick Ramey

Chris Salamone

Chad Taylor

Henry Tirl

Alex Vucic

Daniel Waghorne

Jim Wayer

Charlotte Gale

Theresa Hernandez

Meagan Lewis

Anna P. McCarthy

Stefana A Campbell

Jennifer Kennedy

Leigha K. Lindsay

Julie Carr

Leeza Diott

Ryan Hymel

Nia Rose

Tim Stipan

David Fields

Vinny Dovichi

Doug Wright

Jenette Kahn

Adam Richman

Bobby Shriver

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

There isn’t much to dislike about director Maggie Betts‘ “The Burial,” a solid courtroom drama that hits all the expectations of the genre (and sometimes even exceeds them). Inspired by true events, this rousing David versus Goliath story is well cast, well acted, well told, and is set up to be an all-around crowd pleaser.

Mississippi funeral home owner Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) has fallen on hard times. The mom-and-pop business has been in his family for generations, and he aims to have something to pass down to his plethora of children and grandchildren. When a deal with the CEO (Bill Camp) of a heartless multibillion dollar “death care industry” corporation goes South, Jeremiah hires the smooth talking, charismatic personal injury attorney Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) to help save the family business. The men and their legal team uncover a deliberate web of deception designed by insurance companies to scam poor people out of their money by taking advantage of them in their time of grief. In the process of exposing corporate corruption, Willie and Jeremiah learn that they have a lot to like and respect about each other.

It’s an irresistible story about legal system actually working the way it’s supposed to, and there are a lot of scenes featuring technical lawyer speak. It’s not dumbed down, which is refreshing, and the film features many scenes of legal strategy, brainstorming, and talk about business deals, burial insurance, and racial injustice. Thankfully it’s not as dry as it sounds, as Betts moves the timeline along quickly. She dives right into the lawsuit and the story, not wasting a lot of time setting things up.

Foxx is perfectly cast as a flamboyant attorney, and he’s entertaining to watch in the role. Willie is all about showmanship, and he’s a lawyer with a knack for communicating with common folk. Foxx emotes this with a natural charisma and effortless spirit, and it’s difficult to resist his character’s dazzling charm. Jones doesn’t have a whole lot to do, but he provides the quiet balance needed as a contrast to Foxx (and they make a great onscreen pair).

Since this is a courtroom legal drama, there are several scenes designed with the sole intention of emotionally manipulating the audience. Get ready for those gutsy monologues that are accompanied by corny dramatic music swells, or the requisite interaction where Willie at first refuses to take on Jeremiah’s case because the payday won’t be in the multi-million dollar range. It appears Betts suddenly had a change of heart and decided that she didn’t want to include every single courtroom cliché in her movie, however, because I was disappointed that there was no big, blustering closing argument scene.

If you are a fan of legal dramas and like stories where greedy corporations get their what-for, then you are going to enjoy “The Burial.” This is a solid, easy watch about helping the little guy stick it to those responsible for the rampant monetary shakedowns that can lead to the financial ruin of normal, hardworking citizens.

**_By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS_**

Willie Gary's Origin Story

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The Burial

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Cast

Tommy Lee Jones

Jamie Foxx

Jurnee Smollett

Alan Ruck

Mamoudou Athie

Pamela Reed

Bill Camp

Amanda Warren

Dorian Missick

Tywayne Wheatt

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