ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. is an Acquired Taste

Jeri Jacquin

In theatres for Thanksgiving weekend from writer/director Dan Gilroy and Columbia Pictures is a different look at the law from the eyes of ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ.

Roman (Denzel Washington) is a lawyer who doesn’t go into the courtroom but instead is responsible for writing the briefs for employer Jackson. Going to work and being in a routine is what works for Roman.

That is until his boss of 30 years has a heart attack and daughter Lynn (Amanda Warren) announces that the office will close and the clients will be taken by George Pierce (Colin Farrell). Roman can not comprehend what is happening but George steps in and offers him a job at his firm.

Wanting to try something different, Roman meets Maya Alston (Carmen Ejogo) who is responsible for a volunteer law service. There meeting is strained and Roman has no choice but to take the job with George.

Their first case is a young man named Derrell (DeRon Horton) who is involved in a store robbery and murder. Roman tries to work the case himself to make a deal with the D.A. in exchange for information regarding the other man who is wanted by police. When that goes wrong, George is furious and Roman spirals.

Doing the unthinkable, he decides to do for himself and experience life outside of the law. When it all becomes too much, Roman does what he has always done – what works for him.

Washington as Israel is a character locked into his ways and has no problem giving his opinion – even if it makes other uncomfortable. His verbal confrontations put him in situations that has consequences and Washington’s performance brings each on head to head on a level that can be dizzying.

Farrell as George wants to do the right thing by Roman but at times you get the feeling he is doing it for his own financial gain. The thing about Farrell is that he has this amazing ability to give us a character that might be a little bit douchey but the performance is worth it. A sharped dressed lawyer seems to suit Farrell and it must be said the women around me had no problem with looking at him.

Ejogo as Maya is a little surprised by Roman’s behavior yet there is something uniquely honest that draws her. They both try to understand one another yet there is still a thin line of disconnect. Jackson as Amanda knows that Roman is an important part of her father’s work and tries to be understanding when Roman has to deal with death.

Other cast includes Lynda Gravatt as Vernita Wells, Hugo Armstrong as Fritz Molinar, Sam Gilroy as Connor Novick, Amari Cheatom as Carter Johnson, Nazneen Contractor as Melina Nassour and Tony Plana as Jessie Salinas.

ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. is a film that deal with several issues of law and the criminal court system. The character of Roman is definitely set in his ways and doesn’t suffer fools. When he feels that the system isn’t fair and those who claim to defend the helpless are not doing just that, Roman strays and Washington takes him to levels that are questionable yet riveting.

Of course this film will be a hard sell I think because the way the character speaks might be just a tad much. I will be honest and say my head was spinning at certain points and the story is fairly predictable as well.

Director Gilroy is sort of a hit and miss for me because I absolutely love the 2014 film Nightcrawler and theatre goers went crazy for Kong: Skull Island. Then there is a lull with other films so I wouldn’t mind having a conversation with him about it all.

In the end – all rise!

The Michael Mann’s Masterpiece HEAT Comes to Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray next week from writer/director Michael Mann and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment comes the Director’s Definitive Edition of HEAT.

Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) is a professional thief and along with crew Chris (Val Kilmer), Breedan (Dennis Haysbert), Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) are always out to score big money. Wanting to make a big score – McCauley loses control of the heist and it brings in heavy law enforcement.

Trying to connect the dots when the robbery takes out armored car security, Lt. Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) is on the scene. Along with his law enforcement crew of Sgt. Drucker (Mykelti Williamson), Casals (Wes Studi) and Bosko (Ted Levine), Hanna knows that he will have to turn over every rock to find someone who will talk.

McCauley wants one more shot at a final score before retiring and even though he feels that law enforcement are breathing down his neck, it won’t stop him. What just might is falling for Eady (Amy Brenneman) which goes against his dictum of ‘never have anything in your life that you can’t walk out on in thirty seconds flat’.

Hanna becomes so involved in trying to nail McCauley and his gang, home life with wife Justine (Diane Verona) begins to a very big back seat. Each minute away from home brings Hanna closer to learning where the next heist will take place.

Final showdown is inevitable!

Pacino as Hanna is absolutely stunning as a police officer dedicated to catching the bad guy. Using every trick in the book, he seems to be one step behind the bad guy which only intensifies his resolve to make it all stop. I love Pacino in intense roles like this one because he not only becomes unreadable at times but still manages to surprise me and this role did just that.

De Niro as McCauley is equally as intense in this role. As McCauley, De Niro knows exactly what it takes to stay in control and focus on the goal. Even the moments where he seems to be softening, there are hard edges that even Brenneman gets cut on. Seeing Pacino and De Niro on screen together in the restaurant scene just gave me chills that I haven’t felt since THE GODFATHER II. Love both of these actors!

Brenneman as Eady is a woman who sees McCauley as a challenge to get close to. Not realizing what he is capable of, she suspects that there is something surrounding him and, of course, she wants to save him from himself.

Kilmer as Shiherlis knows what he is doing when it comes to crime but has no idea how to keep the wife happy. The relationship between McCauley and Shiherlis is tight and Kilmer delivers. Judd as Charlene is a woman I wouldn’t trust with a ten foot pole or secrets for that matter.

Sizemore as Cheritto brings in the tough criminal who swings a weapon with no fear. Haysbert as Breedan is a line cook who misses the old life but gets one more shot at it! Voight as Nate tries to keep the plans moving in the right direction.

Levine as Bosko always makes an interesting law man yet I still can’t get his role in SILENCE OF THE LAMBS out of my head. Fichtner as Van Zant is a man who clearly doesn’t know who he is dealing with and going against McCauley isn’t such a good idea.

Cast also includes Diane Verona as Justine, Ashley Judd as Charlene Shiherlis, Natalie Portman as Lauren Gustafson, and Tom Noonan as Kelso.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

The HEAT Bluray Special Features include new Academy Panel reuniting director Mann, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and moderated by Christopher Nolan, Toronto International Film Festival Q&A with director Mann, Commentary by Michael Mann, The Making of Heat – True Crime, Crime Stories, Into the Fire, Pacino and De Niro: The Conversation, Return to the Scene of the Crime, Additional Footage of Deleted Scenes, and Theatrical Trailers – Surprise of a Lifetime, Two Actors Collide, Closing In.

Taking inspiration from the late Chicago police detective Charlie Adamson – who was killed by the actual Neil McCauley in a shootout in 1963 – HEAT was the culmination of years of research by director Mann resulting in its depth and range of characters and choreography of action.

It has been 20 years since HEAT first riveted audiences and anyone who watches it today could never tell that all these years has passed. That’s how amazing the storytelling, performances and cinematography and direction is for this film. The action sequences are impeccable and scary at the same time.

This is what filmmaking should always be and Mann now brings brilliance to Bluray for everyone to see with over one hour of extras. Be prepared to be blown away once again or for the first time!

I personally am excited that HEAT is coming to Bluray as anytime Pacino and De Niro get together you can be sure it will be an epic experience. HEAT will make fans happy and bring a new generation into the fold. It’s a film that embodies perfection in every sense.

In the end – a Los Angeles crime drama like no other!