Juror #2 Parent Guide

Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) has been called for jury duty, despite telling the judge that his wife, Allison (Zoey Deutch), is in the last few weeks of a high-risk pregnancy. The case the jury is hearing is of the death of a young woman, who was last seen at a bar fighting with her boyfriend before being found the next morning in a creek below a bridge. The prosecutor (Toni Collette), who happens to be weeks away from an election that could see her become district attorney, insists that the boyfriend followed the victim out of the bar and murdered her before dumping her body off the bridge; the defense maintains that the boyfriend went straight home from the bar and is innocent.

While listening to the evidence, Justin realizes that he was there that night and may be far more involved in this case than he anticipated. While he doesn’t want to admit to his involvement, he also can’t sit by and allow the jury to convict a man who may very well be innocent.

Courtroom dramas run the gamut from prestige classics to boring slogs. Juror #2 hearkens back to some of the pinnacles of that genre, drawing especially on 12 Angry Men, but adds an extra level of moral gray areas. The film is expertly crafted, tightly written, and superbly acted. Perhaps most importantly, it presents and explores deep moral and legal dilemmas without imposing any answers. The audience is left to sit with the ambiguity, which promises to stick with the viewer for a long time. The film also explores the American justice system in a frank but non-judgmental manner. Problems with the jury process, the impact of personal agendas, and the impossibility of impartiality are all portrayed, but the screenplay isn’t concerned with demonizing these issues. Rather it examines them alongside values of democracy and justice, painting a nuanced picture of a flawed system full of people with good intentions.

Director Clint Eastwood is 94 years old as of this film’s release and his decades of experience in the industry are on full display here. The pacing, tension, suspense, and overall direction are masterful, helped along by a tight, intelligent screenplay. I cannot praise the performances in this film enough. From the main cast to the briefest side characters, there isn’t a single dud. I truly hope that Hoult is recognized come award season because his performance is particularly noteworthy.

Due to the subject matter, this film contains some elements that make it unsuitable for children, though kids generally aren’t interested in courtroom procedurals anyway. However, I personally found the negative content to all be in direct service of telling a realistic and nuanced story, not inserted for shock value. The ambiguous morality of this story as well as its examination of the American justice system make for a thought-provoking and engaging film for many audiences, and I anticipate we’ll be hearing more about it as awards season gets into full swing.