[The Burial Review Prime] Based on a true story, it exposes the scandal of a major funeral company in America.

The Burial An Amazon Prime drama film, inspired by true events, when a previously agreed-upon contract doesn’t go as expected. Jeffrey O’Keefe (played by Tommy Lee Jones), the owner of a funeral home, enlists the help of Willie E. Gray (played by James Fox), a charismatic African American attorney, to aid his family funeral business. Both form a partnership and expose the scandal of a major funeral company in America. 

The Burial Review

An Amazon Studios streaming film, overseen by MGM, has elevated the quality of its production significantly. This is evident in the casting of two well-known actors who come together in a storyline based on real events, focusing on the case of the corporate giant, Loewen funeral company. This company, with a revenue in the billions, continued to acquire local funeral businesses through various unethical means, causing significant problems for a small, 75-year-old white funeral business owner.

In this story, he encounters a black attorney, Willie E. Gray, who has never lost a case in 12 years and has amassed wealth from successful personal injury lawsuits for black clients.He is initially takes on this case hoping for fame and money from a big lawsuit. However, he soon discovers that this case forces him to confront buried injustices and seek justice for his country.

The film falls into the category of legal drama, based on a true case, but it introduces various emotional scenes that make James Fox appear as a lawyer who seems to be performing a grand theatrical act in court throughout. This is aims to have a comedic touch but actually contains very few comedic moments. It leans more towards an emotional drama when the courtroom revelations uncover things the protagonist has never encountered before.

He begins to feel the weight of his mistakes, gradually losing the confidence he once had in a case he believed he would win. This also shatters the trust of his clients before he realizes it and tries to rectify the situation with all his might, as it’s not just a local lawsuit but a pursuit of justice for the deceased nationwide. It’s a story where a funeral company ruthlessly took advantage of the vulnerable during the most delicate moments of life. This aspect of the film is its most impressive selling point

The movie features an intense and intricate plot with multiple twists and turns. It explores issues related to race from the outset, taking place in a financially struggling city populated predominantly by people of color. The judges and the nobility are largely people of color, with a major white corporation serving as the opposing side. While they may appear disadvantaged in this city, the movie doesn’t make the situation that straightforward. On the flip side, the opposing lawyers are all people of color, and they are also the top representatives of the country hired to fight against people of the same race. They fiercely compete and contend with each other, heavily relying on a wealth of evidence related to racial and ethnic prejudice.

Furthermore, within the protagonist’s team, there is a division where half of them are attorneys from a white family lineage but must work under the command of the black attorney hired through the invitation of the newly graduated black assistant attorney, Hal Dockins (portrayed by Mamoudou Athie). This deepens the racial divide within the team, adding a layer of ethnic issues to the story. Despite the legal case being a contract dispute unrelated to race, the narrative is heavily laden with racial tensions.

However, this is not a film solely focused on depicting the experiences of people of color. It also gives significant weight to the white characters. From the role of Tom Lee Jones, who portrays an older white man firmly rooted in his principles and consistently supporting people of color, the film does an excellent job at portraying his character, even though his role might not be as prominent. Additionally, his interactions with the white attorney, who carries some racial biases, provide an opportunity for the film to explore issues of racial prejudice towards white individuals. This balance allows the film to fairly examine both sides of the racial bias issue, creating a sense of equilibrium.

The film’s main weakness lies in a few small moments within several scenes that appear somewhat excessive or unnecessary. Some scenes, particularly those taking place outside of the courtroom, disrupt the emotional flow that the film is building, especially during critical plot points. These interruptions can make the narrative progression feel uneven, rather than steadily building to a climax, resembling more of a graphical up-and-down pattern.

In summary, The movie is based on a true story of the downfall of a major funeral event company in America, impressively tackles issues of corruption and racial tensions. It portrays a courtroom battle with intense drama, and although it may seem humorous at times due to the performance of Jimmie Fox as the lead attorney, it effectively evokes emotional moments. The small but impactful role of Tom Lee Jones further enhances the exploration of interracial relationships.

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