The Burial (2023)
7.3 /10
235 Reviews
Rate This Movie:
When a handshake deal goes sour, funeral home owner Jeremiah O'Keefe enlists charismatic, smooth-talking attorney Willie E. Gary to save his family business. Tempers flare and laughter ensues as the unlikely pair bond while exposing corporate corruption and racial injustice.
Videos & Photos
cast
... Jeremiah O'Keefe
... Willie E. Gary
... Mame Downes
... Mike Allred
... Hal Dockins
User reviews
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_**
Director:
Release Date:
2023-10-06
Run Time:
127 min
MMPA Rating:
R
Reviews of
The Burial
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_**
Cast & Crew of
The Burial
Cast
... Jeremiah O'Keefe
... Willie E. Gary
... Mame Downes
... Mike Allred
... Hal Dockins
... Annette O'Keefe
... Ray Loewen
... Gioria Gary
... Reggie Douglas
... Al Jones
... Judge Graves
... Dashaan Harris
... Chris Wakefield
... Richard Mayfield
... Walter Bell
... Little O'Keefe Granddaughter
... Jim Lafont
... Robert Sperry
... Steve
... Hotel Receptionist
... Lorraine McGrath
... Ruben Soames
... Mattie Thibodeau
... Gary Reynolds
... Hotel Bar Bartender
... Mrs. Cassidy
... Jodie O'Keefe
Crew
... Producer
... Editor
... Casting Director
... Director of Photography
... Producer
... Screenplay
... Producer
... Producer
... Producer
... Visual Effects Producer
... Set Decoration
... Production Design
... Digital Intermediate Colorist
... Producer
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Location Casting
... Property Master
... Costume Design
... Construction Coordinator
... Steadicam Operator
... "A" Camera Operator
... Rigging Gaffer
... Executive Producer
... Unit Production Manager
... Second Unit Director
... Graphic Designer
... Hair Department Head
... Dolly Grip
... Digital Imaging Technician
... Costume Supervisor
... Dolly Grip
... Additional Editor
... Art Direction
... Makeup Artist
... Chief Lighting Technician
... Still Photographer
... Makeup Department Head
... Video Assist Operator
... Set Designer
... Extras Casting
... First Assistant Director
... Screenplay
... Director
... Art Direction
... Best Boy Grip
... Casting Associate
... Makeup Artist
... Construction Buyer
... Boom Operator
... Graphic Designer
... Assistant Art Director
... Casting Associate
... First Assistant "A" Camera
... On Set Dresser
... Drone Pilot
... First Assistant "B" Camera
... Set Dresser
... Production Sound Mixer
... Executive In Charge Of Production
... "B" Camera Operator
... Second Assistant Director
... Lighting Technician
... Makeup Artist
... Assistant Costume Designer
... Production Supervisor
... Set Designer
... Assistant Location Manager
... Aerial Camera Technician
... Assistant Property Master
... Key Makeup Artist
... Makeup Artist
... Dailies Manager
... Second Assistant Camera
... Colorist
... Grip
... Original Story
... Producer
... Second Assistant Camera
... Key Grip
... Set Dresser
... Executive In Charge Of Production
... First Assistant Director
... Assistant Art Director
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Aerial Camera Technician
... Electrician
... Grip
... Grip
... Makeup Artist
... Best Boy Electric
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Set Decoration Buyer
... Props
... Props
... Special Effects Coordinator
... Digital Compositor
... Visual Effects
... Digital Compositor
... Grip
... Drone Operator
... Costume Coordinator
... Assistant Editor
... Transportation Captain
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