“Juror #2,” contained everything you’d want from a courtroom drama: a murder trial, a conscienceless jury, and an all-star cast with Tony Collette at its helm. Unfortunately, the film never really delivers on the premise and the tension it sets up.
A Wasted Premise
The story centers around a juror who discovers he may have played a role in the crime he’s deciding.
This moral conflict could have been immensely dramatic, challenging the notions of justice, guilt and conscience. But the movie just doesn’t work for me. The plot is slow, the tension low, and the characters are too shallow for them to emotionally pull us into their struggles.
Where’s the Thrill?
I was a 90s and early 2000s thriller fan and was excited to find a movie that felt like it was harnessing that period’s tension. Unfortunately, “Juror #2, there’s not quite as much tension and surprise as those classic films. Courtrooms remain static, and the juror’s supposed conscience never quite comes to its boiling point.
A Misfire for Eastwood?
Not even the presence of eminent acting talent such as Tony Collette will redeem this film.. Collette is the kind of actress who delivers subtlety and is underused. Her character is not logical or driven, and the viewer wonders what she is supposed to stand for.
A Disappointing Verdict
“Juror #2” was, as it turned out, a missed opportunity. It’s a movie that could have been a dark and eerie suspense thriller, but turns out to be an unremarkable entry in Clint Eastwood’s catalogue. If this is really his last directorial effort, that’s not an enviable way to end it.
Overall Rating: 2.5 stars.
