Did I watch Just Mercy mostly because it was all over Instagram? Yes. Was it Michael B. Jordan that pushed me over the edge? Yes.

But the peer pressure was well deserved: this movie is high quality, well-made, and very moving. It took very little screen time to get me rooting for the main characters. Not to mention, my family and I have done a little research since we watched it, and as far as we have seen, it is scary accurate to what really happened.

Just Mercy is based on a true story. It follows lawyer Bryan Stevenson and focuses on his work with one client, Walter “Johnny D.” McMillian, who is on death row. The storytelling is beautiful, as is the cinematography. Although this story is dipping its toes in the “murder mystery” genre, the filmmakers included zero graphic imagery, which I appreciate so much; that would not have added to this movie. I am very happy that they fell back on the story’s depth and suspense, and didn’t even think about unnecessary jump scares.

There is a good bit of strong language, in case that bothers anyone. Not terrible for a PG-13 movie though. (If you watch Marvel, it won’t be any worse than what you’re used to–unfortunately, in my opinion, but here we are.) It is pretty intense too, simply due to the story and content.

Another thing that helped sell me on this movie? The acting! These were raw and emotional performances–the kind that make you feel almost embarrassed to be watching, because they feel so incredibly personal. Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx truly outdid themselves. (And however Brie Larson stayed on top of that beautiful southern drawl, I could listen to it all day.)

One last thing before I talk about Just Mercy‘s accuracy: After Tolkien came out, I heard several people complaining that the movie sidelined Tolkien’s catholic faith, or even ignored it. I think Just Mercy should get some credit for doing the opposite and not shying away from the characters’ Christianity. They talk about faith, they are shown in church, we see them pray together. Just Mercy isn’t a “Christian movie,” but they portrayed the faith of the characters accurately.

And speaking of accuracy, one of my favorite things about Just Mercy is how close they stuck to the true story. I was shocked when I started researching. (And the actors look surprisingly like the real people they portray, for once!) Below are the resources I’ve found in my albeit limited research, however,

Please note: I do not recommend looking at these until after you watch Just Mercy–it’s so accurate that research will, in fact, spoil the movie!

The movie shows a re-make of the “60 Minutes” story that was done on the McMillian case. This Youtube video posted by the 60 Minutes channel is the original.

This PDF is a transcript of a judiciary hearing where Bryan Stevenson gave statements describing some of the details surrounding his work with Walter McMillian. (Stevenson’s comments on McMillian’s story are on pages 21-27.)

And if Michael B. Jordan’s opening scene in Just Mercy got your attention, you’ll probably be interested in this video, in which Bryan Stevenson himself tells how that scene is almost entirely true–although this video is from years before the movie’s release.

If you’ve seen Just Mercy or know of other real-life resources, let me know in the comments! (And yes, I do plan to read Bryan Stevenson’s book Just Mercy–don’t worry. It’s just that the library hasn’t yielded it up yet. I’ll have to fight several family members for a turn with it anyway, so I’m posting this review now.)

In conclusion, this movie has 10/10 from me. Would recommend.