Juror #2

Some movies get really great marketing, others are more independent. And some movies come out completely under the radar, like Juror #2. I didn’t hear a single thing about this movie despite the cast being relatively well known. Nicholas Hoult, Zoey Deutch, J.K. Simmons, and Keifer Sutherland all star, so you’d think that they’d warrant a little more attention and fanfare. And it was produced by Clint Eastwood but I don’t think that this film even got a real wide release, it was only put in like 50 theatres. So really the definition of under the radar.

So we are centered around a murder case obviously, but I am so glad that we are not just straight up hearing lawyers talk. They are actually showing us what the lawyers are saying happened. Oh shit, our Juror #2 is totally the one that killed this girl. He is the one that should be on trial here. Now that is one hell of a twist.

I think perhaps I would have liked it if that twist was delivered a little bit later but I guess our story is centering on him purposefully guiding the jury. Not that they would catch him if he helped declare this guy not guilty. Hit and runs are rarely ever solved and if they didn’t already arrest you then they aren’t gonna.

I do appreciate that they are just kind of blasting through this trial, so that we can focus on the juror’s story. He goes to a lawyer friend who tells him that his life will definitely be over if he comes forward.

The entire jury voted guilty but he knows that he is the one that’s guilty so he gets them to deliberate. Now some people are super bitter that they can't go home to their families super easy, but he is forcing them to take their time, he’s clearly leaning towards not guilty so that this poor guy goes free.

The cop guy (there's a cop on the jury so that’s fun) goes to check out the scene of the crime. And this dumbass goes to follow him. Why would you follow a cop? You are setting yourself up for failure and getting caught here sir.

He is given the chance to cover up evidence that would implicate him. The judge sucks…two jury members investigating on their own is absolutely grounds for a mistrial. And this prosecutor is so concerned about her DA campaign that she genuinely doesn’t care that this guy is fully innocent. But she does actually start investigating the case, that should have been done before we got to trial but sure. Her investigation leads her to this guy’s wife. I do not see this ending well. This poor woman is going to give birth alone.

Wifey knows that he’s lying. She knows that he’s responsible for that poor girl's death but she needs him because she is super pregnant. And they already miscarried once.

Oh the prosecutor finally grew a conscience I love that. Super sad and dramatic way to end the film.

Juror #2 is actually an impeccable commentary on the justice system. With the jury being more concerned about getting home than with deciding the outcome of a person’s life. The prosecution having tunnel vision on their one suspect and not investigating anyone else. The casting is great and I actually think that this film would have done pretty well with a wider release and actual marketing. It’s a really solid 9/10 and Hoult does an incredible job.