Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) is reluctantly called to Jury Service and discovers that he may know more about the case than he first thought. A moral conundrum unfurls as he struggles with protecting himself, his family and what justice truly means. 

Kemp is a recovering alcoholic and his wife Ally (Zoey Deutch) is due to give birth any moment. After a traumatic miscarriage they are both nervously anticipating becoming a family. Kemp is therefore a little perturbed by having to attend jury service. More so when he discovers that the domestic abuse murder case he is sitting on maybe something he unwittingly was involved in. 

The film rattles through jury selection and the trial where Assistant District Attorney Faith Killebrew (Toni Collette) fences with public defender Eric Resnick (Chris Messina) before slowing down for the jury deliberations. It is here that writer Jonathan Abrams wants to focus on the characters moral obligations and challenges. 

Kemp seeks counsel from his Alcoholic’s Anonymous group leader Larry (Kiefer Sutherland) who happens to be a lawyer. Querying how best he cannot convict the wrong man whilst not incriminating himself. Members of the jury discuss whether the defendant should be found guilty on the basis of his gang affiliations and his character as a whole. Whilst Faith Killebrew is focused on how the outcome will impact the election she is currently a running candidate for. 

Actors such as J.K. Simmons and Kiefer Sutherland are left delivering lines that drive the plot rather than feel like believable characters. Whilst Hoult and Collette (an About A Boy reunion) turn on their talent to wring as much from the script as possible. 

The outcome ultimately is mixed. There are interesting questions here with no straightforward answers. But the delivery and presentation feels rushed and undercooked. 

Director Clint Eastwood, now ninety-four years old and directing his fortieth feature film has increasingly become known for his no thrills presentation. And whilst this is one of his best films in recent years it still feels like the material needs to be stronger to survive this television drama feel. But instead of “You can’t handle the truth” we get lines like “Here’s to the justice system”. If you are looking for low key this might be for you. 

Probably Eastwood’s best directorial feature since 2014’s American Sniper but still unlikely to be considered in the top echelon of his long career.