Justice

"Justice" is a "message" film that's heavy on the message, light on the script and direction. Simply put, it just doesn't work. The concept is sound: African American public defender fed up with the system starts his own firm to take on the system. His plan: shut the system down by not taking any plea bargains. The concept is sound but the script is too simplistic and in your face. Roger Guenveur Smith, in the lead role, actually does a competent job with what he's been given--which isn't much. But his character is too self-righteous for the viewer to care about what happens to him or his clients. Although we get to see him interacting at home with his wife, Smith and Monica Calhoun don't really have much chemistry together.

The film contains a lot of preaching about how the system incarcerates black men but no mention that many of these men are guilty; in fact, they're repeat offenders who deserve to be incarcerated. My verdict: "Justice" is guilty of being boring in the first degree.