A White Mississippi funeral owner hires a Black personal injury lawyer from Florida to sue a behemoth Canadian corporation when they try to force him out of business. The Burial, based on the New Yorker article by Jonathan Harr, is a David versus Goliath comedy-drama about a seemingly mismatched pair finding common ground to achieve an astonishing legal victory. Race plays a big part of a story rooted in poverty and a legacy of Southern transgressions. The film gets hokey and melodramatic at times but grabs you with compelling performances. Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Foxx bring humor, heart, and star power to an overall winning narrative.
In 1995 Biloxi, Jeremiah O’Keefe (Jones), owner of eight funeral homes and a burial insurance company was in financial distress. The World War II hero and father of 13 children wanted to leave an inheritance for his family. The state threatened to pull his business license if he couldn’t remain solvent. Jeremiah’s lawyer, Mike Allred (Alan Ruck), convinces him to sell three of his funeral homes to the Loewen Group. Ray Loewen (Bill Camp) was a Canadian billionaire and titan of the death management industry. He owned hundreds of funeral homes, cemeteries, and a mammoth insurance company. The Loewen Group gobbled up smaller competitors with cutthroat tactics.
Ray Loewen refuses to sign the business contracts months after Mike and Jeremiah agreed to sell him part of the business. Jeremiah smells a rat. The Loewen Group knew he was hanging on by a thread. They could purposely delay the deal and buy all of his funeral homes at a pittance in bankruptcy. A furious Jeremiah decides to sue Ray Loewen for breach of contract and damages. Mike thinks he’s crazy. How can they compete with Loewen and his army of the country’s best lawyers?
Take a Chance on a Long Shot
Prime Video
The answer comes from Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie), a young Black lawyer and friend of Jeremiah’s oldest son who joined the team against Mike’s wishes. Hal shows Jeremiah a recording of a popular TV show. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous profiles the fabulously successful Willie E. Gary (Foxx). The son of Florida sugar cane workers became one of the top personal injury lawyers. He’d amassed a huge fortune after winning stunning verdicts. Willie had fancy cars, mansions, and a private plane called the Wings of Justice. But Jeremiah only cared about one vital statistic. Willie hadn’t lost a case in over 12 years. Jeremiah just had to convince him to take a chance on a long shot.
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The Burial starts on hilarious footing with Willie’s flashy trial tactics. He enjoyed preaching to his church and brought that energetic persona to the courtroom. The film establishes a concrete personality difference with Mike, who almost has a seizure when Jeremiah announces Willie’s hire as lead attorney. An uncomfortable situation gets worse when Willie brings in his team and literally takes over Mike’s office. It’s sitcom territory as the “good old boy” Southerner plays second fiddle to Black upstarts.
The Burial encounters pacing problems with a dramatic shift in the second act. Court isn’t a place for belly laughs. The Loewen Group keenly understands the sensitive racial dynamics of their situation. The case would be tried by a Black judge and jury. Insert Mame Downes (Jurnee Smollett) into the legal equation. Ray hires the top Black female contract lawyer to lead his team. Willie, who’d never tried a contract law case, realizes he’s facing his most dangerous challenge. This fact isn’t lost on the aggrieved Mike who can sense a train wreck coming.
Honest Men Fighting for Justice
Prime Video
The change in tone reflects the film’s true agenda. Jeremiah was a good, honest man whose word was his bond. He treated everyone fairly. This personality trait endeared him to Willie, who had a faced a lifetime of racist treatment from men who looked like Jeremiah. The lesson here is to judge a man by his character and actions. Their friendship grows into a deeper exploration of the South’s oppressive past. Jeremiah and Willie are keenly aware there’s more at stake than the fate of eight funeral homes. The Loewen Group targeted poor Black communities at their most vulnerable moments. They made exorbitant profits exploiting death and left further tragedy in their wake.
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The Burial’s courtroom drama scenes are a bumpy road of failure and accomplishment. The ending is never in doubt. It’s the nuts and bolts of legal wrangling that hold your attention or not. Willie’s initial bungling gets worse with several reveals that could torpedo the case. But you don’t win for over a decade by luck and personality. Willie proves his litigant mettle at the right time. His turnabout isn’t a surprise but feels amazing regardless. Foxx and Jones have tremendous chemistry throughout. They elevate a story that could have been stuck six feet under.
The Burial is a production of Amazon MGM Studios, Double Nickel Entertainment, Foxxhole Productions, Maven Screen Media, and Bobby Shriver Productions. It is currently in limited theatrical release with an October 13th exclusive streaming premiere on Prime Video.
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