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Marshall (film)

From Alfawiki
Marshall
Company typeFilm
IndustryMotion picture
Founded2017
FounderReginald Hudlin (director), Michael and Jacob Koskoff (writers)
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States
ProductsBiographical legal drama film
ParentOpen Road Films (distributor)

Marshall is a 2017 American biographical legal drama helmed by director Reginald Hudlin and penned by Michael and Jacob Koskoff. The film features Chadwick Boseman portraying Thurgood Marshall, the pioneering African American Supreme Court Justice, concentrating on the early legal battle State of Connecticut v. Joseph Spell. The ensemble cast also includes Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Dan Stevens, Sterling K. Brown, and James Cromwell.

The project was announced in December 2015, coinciding with Boseman's casting, and principal photography commenced that same month in Los Angeles, later shifting to Buffalo and Niagara Falls, New York.

Its debut took place at Howard University on September 20, 2017, followed by a U.S. theatrical release through Open Road Films on October 13, 2017. While Boseman's portrayal received acclaim, opinions on the screenplay were mixed. The film earned $10 million at the box office against a production budget of $12 million.

At the 90th Academy Awards, it garnered a nomination for Best Original Song with "Stand Up for Something".

Plot

Set in April 1941, the story follows Thurgood Marshall, an NAACP attorney committed to defending African Americans unjustly accused due to racial bias. After returning to his New York office, he is dispatched to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to represent Joseph Spell, a chauffeur charged with raping his white employer, Eleanor Strubing—a case that has drawn significant media scrutiny. Sam Friedman, a local insurance attorney, is tasked by his brother with facilitating Marshall’s admission to the local bar despite Marshall's initial hesitation. Judge Foster grants Marshall admission but restricts him from speaking during the trial, designating Friedman as Spell’s lead defense counsel. Marshall supports Friedman by providing strategic guidance and advice on jury selection through detailed notes.

Spell maintains that he never engaged in any sexual activity with Strubing and directs them to a patrolman who stopped him while driving her vehicle on the night in question. They examine Strubing’s allegation that Spell restrained her and attempted to throw her off a bridge. Skeptical of this narrative, they question why Spell would choose the calm side of the river rather than the turbulent rapids if attempting to harm her. Spell initially contemplates accepting a plea deal offered by prosecutor Lorin Willis but is convinced by Marshall to reject it. During the trial, medical testimony reveals skin fragments beneath Strubing’s fingernails and bruises on her body. Strubing testifies that she was tied up when the patrolman stopped Spell. Faced with this evidence, Spell admits to lying about having no sexual contact.

Spell then claims that Strubing’s husband inflicted the bruises through domestic violence. He recounts that he sought money from Strubing for a debt that evening and found her receptive to sexual advances; they engaged in multiple encounters. Strubing became frightened upon realizing she was pregnant and attempted to hide during the patrolman’s intervention. Later, she coerced Spell into stopping near a bridge where she tried to commit suicide by jumping but survived and fabricated the rape accusation. When asked why he initially lied, Spell cites fear of lynching prevalent for black men accused of relations with white women in his home state of Louisiana. Judge Foster permits this testimony despite objections from the prosecution, leaving the jury visibly stunned.

Prior to the verdict announcement, Marshall departs for another case in Mississippi. Prosecutor Willis offers an improved plea bargain which Spell declines. On the eve of Marshall’s departure, he and Friedman prepare closing arguments; Friedman delivers them alone in court. The jury forewoman—an affluent Southern white woman—ultimately pronounces a "not guilty" verdict. The courtroom erupts in applause as Spell expresses immense relief. Friedman communicates the outcome to Marshall by phone as he moves forward with his next case. The closing credits reveal Friedman continued his civil rights advocacy while Marshall rose to become a central legal figure in the American Civil Rights Movement and the first African American Supreme Court Justice.

Cast

Cameos

In the concluding scene, civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump makes an appearance portraying attorney Z. Alexander Looby, alongside Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, the parents of Trayvon Martin, who represent the guardians of the 14-year-old Mississippi youth whom Marshall defends.


Production

Filming commenced in mid-December 2015 in Los Angeles, before transitioning to locations in Buffalo early in 2016. Key shooting sites included Buffalo City Hall, Buffalo Central Terminal, Daemen College, Orchard Park, and the area around Niagara Falls. The project was directed by Reginald Hudlin, based on a screenplay written by Michael and Jacob Koskoff. Financial backing came from the Chinese firm Super Hero Films, with production handled by Paula Wagner’s Chestnut Ridge Productions in conjunction with Hudlin and producer Jonathan Sanger.

Release

The film debuted at a screening held at Howard University on September 20, 2017, followed by its official release across the United States on October 13, 2017.

Box office

Marshall premiered in North America alongside titles such as Happy Death Day, The Foreigner, and Professor Marston and the Wonder Women. Forecasts anticipated earnings between $3 million and $4 million from 821 theaters during its opening weekend. Ultimately, it garnered $3 million domestically, placing it 11th in box office rankings.

Critical reception

According to the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has garnered an 80% approval rating from 144 critics, with an average rating of 6.6 out of 10. The site's summary describes Marshall as "an insightful and well-acted portrayal of its real-life protagonist's formative career, combined with a captivating traditional courtroom drama." On Metacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 66 out of 100 based on 34 reviews, signifying "generally favorable reviews."

Peter DeBruge of Variety characterized the movie as "an engaging courtroom drama." In Rolling Stone, Peter Travers awarded it three stars out of four, applauding Boseman’s portrayal for offering "a thrilling glimpse into the making of a remarkable individual."

Manohla Dargis from The New York Times praised the film’s focus on a particular legal case to delve into Marshall’s life but criticized its oversimplified character portrayals and attempts to appease viewers.

Writing for Vulture, Angelica Jade Bastién drew attention to the film’s limited character development, particularly concerning Marshall himself. She observed that moments such as Marshall drinking from a whites-only water fountain highlight the movie’s shallow examination of his motivations and identity beyond his sharp intellect. Bastién also noted the absence of any discussion about colorism in American society, which influenced the experiences of light-skinned Thurgood Marshall differently than depicted by Chadwick Boseman.

Awards and nominations

The song "Stand Up for Something" received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Song, and the Satellite Award for Best Original Song. It secured the Satellite Award but was defeated in the other categories by "Remember Me" from Coco.

See also

External links

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