Clint Eastwood’s JUROR #2 is earning rave reviews from audiences and critics alike, as many praise the actor-director for his deft handling of complicated subject matter.
JUROR #2 is the latest movie Eastwood, now 94, has directed. The star-studded cast includes Keifer Sutherland, Toni Collette, Nicholas Hoult, J.K. Simmons and Zoey Deutch.
“While serving as a juror in a high-profile murder trial, family man Justin Kemp finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma…one he could use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict – or free – the wrong killer,” a synopsis of the movie reads.
Gary Frayter, a celebrity brand and social media director with Kronus Communications, spoke to Fox News about Eastwood’s directorial style, explaining that he “approaches [complicated topics] in a way that avoids preachiness or pandering.”
“Instead, he shows how individuals can change over time through personal experiences and relationships,” he continued. “This subtle commentary allows the film to appeal to viewers who may be looking for a powerful message but prefer it woven naturally into the story.”
Frayter added that this moral complexity is a hallmark of Eastwood’s movies, seen in hits like GRAN TORINO and MILLION DOLLAR BABY, calling the characters “flawed and unapologetically raw.”
“[His movies don’t] offer easy answers, but instead present a character whose moral growth and sacrifice feels genuine, which audiences find refreshing and realistic,” he concluded.
While JUROR #2 is earning great reviews, some have wondered why Warner Bros. has seemingly hamstrung it with a limited theatrical release before it hits streaming.
“That’s a sad send-off to one of WB’s most bankable assets: a man whose modestly budgeted projects often brought in a multiple of what they cost at the box office,” Variety noted. “This from an ‘artist-friendly’ studio whose reputation was long tied to the directors it supported.”
Variety explained that marketing JUROR #2 would’ve cost almost as much as it did to make the movie, which is maybe why Warner Bros. decided to limit its time in theaters.
“The studio effectively let the overwhelmingly positive reviews out of the AFI Fest premiere do the low-cost job of alerting the world to the film’s existence,” the outlet continued. “What they didn’t seem to count on was there being such demand to see the film on the big screen.”
View this post on Instagram