Review: Juror #2

1 March, 2025 William Eguizabal 0 Comments 2 categories

Title: Juror #2
MPA Rating: PG-13
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons
Runtime: 1 hr 54 mins

What It Is: Justin Kemp (Hoult) is a mild-mannered everyman living at home with his pregnant wife, Allison (Zoey Deutch). He is selected for jury duty in a high-profile murder case, but he may be more involved in the trial than he realizes—a realization that both haunts and terrifies him. With a relentless prosecutor whose aspirations of becoming district attorney hinge on the case’s outcome, certain facts are bound to slip through the cracks.

What really happened to Kendell Carter (Francesca Eastwood)? Did her boyfriend, James Michael Sythe (Gabriel Basso), take her life on that fateful night?

What We Think: Clint Eastwood has still got it, ladies and gents. This is the first time in a long time that he’s made a film that genuinely got me excited. This is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Nicholas Hoult is absolutely excellent here, and this is a low-key surprise as one of 2024’s best. Eastwood never tips his hand on what we’re seeing, keeping us guessing the whole way through, and when combined with Hoult’s performance, they craft something truly special. Even the supporting performances in smaller roles—from J.K. Simmons, Leslie Bibb, and Cedric Yarbrough—add to the film’s impact. This feels like a great play, one of morality, something to consider when you look at yourself. What choice would you make?

Our Grade: A, When I tell you this is a surprise, I mean it. For me, Eastwood has struggled to truly grasp modern filmmaking. So what does he do instead? He throws it back. And that’s the best thing he could’ve done. He isn’t trying to pander to modern audiences—he’s just relying on good old-fashioned cinema to get the job done. This one is on Max, and honestly? Watch it. It’s so good, and it’s nice to see a legacy director not stubbornly sticking to his guns but instead sticking to what works.