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Okay film fans, back to the bar. No, we’re not going to meet at the local pub after the multiplex (although many may want to run there after the big holiday meal). I’m referring to the setting of many a drama and even a few comedies (My Cousin Vinny for example), the courtroom. In and out of that “hallowed ground” , the role of attorney can be a showcase for actors as they deal literally with matters of life and death (Raymond Burr achieved iconic status for his TV law superstar Perry Mason). The trial based thrillers of John Grisham have given several such roles for many, while several veteran thespians have earned acclaim (Paul Newman in The Verdict) with cross-examinations and closing statements. Now another of today’s most celebrated actors approaches the bench as Roman J. Israel, Esq., a most unusual “legal eagle”.

We meet Mr. Israel...

Roman J. Israel, Esq. is a fascinating character study that ultimately fails as a cohesive film. Writer/director Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler) posits an intriguing existential dilemma. The issue is that it doesn't play out logically. The ending feels forced and clunky. The resolve is clearly not in line with the substantive character exposition offered. It's a rare miss from Gilroy, one of Hollywood's finest screenwriters, and mega star Denzel Washington.

Denzel Washington transforms into Roman J. Israel, Esq.; a bespectacled, afro-wearing, overweight savant who shuffles around in thirty year old clothes. A staunch civil rights advocate with dreams of re-writing the criminal code, Israel has spent his adult life hiding from reality. He's the quiet partner in a struggling two man law firm. Israel has never set foot in court. He wrote the legal briefs, while his partner was the face of the firm. Israel's near autistic personality was shielded...

When you’re as big a star as Denzel Washington is, you pretty much have your pick of the litter, project wise. As such, when a curveball is thrown by the actor, it’s worth noting. This week, Washington tackles something very different with Roman J. Israel, Esq. The film itself struggles, but Washington will be the focus. In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if Oscar decides that it’s worth yet another Best Actor nomination for the man. That will be the main curiosity here, as Washington always finds himself in contention, especially when it’s a showcase for his acting like this one seeks to be. This movie combines elements of a character study with elements of a legal thriller. In short, it follows title character Roman J. Israel (Washington) as he attempts to crusade for what’s right. A relic of the past to most,...

Roman J. Israel, Esq. defies expectations at every turn. It stars Denzel Washington, but this is not the suave, in-control character the actor’s known for. Instead, the title character is a socially awkward, anachronistically dressed misfit. It’s a legal drama, but eschews the epic courtroom scenes and shocking turns that are the genre’s hallmarks. Israel is the anti-Michael Clayton. It is writer-director Dan Gilroy’s follow-up to the deliciously nasty Nightcrawler, but no thriller. Even the poster misleads: released the morning of the film’s world premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, its central image — the back of Washington’s head and upper body, decked out in a 1970s suit and wearing dated headphones — implies that the film takes place decades earlier. In fact, it is set in 2017.

These surprises are mostly a positive. It’s a treat to see Washington, arguably the planet...