This title refers to Thurgood Marshall, the first black US Supreme Court justice. But this isn’t really a biopic because it focuses on one case taken on by the young attorney (Chadwick Boseman). While working for the NAACP, he was sent to defend a black chauffeur (Sterling K. Brown) accused of raping a white woman (Kate Hudson). Also in this roots story is the first criminal case of his reluctant partner Sam Friedman (Josh Gad). This is a courtroom procedural that’s colored by 1940’s racism, but director Reginald Hudlin has crafted a solid drama with moments of humor and a sense of determination instead of outrage. The top-notch performances are uniformly compelling. There’s nothing original in the approach, but it’s a well-made and entertaining history lesson.
(3.5 / 5)