Starring: Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo, Nazneen Contractor, Joseph David-Jones, Shelley Hennig
OUR RATING: ★★★☆☆
Story:
Legal drama directed and written by Dan Gilroy which centers on idealistic, liberal lawyer, Roman J. Israel (Denzel Washington), who has been fighting the good fight while others take the credit. But when his circumstances suddenly change through a tumultuous series of events, Roman lands at a cutthroat firm, working for a ruthless attorney, George Pierce (Colin Farrell), and finds himself in an existential crisis that leads to extreme action.
Our Favorite Quotes
'We are all formed of frailty and error. Let us pardon reciprocally each other's follies. That is the first law of nature.' - Roman J. Israel, Esq. Click To Tweet 'Each one of us is greater than the worst thing we’ve ever done.' - Roman J. Israel, Esq. Click To Tweet
Best Quotes (Total Quotes: 20)
Roman J. Israel, Esq.: What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error. Let us pardon reciprocally each other’s follies. That is the first law of nature.
Roman J. Israel: Mr. Ramirez was told he was not under arrest and yet he was refused use of the bathroom. That’s violation of civil rights.
Hon. Adam Hilliard: You can wait and address this at trial.
Roman J. Israel: Well I would like to address it now, I’m just saying…
Hon. Adam Hilliard: Mr. Israel.
Roman J. Israel: If guards in this courtroom would not allow you to use the bathroom, you would by all definition be detained.
Hon. Adam Hilliard: I’m going to hold you in contempt if you continue to pursue this.
Roman J. Israel: You’re asking me to obey an erroneous court decision and you tell me to wait, in my experience…
Hon. Adam Hilliard: Okay, find you in contempt.
Kate Becker: Voluntary manslaughter, it’s a good deal.
Roman J. Israel: It’s an enema of sunshine. Sorry for taking a nanosecond off of your assembly line and rubber stamp existence.
[Becker slams the phone down]
Roman J. Israel: Hello?
Maya: Roman Israel, talk about what to expect if you are arrested.
Roman J. Israel: We’re going to wrap, I don’t mean hip-hop.
[he notices two woman standing at the back of the room]
Roman J. Israel: I’m sorry, why are there sister standing and the brothers sit?
Woman #1: That’s gendered and sexist.
Roman J. Israel: And, and polite.
Woman #2: And patronizing.
Roman J. Israel: And polite.
Lynn Jackson: This law firm has run a deficit for years.
Roman J. Israel: Are you firing me?
[Jackson nods her head]
Maya: [to Roman] You were a cornerstone of activism. You’re inspiring.
Roman J. Israel: I’m tired of doing the impossible for the ungrateful.
George Pierce: [to Roman] You got to make a living.
Woman #3: Take care of yourself.
Roman J. Israel: I am.
Derrell Edelbee: I know where CJ’s hold up. What’s that worth?
Roman J. Israel: A lot.
Derrell Edelbee: Don’t tell nobody.
Roman J. Israel: Everything we discuss will be confidential.
[calling the police]
Roman J. Israel: The man who did it, I know where he is. I want the reward, cash.
Roman J. Israel: The world is full of wonderful things.
Realtor: Well what do you think?
Roman J. Israel: When can I move in?
Fritz Molinar: [to Roman] I just heard something about you from a solid source.
[Roman is talking to Carter in jail]
Carter Johnson: You knew where I was.
Roman J. Israel: Guard!
Carter Johnson: I got you. Anytime I want.
Roman J. Israel: Guard!
George Pierce: These are dangerous people. You don’t just walk away from this.
Roman J. Israel: I’m not walking away. I have to finish this.
Maya: [to Roman] Roman, I’m concerned about you.
Roman J. Israel: Each one of us is greater than the worst thing we’ve ever done.
Roman J. Israel, Esq.: The real enemies aren’t on the outside. They’re within.
Roman J. Israel, Esq.: You know, all those years of practicing, scouring law books, achieving technical triumphs through loopholes and ambiguities, none of which were adequate to save me from the reality of my present situation. Then today, in the middle of nowhere, lost, I had a revelation. An insight so sweeping, so clear. It’s me, George. See, I didn’t see it before because I never experienced the other side. I’m the defendant and the plaintiff simultaneously. I file against myself, I represent myself, I convict myself, hereby expanding the full scope of the legal desert, because the judgment’s built in. The only thing left is forgiveness, and I grant that to myself. An act doesn’t make the person guilty unless the mind is guilty as well.
Total Quotes: 20
What do you think of Roman J. Israel, Esq. quotes? Let us know in the comments below as we’d love to know.
Trailer:
Hello.
I’ve just seen Roman J. Israel Esq. and Denzel did a fantastic job.
Somebody wrote on imdb that the ghost of Sidney Lumet lives. I couldn’t agree more, as though Howard Beale and Frank Galvin ghosts live inside Roman, particulary in scene at the hospital.
Maybe to consider adding some more quotes,
/I thought it was built on good ground but there is nothing under. You’re to near me to hear me. Can’t you see? It is clear as crystal. We filed the wrong brief in the wrong court to the wrong judge./ hospital
and
answering the question what does Esq. stand for
/A little above gentleman and a little bellow knight/
Roman J. Israel, Esq. is an appropriate title. So, who presides over good versus evil? Could the letter “J” be the answer?
Lets just try on a new self. How hard could it be? The disguise is so obvious, even to an absolute stranger. You’ve lost your shine. How do you return to the way it was? As you transition, you try to right the wrongs committed. What could be your punishment.? This movie runs the bases and is a home run.