TIFF 2019: World Premiere of 'Just Mercy' Receives Standing Ovation and Positive First Reactions, Jamie Foxx A Standout for Lead Actor

Destin Daniel Cretton's "Just Mercy" premiered at Toronto International Film Festival Friday evening. At the conclusion of the screening, it received a standing ovation with critics calling it "tense, infuriating, moving." Word from Toronto is that the film carries strong performances across the board, with some even buzzing about a push for Jamie Foxx's second Oscar. Other reactions describe the film as a procedural courtroom drama, treading on familiar territory, yet fully engaging with its 2 hour and 13 minute run time.
The film stars Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx ("Ray"), Academy Award winner Brie Larson ("Room") and Michael B. Jordan ("Black Panther"). Supporting cast members include Rob Morgan (“Mudbound”) Tim Blake Nelson (“Wormwood”) Rafe Spall and O’Shea Jackson Jr. (“Straight Outta Compton”)
The official synopsis reads:
A powerful and thought-provoking true story, “Just Mercy” follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Larson).
One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Foxx), who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence and the fact that the only testimony against him came from a criminal with a motive to lie. In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings and overt and unabashed racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him, with the odds—and the system—stacked against them.
Cretton is best known for directing the indie drama "Short Term 12," which saw early roles from names like Brie Larson, Rami Malek, Lakeith Stanfield and Kaitlyn Dever. Larson worked with Cretton again on "The Glass Castle." Her Oscar came with 2015's "Room." Cretton is also set to take the director's chair for Marvel in directing "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."
An Oscar winner already, Foxx is said to have an incredible turn in the film as the wrongfully accused Walter McMillian. Festival talk is already paving a potential spot in the Oscar race for the actor. Premiering at TIFF is a sure sweet spot to launch the campaign for his second Academy Award. Also receiving great applause is Jordan's performance as determined lawyer Bryan Stevenson. Jordan made waves on HBO's "The Wire" and then in films like 2013's "Fruitvale Station," the directorial debut from "Black Panther" director Ryan Coogler.
Owen Gleiberman of Variety describes Cretton's return to film after six years away saying the director "finds a newly supple way to deliver a liberal Hollywood knockout punch." He writes:
The movie builds to a stirring resolution, based on the certainty that hatred, in all its terrible power, will never be as powerful as justice.
Other reactions started pouring out via Twitter, with some taking the film as a familiar procedural drama with immense performances:
https://twitter.com/jumpedforjoi/status/1170140469638172672
https://twitter.com/RafaelMotamayor/status/1170167625000898561
https://twitter.com/AshleyGMenzel/status/1170165845550653440
https://twitter.com/Cinesnark/status/1170134349037146113
https://twitter.com/payorwait/status/1170151326585630721
https://twitter.com/dancindanonfilm/status/1170344489686319104
https://twitter.com/ValerieComplex/status/1170375639897169921
https://twitter.com/ErikDavis/status/1170134578482352128

What do you make of the first reactions to "Just Mercy" out of TIFF? Could this be the beginning for an Oscars campaign for acting and best picture? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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