THE BURIAL Review — The Prime Alternative to Concert Movie Chaos This Weekend

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Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Burial review says that if you can’t bear to watch the squealing Swifties who are sure to crowd the cineplex this weekend, stay home and enjoy this lively courtroom comedy/drama on Prime Video.

The Burial ReviewTalk about savvy counter programming!

While the Taylor Swift: Eras Tour movie storms the cineplex this weekend, filling seats with millions of gushing fans who unapologetically stand up, scream, dance, cry and noisily sing along badly while snapping endless selfies, those of us who are not so inclined can relax at home with some clever and comforting entertainment.

That would be Prime Video’s The Burial, pitting two Oscar winners, Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Foxx, against a rapacious corporation whose intent is to exploit the poor and feed the rich. There’s really nothing like a well-done, feel-good courtroom drama where the little guy has a good chance of winning the day. We need all the warm fuzzies we can get right now.

The Burial review — What’s underneath?

The Burial is based on a true story of 75-year-old funeral venue and mortuary chain owner Jeremiah O’Keefe (Jones) in Southern Mississippi, who hopes to bail out his flagging business so he can leave a legacy to his 13 children and innumerable grandchildren.

He makes what appears to be a profitable deal with a huge Canadian corporate head, only to find that the nefarious billionaire is trying to drive him into bankruptcy so he can pick up the entire chain for pennies on the dollar.

O’Keefe comes to the unlikely conclusion that he needs to team up with the flashy and famous personal injury lawyer Willie Gary (Foxx), who makes his Black clients millions and constantly refers to himself in third person.

If many of the plot points are predictable, getting there is half the fun. These two veteran actors are at their best, as is the supporting cast, especially the entrancing Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country) and Mamoudou Athie (The Get Down). Director Maggie Betts achieves just the right balance.

This is more of a lively My Cousin Vinnie courtroom drama than a serious A Few Good Men cry for justice. The message is important, inspiring, and gives us a much needed tale of the good guys winning and the bad guys learning.

Rated R

2 Hours 6 Minutes

If this The Burial review inspires you to snuggle up under a warm blankie and watch some comforting entertainment at home, stream it now on Prime Video.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Burial review says that if you can’t bear to watch the squealing Swifties who are sure to crowd the cineplex this weekend, stay home and enjoy this lively courtroom comedy/drama on Prime Video. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lisa Johnson Mandell

Lisa Johnson Mandell is an award winning journalist, author and film/TV critic. She can be heard regularly on Cumulus radio stations throughout the US, and seen on Rotten Tomatoes. She is the author of three bestselling books, and spends as much of her free time as possible with her husband Jim and her jolly therapy Labradoodle Frankie Feldman.

1 Comments

  1. Sharon Sasse on October 14, 2023 at 5:38 pm

    Thank you, Lisa. I enjoyed this movie. Interesting that Bobby Shriver of the Kennedy clan was a producer. There are parallels between this case and the current takeovers of hospitals and and convalescent homes.

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