an absolute masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (1 April 2006)

This movie is genius whatever way you look at it. Denzel Washington gives an absolutely brilliant performance in perhaps my favourite movie. This is the kind of movie that changes your life when you see it. It exudes so many positive ideas, for example ; justice, the importance of education, love, passion and of course determination and self-discipline. One of the best scenes in the movie is when Reuben and his wife are talking after his request for an appeal has been turned down. The raw energy and reality of the scene is amazing and the quote, 'I'm dead.....bury me, please' is delivered so emotionally it literally reaches out to the viewer and screams the tone of the situation to them. Another great scene is when Lazarus visits Reuben for the first time and Reuben leans in close and asks, "You think I killed those people?" "No, I know you didn't" "How you know?" "I just know." This last line is delivered with such energy it almost made up for the blatant miscast of Lazarus, who was about 10 years older than he should have been, but he justified his part here. An amazing and inspiring movie.