Marshall (2017)

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think we could win."

In 1940, NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall (Boseman) is sent to Bridgeport, CT.  He was hired to defend Joseph Spell (Brown), a chauffeur accused of raping his employer Eleanor Strubing (Hudson).  He needs to be admitted to the local bar and is forced to work with Sam Friedman (Gad), an insurance lawyer who reluctantly agrees to help.

Judge Foster (Cromwell) permits Thurgood to join the defense, but he is not allowed to speak during the trial.  Sam has minimal court experience, but is forced to serve as the main defense counsel.  They meet with Joseph, who claims to be innocent.  The prosecutor, Lorin Willis (Stevens), is confident in his case and offers them a deal.  With their reputations and Joseph's life on the line, can they find the truth and win the case?


Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, serving from 1967 to 1991.  Before that he was a lawyer and founded the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.  As an NAACP lawyer, he rose to prominence arguing high profile cases before the Supreme Court.  This film, written by Paula Wagner, Reginald Hudlin (who also served as the director), and Jonathan Sanger, focuses on one of his first court cases.

This is the fourth biopic to star Chadwick Boseman.  He portrayed Floyd Little in 2008's The Express, Jackie Robinson in 2013's 42, and James Brown in 2014's Get on Up.  Boseman is a strong and commanding lead as Marshall.  He works well with Josh Gad, who is best known for comedy roles.  Gad sells the role of inexperienced trial lawyer Sam Friedman, while also showing his confidence in other legal matters.  Boseman and Gad play off each other well in both the dramatic and lighter moments.  The rest of the performances are also well done.

The film is interesting... but feels like it is missing something.  The script, Michael Koskoff and Jacob Koskoff, is fine, but doesn't leave a lasting impression.  The film lets Boseman shine and utilizes the talents of a strong cast, but probably will not be remembered as a strong biopic.

The end credits song "Stand Up for Something" is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Marshall (2017) 118 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic content, sexuality, violence and some strong language
Director: Reginald Hudlin
Starring: Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall
Josh Gad as Sam Friedman
Kate Hudson as Eleanor Strubing
Dan Stevens as Lorin Willis
James Cromwell as Judge Foster
Sterling K. Brown as Joseph Spell
Keesha Sharp as Vivien "Buster" Burey
John Magaro as Irwin Friedman
Roger Guenveur Smith as Walter Francis White
Ahna O'Reilly as Mrs. Richmond