The unlikely pair of Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) and Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) come together in this courtroom drama/comedy to battle corporate greed. Jeremiah, a self-made family man, owns eight funeral homes and a burial insurance company in Biloxi, Mississippi. When business isn’t doing so well, he decides to sell a portion of his business to big-wig Ray Loewen (Bill Camp). This “nap waiting to happen” contract law case becomes bigger than anyone could have ever imagined, all at the hands of the rich and smooth-talking lawyer, Willie Gary.
Though centred around the true life events of O’Keefe v. The Loewen Group, this story goes far beyond the dispute in question. Racism creeps in around every corner. Whether it be Willie Gary and his team of black lawyers, or Jeremiah’s young lawyer, Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie), we get a glimpse into how many people let their prejudice get the better of them.
In fact, O’Keefe v. The Loewen Group was occurring at the same time as The People v. O. J. Simpson. Racism in America was at the forefront of conversation in the wake of the Rodney King beating and, subsequently, the O. J. Simpson trial. Willie Gary was even compared to Johnnie Cochran.
Another interesting angle to this story was the sexism surrounding Mame Downes (Jurnee Smollet), the lawyer representing The Loewen Group. Being young, black, and female, she was instantly judged and doubted (despite her many accolades). It takes no time for the other characters and the audience to realize that she did not come to play games.
The Burial was a fascinating true story and very entertaining film. It premiered at TIFF ’23 and will be available on Prime Video on October 13, 2023.
