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Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Play trailer 2:24 Poster for Roman J. Israel, Esq. PG-13 2017 1h 57m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
55% Tomatometer 175 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Roman J. Israel is an idealistic defense attorney whose life gets upended when his boss and mentor -- the legendary civil rights icon William Henry Jackson -- dies unexpectedly. He's then recruited to join a law firm led by George Pierce, an ambitious lawyer who was one of Jackson's former students. Israel's legacy of activism soon gets put to the test when he takes on the case of Langston Bailey, a young man accused of murdering a convenience store clerk.
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Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Roman J. Israel, Esq.

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Critics Consensus

Intriguing yet heavy-handed, Roman J. Israel, Esq. makes the most of -- but never quite lives up to -- Denzel Washington's magnetic performance in the title role.

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Critics Reviews

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Mark Kermode Kermode & Mayo's Film Review 08/28/2018
It's a brilliant performance in a film that's an honorable misstep. Go to Full Review Donald Clarke Irish Times 02/05/2018
2/5
There's an interesting drama in there, but it has not been given time to fight its way out of the semi-digested mulch all around. Go to Full Review Simran Hans Observer (UK) 02/04/2018
4/5
We don't learn very much about Israel's relationships or motivations from the screenplay, but it's fascinating to watch Washington's display of repressed turmoil. Go to Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson 07/28/2025
3/5
Cloaked inside a frumpy legal savant, "Roman J. Israel, Esq." is another exemplary piece of evidence to Denzel Washington's range, focus, and presence. Go to Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal 12/28/2024
4/5
What a delight to see an acting institution unto himself — crafting a chatty character of almost unspoken complexity who is tearful, fallible, mortal, deeply despondent and absolutely unlike anything Denzel Washington has ever done. Go to Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 08/25/2022
4/5
Gilroy and Washington deftly open up this character’s quirks and complexities, and even when the narrative begins to wander Roman is still the focus. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Gregorio A. @bigfootagosto21 May 6 Good Denzel performance, not much else? See more Michael R @Mritz617 Apr 17 Denzel really showing his range in this lesser known role. I thought he was brilliant per usual. And in a way you dont think to see him. As for the movie, its good. And worth the watch. Critics on here are so harsh man. Not every movie is gonna be picture of the year, ya know? See more letaiser T @RT88401244 Sep 2 The Acting Performance especially by Denzel Washington is very good but to be honest this concept doesn't necessarily needed to be filmed into a Movie. The whole Film almost was over when the first huge plot and the first exciting scene happened, it might be my fault because I didn't know what to expect about this Movie since I haven't watched any trailers for it but at the end of the day this is just very boring. The last 30 Minutes were pretty impressive and probably the best part about this Movie but overall this just is a mid Film and beside the acting It really doesn't has much great elements in it. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Sep 1 Success in 1 hour and 57 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $11,700,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Metmet x @RT90533110 06/30/2025 one boring movie. gave up on it after 20 minutes. See more Ian B @EvilAdjuvant 01/13/2025 This is a great movie. It's Denzel like we've never seen him before, but he gives an amazing performance regardless. I think the negative ratings are due to this not being a movie where Denzel shoots someone. This is an intellectual film. This is a thought-provoking story. This is not an action movie. See more Read all reviews
Roman J. Israel, Esq.

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Cast & Crew

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Dan Gilroy

Director

Denzel Washington

Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Colin Farrell

George Pierce

Carmen Ejogo

Maya Alston

Lynda Gravatt

Vernita Wells

Amanda Warren

Lynn Jackson

Movie Clips

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Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - Standing Up For Who Can't Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - Standing Up For Who Can't 2:28 Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - A Really Bad Day at the Office Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - A Really Bad Day at the Office 1:41 Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - Sistahs Stand Up Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - Sistahs Stand Up 3:27 Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - Lack of Success is Self-Imposed Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - Lack of Success is Self-Imposed 3:05 Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - I'm Going Away Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - I'm Going Away 2:09 Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - The Time Has Come Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - The Time Has Come 3:29 Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - Live in What You Did Wrong Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - Live in What You Did Wrong 3:14 Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - Hanging By a Thread Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - Hanging By a Thread 3:13 Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - Underwear Model, Esq. Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - Underwear Model, Esq. 2:46 Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - White People's Court Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Official Clip - White People's Court 2:25 View more videos

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Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Denzel Washington Coolest Lines Mashup Denzel Washington Coolest Lines Mashup 2:00 Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Trailer 1 Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Trailer 1 2:24 View more videos
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Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Roman J. Israel is an idealistic defense attorney whose life gets upended when his boss and mentor -- the legendary civil rights icon William Henry Jackson -- dies unexpectedly. He's then recruited to join a law firm led by George Pierce, an ambitious lawyer who was one of Jackson's former students. Israel's legacy of activism soon gets put to the test when he takes on the case of Langston Bailey, a young man accused of murdering a convenience store clerk.
Director
Dan Gilroy
Producer
Jennifer Fox, Todd Black, Denzel Washington
Screenwriter
Dan Gilroy
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Escape Artists, LStar Capital, Cross Creek Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Language and Some Violence)
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 22, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 26, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$11.7M
Runtime
1h 57m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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