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DramaHistory

The Burial

- Never settle.

When a handshake deal goes sour, funeral home owner Jeremiah O'Keefe enlists charismatic, smooth-talking attorney Willie E. Gary to save his family business. Tempers flare and laughter ensues as the unlikely pair bond while exposing corporate corruption and racial injustice.

Release Date : 2023-10-06

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Double Nickel EntertainmentBobby Shriver ProductionsFoxxhole ProductionsMaven Screen MediaAmazon MGM StudiosBig Indie Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Tommy Lee Jones

Character Name : Jeremiah O'Keefe

Original Name : Tommy Lee Jones

Gender : Male

Jamie Foxx

Character Name : Willie E. Gary

Original Name : Jamie Foxx

Gender : Male

Jurnee Smollett

Character Name : Mame Downes

Original Name : Jurnee Smollett

Gender : Female

Alan Ruck

Character Name : Mike Allred

Original Name : Alan Ruck

Gender : Male

Mamoudou Athie

Character Name : Hal Dockins

Original Name : Mamoudou Athie

Gender : Male

Pamela Reed

Character Name : Annette O'Keefe

Original Name : Pamela Reed

Gender : Female

Bill Camp

Character Name : Ray Loewen

Original Name : Bill Camp

Gender : Male

Amanda Warren

Character Name : Gioria Gary

Original Name : Amanda Warren

Gender : Female

Dorian Missick

Character Name : Reggie Douglas

Original Name : Dorian Missick

Gender : Male

Tywayne Wheatt

Character Name : Al Jones

Original Name : Tywayne Wheatt

Gender : Male

Lance E. Nichols

Character Name : Judge Graves

Original Name : Lance E. Nichols

Gender : Male

Keith Jefferson

Character Name : Dashaan Harris

Original Name : Keith Jefferson

Gender : Male

B.J. Clinkscales

Character Name : Chris Wakefield

Original Name : B.J. Clinkscales

Gender : Male

Doug Spearman

Character Name : Richard Mayfield

Original Name : Doug Spearman

Gender : Male

Gralen Bryant Banks

Character Name : Walter Bell

Original Name : Gralen Bryant Banks

Gender : Male

Olivia Brody

Character Name : Little O'Keefe Granddaughter

Original Name : Olivia Brody

Gender : Female

David Maldonado

Character Name : Jim Lafont

Original Name : David Maldonado

Gender : Male

Billy Slaughter

Character Name : Robert Sperry

Original Name : Billy Slaughter

Gender : Male

Christopher Winchester

Character Name : Steve

Original Name : Christopher Winchester

Gender : Male

Lorna Street Dopson

Character Name : Hotel Receptionist

Original Name : Lorna Street Dopson

Gender : Male

Erika Robel

Character Name : Lorraine McGrath

Original Name : Erika Robel

Gender : Female

Fracaswell Hyman

Character Name : Ruben Soames

Original Name : Fracaswell Hyman

Gender : Male

Donna DuPlantier

Character Name : Mattie Thibodeau

Original Name : Donna DuPlantier

Gender : Female

David Alexander

Character Name : Gary Reynolds

Original Name : David Alexander

Gender : Male

Dan Sheynin

Character Name : Hotel Bar Bartender

Original Name : Dan Sheynin

Gender : Male

Andrea Frankle

Character Name : Mrs. Cassidy

Original Name : Andrea Frankle

Gender : Female

Logan Macrae

Character Name : Jodie O'Keefe

Original Name : Logan Macrae

Gender : Male

Jalene Mack

Character Name : Jury Foreman

Original Name : Jalene Mack

Gender : Female

Sam Malone

Character Name : Jury Member #1

Original Name : Sam Malone

Gender : Male

Summer Selby

Character Name : Mamma Gary

Original Name : Summer Selby

Gender : Female

Evan Brinkman

Character Name : Paralegal in Courthouse

Original Name : Evan Brinkman

Gender : Male

Cat Wilkinson

Character Name : Secretary in Courthouse

Original Name : Cat Wilkinson

Gender : Male

David Shae

Character Name : David Shatterock

Original Name : David Shae

Gender : Male

Eric Mendenhall

Character Name : Eric Bell

Original Name : Eric Mendenhall

Gender : Male

Dan Thorp

Character Name : Jeff Tooray

Original Name : Dan Thorp

Gender : Male

George Ketsios

Character Name : Rick Bronksy

Original Name : George Ketsios

Gender : Male

Mike Harkins

Character Name : Wendell Aldridge

Original Name : Mike Harkins

Gender : Male

Jason Bayle

Character Name : Gordon Metzger

Original Name : Jason Bayle

Gender : Male

Jim Klock

Character Name : Rick Riverridge

Original Name : Jim Klock

Gender : Male

Vince Pisani

Character Name : Professor Rossencomb

Original Name : Vince Pisani

Gender : Male

Willie E. Gary

Character Name : Mr. G

Original Name : Willie E. Gary

Gender : Male

Jason Bayle

Character Name : GORDON METZGER

Original Name : Jason Bayle

Gender : Male

LeBaron Foster Thornton

Character Name : NBC Witness #1

Original Name : LeBaron Foster Thornton

Gender : Male

Reviews

L

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

@screenzealots

2023-11-03

There isn’t much to dislike about director Maggie Betts‘ “The Burial,” a solid courtroom drama that hits all the expectations of the genre (and sometimes even exceeds them). Inspired by true events, this rousing David versus Goliath story is well cast, well acted, well told, and is set up to be an all-around crowd pleaser. Mississippi funeral home owner Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) has fallen on hard times. The mom-and-pop business has been in his family for generations, and he aims to have something to pass down to his plethora of children and grandchildren. When a deal with the CEO (Bill Camp) of a heartless multibillion dollar “death care industry” corporation goes South, Jeremiah hires the smooth talking, charismatic personal injury attorney Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) to help save the family business. The men and their legal team uncover a deliberate web of deception designed by insurance companies to scam poor people out of their money by taking advantage of them in their time of grief. In the process of exposing corporate corruption, Willie and Jeremiah learn that they have a lot to like and respect about each other. It’s an irresistible story about legal system actually working the way it’s supposed to, and there are a lot of scenes featuring technical lawyer speak. It’s not dumbed down, which is refreshing, and the film features many scenes of legal strategy, brainstorming, and talk about business deals, burial insurance, and racial injustice. Thankfully it’s not as dry as it sounds, as Betts moves the timeline along quickly. She dives right into the lawsuit and the story, not wasting a lot of time setting things up. Foxx is perfectly cast as a flamboyant attorney, and he’s entertaining to watch in the role. Willie is all about showmanship, and he’s a lawyer with a knack for communicating with common folk. Foxx emotes this with a natural charisma and effortless spirit, and it’s difficult to resist his character’s dazzling charm. Jones doesn’t have a whole lot to do, but he provides the quiet balance needed as a contrast to Foxx (and they make a great onscreen pair). Since this is a courtroom legal drama, there are several scenes designed with the sole intention of emotionally manipulating the audience. Get ready for those gutsy monologues that are accompanied by corny dramatic music swells, or the requisite interaction where Willie at first refuses to take on Jeremiah’s case because the payday won’t be in the multi-million dollar range. It appears Betts suddenly had a change of heart and decided that she didn’t want to include every single courtroom cliché in her movie, however, because I was disappointed that there was no big, blustering closing argument scene. If you are a fan of legal dramas and like stories where greedy corporations get their what-for, then you are going to enjoy “The Burial.” This is a solid, easy watch about helping the little guy stick it to those responsible for the rampant monetary shakedowns that can lead to the financial ruin of normal, hardworking citizens. **_By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS_**