"Monster"

2018 1h 38min

What a powerful movie. It's about Steve Harmon, a young, Black high school Senior who is captivated by film and the arts. Everything seems to be going in his favor when he happens to be at the scene of a robbery and murder. He's brought to trial and is called a monster. He's brilliantly played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. and you really empathize with his plight. Through a series of flashbacks, we witness the events that led up to the murder, as well as get a sense of just how normal his life is. His defense attorney Maureen O'Brien (Jennifer Ehle) does everything in her power to get him acquitted. However, while she appears calm and self assured on the surface, you get the sense that deep down, she's afraid she's going to lose her case. The movie is based on the best-selling novel. I've seen my share of courtroom dramas, and this ranks right up there with the best of them. 

4 out of 5 stars