Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A dedicated civil-rights advocate faces a personal crisis after a series of events forces him into a desperate situation.
The story
Roman J. Israel is a dedicated civil-rights advocate and defense lawyer working at a small law firm in Los Angeles. While he is gifted with a phenomenal memory and strong personal convictions, he struggles with social skills and the complexities of courtroom appearances. He has spent years developing a legal brief intended to reform the justice system's use of plea bargaining. However, following the death of his mentor and the subsequent closure of his firm, Roman is forced to navigate a new professional environment. His commitment to his principles is tested as he faces a series of escalating challenges that push him toward a personal crisis.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Roman J. Israel is a brilliant but socially awkward lawyer at a small firm in Los Angeles, focused on a brief to reform the plea bargaining system. When his mentor dies and the firm closes, he is hired by a larger firm. Despite his reluctance to join a corporate environment, he eventually accepts. While working there, he handles the case of Derrell Ellerbee, who offers information on a shooter, Carter "CJ" Johnson. After a failed attempt to negotiate a deal, Ellerbee is murdered. Desperate and cynical, Roman illegally collects a reward for Johnson's location, leading to a life of luxury. However, he is eventually confronted by Johnson in jail, who threatens him for the breach of privilege. Realizing his actions were unlawful, Roman returns the reward money and reconciles with his colleagues. He decides to turn himself in to the police for his crime. As he walks toward a police station to confess, he is shot and killed by one of Johnson's henchmen. In the aftermath, his colleagues continue his work on the reform brief.
- First release year
- 2017
- Runtime (minutes)
- 122
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Dan Gilroy
- Writers
- Dan Gilroy · writer
- Cast and characters
- Denzel Washington · Roman J. Israel; Colin Farrell
- Genres
- legal drama
- Themes
- justice; integrity; legal reform
- Tone and mood
- serious; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- legal drama; courtroom drama
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Denzel Washington's performance but criticism regarding the pacing and plot. It underperformed at the box office.
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Actor · Nomination; Screen Actors Guild Award · Best Actor · Nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Actor · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was originally titled Inner City.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…