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The Burial

  • 2023
  • R
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
40K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,992
56
Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Foxx in The Burial (2023)
Inspired by true events, a lawyer helps a funeral home owner save his family business from a corporate behemoth, exposing a complex web of race, power, and injustice.
Play trailer2:35
12 Videos
40 Photos
DocudramaLegal DramaDrama

Inspired by true events, a lawyer helps a funeral home owner save his family business from a corporate behemoth, exposing a complex web of race, power, and injustice.Inspired by true events, a lawyer helps a funeral home owner save his family business from a corporate behemoth, exposing a complex web of race, power, and injustice.Inspired by true events, a lawyer helps a funeral home owner save his family business from a corporate behemoth, exposing a complex web of race, power, and injustice.

  • Director
    • Maggie Betts
  • Writers
    • Doug Wright
    • Maggie Betts
    • Jonathan Harr
  • Stars
    • Jamie Foxx
    • Tommy Lee Jones
    • Jurnee Smollett
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    40K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,992
    56
    • Director
      • Maggie Betts
    • Writers
      • Doug Wright
      • Maggie Betts
      • Jonathan Harr
    • Stars
      • Jamie Foxx
      • Tommy Lee Jones
      • Jurnee Smollett
    • 159User reviews
    • 79Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos12

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:35
    Official Trailer
    The Burial
    Trailer 2:35
    The Burial
    The Burial
    Trailer 2:35
    The Burial
    Exclusive Clip
    Clip 0:43
    Exclusive Clip
    Tommy Lee Jones Career Retrospective
    Clip 2:09
    Tommy Lee Jones Career Retrospective
    The Burial: Not Enough Money
    Clip 0:44
    The Burial: Not Enough Money
    The Burial: The Python
    Clip 0:44
    The Burial: The Python

    Photos39

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    + 34
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    Top cast80

    Edit
    Jamie Foxx
    Jamie Foxx
    • Willie Gary
    Tommy Lee Jones
    Tommy Lee Jones
    • Jeremiah O'Keefe
    Jurnee Smollett
    Jurnee Smollett
    • Mame Downes
    Alan Ruck
    Alan Ruck
    • Mike Allred
    Mamoudou Athie
    Mamoudou Athie
    • Hal Dockins
    Pamela Reed
    Pamela Reed
    • Annette O'Keefe
    Bill Camp
    Bill Camp
    • Ray Loewen
    Amanda Warren
    Amanda Warren
    • Gloria Gary
    Dorian Missick
    Dorian Missick
    • Reggie Douglas
    • (as Dorian Crossmond Missick)
    Tywayne Wheatt
    Tywayne Wheatt
    • Al Jones
    Lance E. Nichols
    Lance E. Nichols
    • Judge Graves
    Keith Jefferson
    • Dashaan Harris
    B.J. Clinkscales
    B.J. Clinkscales
    • Chris Wakefield
    Doug Spearman
    Doug Spearman
    • Richard Mayfield
    Gralen Bryant Banks
    Gralen Bryant Banks
    • Walter Bell
    Olivia Brody
    Olivia Brody
    • Little O'Keefe Granddaughter
    Dave Maldonado
    Dave Maldonado
    • Jim Lafont
    Billy Slaughter
    Billy Slaughter
    • Robert Sperry
    • Director
      • Maggie Betts
    • Writers
      • Doug Wright
      • Maggie Betts
      • Jonathan Harr
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews159

    7.140K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Burial' is a captivating legal drama with strong performances by Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones. It delves into corporate greed, racism, and justice, highlighting their friendship. Critics commend the engaging narrative and compelling legal battle portrayal. However, some are disappointed with the courtroom procedures and the omission of Hal Dockins, played by Mamoudou Athie, who is crucial but not acknowledged. The film entertains with drama, comedy, and social commentary, though it receives mixed reviews for realism and predictability.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    Makkers1

    Extremely dull and totally predictable

    Came across this on Prime amongst oceans of other movies I had never heard of. Some spare time on my hands and a sucker for all things TLJ, why not? I thought.

    Based on a true story (aren't they all). A funeral home director, O keefe played by TLJ feels hard done by an investor who wishes to run the business to the ground after a supposedly contract deal.

    Jamie fox plays the hot shot lawyer trying to recover the damages. This bit I didn't understand as to why exactly they were taking the investor to court.

    The film was dull, I mean really dull. With implausibility and cliches circling like a poltergeist haunting nothing was capturing my attention. Everything was predictable, zero surprises. The opposition lawyer, Mame, supposedly a super-lawyer who had never lost a case was a complete amateur.

    The production standard is quite good and tongue in cheek performance by Jamie Fox gives a few chuckles but that's about it.

    One to avoid. In fact movie standards have crashed in the last 20 years and this film bears all the hallmarks.
    7rehmankhilji

    A class

    History is replete with the darkest chapters of human behavior, showcasing how individuals, driven by insatiable greed, can resort to anything to exploit others. While times may have changed, the relentless pursuit of accumulating wealth persists. In the contemporary landscape, these greedy individuals often lurk behind the scenes, orchestrating their actions through the guise of a corporate entity.

    The narrative unfolds like a cinematic tale, depicting the struggle of a small businessman against the machinations of a powerful corporation. The film delves into the company's attempt to undermine the entrepreneur, aiming to acquire his business at a fraction of its worth and subsequently turning that investment into substantial millions. The pursuit of wealth becomes so consuming that these corporate leaders lose touch with the very basics of life, such as the cost of their own sustenance.

    Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Foxx deliver exceptional performances, bringing sheer class to their roles in this compelling courtroom drama-a definite must-watch.
    9TaxDayBaby58

    Loved this movie

    Acting is top notch and story is a great one. Integrity is worth everything - more than some ahole gigantic business owner is willing to pay. Absolutely worth watching as many stories are told Jamie Fox plays a lawyer with tons of money, but his heart is still in the right place. Tommy lee Jones is excellent as usual - great to see him in this movie.

    Ending is a bit predicable but still riveting and makes you believe that good will always win over evil.

    I highly recommend this movie because you'll certainly feel really good after watching it. Not all movies need to have violence and sex at the forefront.
    8alatlantic

    Entertaining

    Don't let the synopsis of this movie turn you away! It sounds like it would be an utterly boring movie about a funeral home contract. And at its very surface, I guess you could say it is. But this film goes way deeper than that, spinning out stories of friendship, history, race relations, good vs evil and all that.

    Even though it has a 2 hour runtime, at no point did I feel it was dragging on, or compelled to check my email or some such like many movies do. There's more than enough substance here to keep your eyes glued through the entire time.

    While the supporting cast were all great, Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones were absolutely phenomenal in this one. One of the best performances I've seen to date by both actors. Highly recommend.
    7BoBo_Goal32

    Can I get an Amen for this Sugar of a movie?

    Didn't have any reasons not to watch the new Amazon film. It has Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Fox on the cover. What could go wrong? Nothing. It is not a masterpiece but it is a piece of history you should know that happens inside the courtroom and it is worth two hours from your time.

    It all begins with a funeral business owner that is going to lose all his savings and he turns into the least expected lawyer to turn to. It is a story about a small business owner against the greedy corporate, but it is also a story about race differences, bridging between those and also about unexpected friendships, that are forged through this long path of the trial.

    TLJ and Fox demonstrate an amazing chemistry and this movie works, a lot, because this special bond. The story is great and written well and has a lot of comic relieves in it, to break any tension or drama and those pauses are not taking over the movie, but blend perfectly into the plot and general tone of it.

    The movie is almost light headed, but when a real dramatic pause is needed, it knows its way around thanks to its director - Maggie Betts on her third movie as a director. She manages to collect an impressive team of actors, which contains some veterans like Bill Camp, Pamela Reed (Always Phoebe O'Hara from the " Kindergarten Cop") and even Alan Ruck (that I'll never forget from his appearances in "Spin City").

    Betts also wisely uses two bright youngers stars on a great performances as Jurnee Smollett and the young Mahershala Ali look-A-Like: Mamoudou Athie. It's just a fantastic movie that couldn't get higher, due to his leaning of a true story, but in a most dramatic and anticipated way. Good job and waiting for Betts next projects, in order to see if she fulfills the promising career that is expected from her.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jerry O'Keefe was a Marine pilot in World War II. He shot down five Japanese planes in one day on April 22, 1945, becoming an ace in one day. He shot down two more on April 28, 1945. He was awarded the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
    • Goofs
      Punitive damages are not awarded in contract cases. Expectancy damages (i.e. how much Jeremiah O'Keefe would have anticipated to have received if the contract went through) are. In order to receive punitive damages, there needed to have been a tort element to the contract case (e.g. tortious interference).
    • Quotes

      Hal Dockins: I mean, Jerry's a... a dream client. He's got a great narrative. He's a war hero. A decorated war hero. He served in World War II. He was, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross... for service for his country.

    • Crazy credits
      Special appearance in the credits by one of the real people depicted in the movie.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Film Junk Podcast: Episode 917: Priscilla (2023)
    • Soundtracks
      Trust in the Lord
      Written by Andre Littlejohn and Larry J. Mccullough

      Courtesy of APM Music

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    FAQ18

    • How long is The Burial?Powered by Alexa
    • Where is the courthouse mural shown as being in the Hinds County Courthouse?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 13, 2023 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Поховання
    • Filming locations
      • New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • Amazon Studios
      • Bobby Shriver
      • Double Nickel Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $32,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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