All rise: Denzel Washington to turn up awards season heat with ‘ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ.’

Preston Barta // Features Editor

After seeing Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington expertly portray a rather despicable man in FENCES, it’s going to be nice to see him in a role that goes down smooth and doesn’t send your skin crawling. Don’t get me wrong; FENCES was an incredible achievement in acting across the board. But I like the “my man” version of Denzel, and his new film, ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. seems to fit the bill.

Along with THREE BILLBOARDS IN EBBING, MISSOURI, movie titles are getting a little more daring these days. Written and directed by Tony Gilroy (NIGHTCRAWLER), ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. is “a dramatic thriller set in the underbelly of the overburdened Los Angeles criminal court system. Washington stars as a driven, idealistic defense attorney whose life is upended when a turbulent series of events challenge the activism that has defined his career. Colin Farrell co-stars as the ambitious, monied lawyer who recruits Roman to his firm.”

Check out the trailer below:

ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. arrives in theaters on November 3.

Synopsis provided by Sony Pictures.