Roman J. Israel, Esq. - 2 smiles

It's a credit to Denzel Washington's acting ability that we care at all for Roman J. Israel, Esq., the person because "Roman J. Israel, Esq.," the movie, is unfocused and hard to follow. Writer-director Dan Gilroy has created a story that's part character study, part legal thriller and part morality tale. Roman J. Israel is a lawyer inspired by the great heroes of the civil rights ear. With an full Afro and an iPod full of soul music, Israel writes the legal briefs for his partner who fights the cases in court. When his small firm suddenly closes, Israel goes to work for a high-priced attorney George Pierce (Colin Farrell), whose morals take a back seat to money. And the ethical Israel must survive in a materialistic world. Initially, Washington is quite likable as a crusading malcontent with the mind of a legal savant. We feel for Israel when the young activists at a nonprofit run by Maya Alston (Carmen Ejogo) snicker at his fusty tweed suit and respond to his old-fashioned chivalry with cries of sexism. But by movie's end, Israel seems like the villain and the slippery Pierce turns out to be - gasp - a fairly decent guy with a hidden noble streak. Huh? How did this happen? And how are we supposed to respond? The movie just doesn't hold together.