The Burial (2023)

October 6, 2023 (US) • Drama, History • 126m

Overview

When a handshake deal goes sour, funeral home owner Jeremiah O'Keefe enlists charismatic, smooth-talking attorney Willie E. Gary to save his family business. Tempers flare and laughter ensues as the unlikely pair bond while exposing corporate corruption and racial injustice.

Director

Margaret Betts

Writers

Margaret Betts, Doug Wright, Doug Wright

Top Billed

Tommy Lee Jones

Keywords

based on true story trial racial tension corporate greed funeral director funeral home

Where to watch

Free / Included

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video with Ads

Top Billed Cast

Tommy Lee Jones

Jeremiah O'Keefe

Jamie Foxx

Willie E. Gary

Jurnee Smollett

Mame Downes

Alan Ruck

Mike Allred

Mamoudou Athie

Hal Dockins

Pamela Reed

Annette O'Keefe

Bill Camp

Ray Loewen

Amanda Warren

Gioria Gary

Dorian Missick

Reggie Douglas

Tywayne Wheatt

Al Jones

Lance E. Nichols

Judge Graves

Keith Jefferson

Dashaan Harris

B.J. Clinkscales

Chris Wakefield

Doug Spearman

Richard Mayfield

Gralen Bryant Banks

Walter Bell

Olivia Brody

Little O'Keefe Granddaughter

Dave Maldonado

Jim Lafont

Billy Slaughter

Robert Sperry

Christopher Winchester

Steve

Lorna Street Dopson

Hotel Receptionist

Erika Robel

Lorraine McGrath

Fracaswell Hyman

Ruben Soames

Donna DuPlantier

Mattie Thibodeau

David Alexander

Gary Reynolds

Dan Sheynin

Hotel Bar Bartender

Andrea Frankle

Mrs. Cassidy

Logan Macrae

Jodie O'Keefe

Jalene Mack

Jury Foreman

Sam Malone

Jury Member #1

Summer Selby

Mamma Gary

Evan Brinkman

Paralegal in Courthouse

Cat Wilkinson

Secretary in Courthouse

David Shae

David Shatterock

Eric Mendenhall

Eric Bell

Dan Thorp

Jeff Tooray

George Ketsios

Rick Bronksy

Mike Harkins

Wendell Aldridge

Jason Bayle

Gordon Metzger

Jim Klock

Rick Riverridge

Vince Pisani

Professor Rossencomb

Willie E. Gary

Mr. G

Jason Bayle

GORDON METZGER

LeBaron Foster Thornton

NBC Witness #1

Crew

Margaret Betts

Screenplay

Ashley Clements

Assistant Property Master

Michael Abels

Music

Ian Watermeier

Executive Producer

Trudie Styler

Producer

Maryse Alberti

Director of Photography

Michelle Cardoza

Key Makeup Artist

Erik van Haaren

Construction Coordinator

Eric Jihwan Jeon

Art Direction

Anouck Sullivan

Makeup Department Head

Lee Blaine

First Assistant Director

Dustin Fleetwood

Production Sound Mixer

Ian Watermeier

Second Unit Director

Michele Bardwell

Set Decoration Buyer

Evan Maddalena

Graphic Designer

McKensie McNeely

Props

Liam Hoppe

Special Effects Coordinator

Matt Russell

Visual Effects Producer

Kim Taylor-Coleman

Casting Director

Eric Ringbloom

Set Dresser

Joe May

First Assistant Director

Benjamin Farthing

Boom Operator

Mason Blair

Grip

Lee Percy

Editor

Kay Lee

Production Design

Claire Sanchez

Set Decoration

Ian Watermeier

Unit Production Manager

Melissa Forney

Hair Department Head

Laura Gorman

Makeup Artist

Alana J. Hogg

Makeup Artist

Twig Leveque

Graphic Designer

Katia Nájera

Set Designer

Celine Rattray

Producer

Shawn Janifer

Makeup Artist

Scott Foundas

Executive In Charge Of Production

Alice Alward

Art Direction

Stephen Dudro

Assistant Art Director

Nicolas Decara

Digital Compositor

Daniel Fradkin

Visual Effects

Suzy Laney

Makeup Artist

Jubilate Cox

Set Designer

Marine Pascetta

Props

George Loucas

Visual Effects Supervisor

Chelsea Krant

Production Supervisor

Gregory T. Geniusz

Set Dresser

Adam Alonso

Assistant Art Director

Allison LaCour

Makeup Artist

Austin Alward

"B" Camera Operator

Steve Lonano

Second Assistant Director

Adam Barth

Video Assist Operator

Joie Todd Kerns

On Set Dresser

Pamela Monroe

Executive In Charge Of Production

Michael S. Martin

Property Master

Mirren Gordon-Crozier

Costume Design

Alex Vucic

Best Boy Electric

Brandon Dauzat

First Assistant "B" Camera

Henry Tirl

"A" Camera Operator

Daniel Waghorne

Drone Pilot

Stefana A Campbell

Costume Coordinator

Nick Nicolay

Key Grip

Jim Wayer

Best Boy Grip

Ryan Hymel

Colorist

Nia Rose

Assistant Editor

Meagan Lewis

Location Casting

Skip Bolen

Still Photographer

Bruce Vincent Logan

Aerial Camera Technician

Leeza Diott

Dailies Manager

Cole Thomas Barranco

Lighting Technician

Aha Hasan

Grip

Julie Carr

Additional Editor

Fernando MacFarlane

Drone Operator

Anna P. McCarthy

Casting Associate

Cydney Tucker

Construction Buyer

Martín Zequeira

Digital Compositor

Ryosuke Kawanaka

First Assistant "A" Camera

Joseph Paolucci Jr.

Rigging Gaffer

Ryan Goss

Electrician

Paul Rahfield

Digital Imaging Technician

David Fields

Assistant Location Manager

Leigha K. Lindsay

Costume Supervisor

Cameron Target

Visual Effects Coordinator

Raheem Allen

Second Assistant Camera

Chip Carey

Chief Lighting Technician

Josef Hensgens

Grip

Chad Taylor

Second Assistant Camera

Henry Tirl

Steadicam Operator

Charlotte Gale

Extras Casting

Jennifer Kennedy

Assistant Costume Designer

Jack Patterson

Grip

Theresa Hernandez

Casting Associate

Nick Ramey

Aerial Camera Technician

Andy Luce

Dolly Grip

Chris Salamone

Dolly Grip

Vinny Dovichi

Transportation Captain

Tim Stipan

Digital Intermediate Colorist

Jenette Kahn

Producer

Doug Wright

Screenplay

Adam Richman

Producer

Margaret Betts

Director

Datari Turner

Producer

Jamie Foxx

Producer

Bobby Shriver

Producer

Doug Wright

Story

Reviews

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

November 3, 2023

There isn’t much to dislike about director Maggie Betts‘ “The Burial,” a solid courtroom drama that hits all the expectations of the genre (and sometimes even exceeds them). Inspired by true events, this rousing David versus Goliath story is well cast, well acted, well told, and is set up to be an all-around crowd pleaser.

Mississippi funeral home owner Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) has fallen on hard times. The mom-and-pop business has been in his family for generations, and he aims to have something to pass down to his plethora of children and grandchildren. When a deal with the CEO (Bill Camp) of a heartless multibillion dollar “death care industry” corporation goes South, Jeremiah hires the smooth talking, charismatic personal injury attorney Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) to help save the family business. The men and their legal team uncover a deliberate web of deception designed by insurance companies to scam poor people out of their money by taking advantage of them in their time of grief. In the process of exposing corporate corruption, Willie and Jeremiah learn that they have a lot to like and respect about each other.

It’s an irresistible story about legal system actually working the way it’s supposed to, and there are a lot of scenes featuring technical lawyer speak. It’s not dumbed down, which is refreshing, and the film features many scenes of legal strategy, brainstorming, and talk about business deals, burial insurance, and racial injustice. Thankfully it’s not as dry as it sounds, as Betts moves the timeline along quickly. She dives right into the lawsuit and the story, not wasting a lot of time setting things up.

Foxx is perfectly cast as a flamboyant attorney, and he’s entertaining to watch in the role. Willie is all about showmanship, and he’s a lawyer with a knack for communicating with common folk. Foxx emotes this with a natural charisma and effortless spirit, and it’s difficult to resist his character’s dazzling charm. Jones doesn’t have a whole lot to do, but he provides the quiet balance needed as a contrast to Foxx (and they make a great onscreen pair).

Since this is a courtroom legal drama, there are several scenes designed with the sole intention of emotionally manipulating the audience. Get ready for those gutsy monologues that are accompanied by corny dramatic music swells, or the requisite interaction where Willie at first refuses to take on Jeremiah’s case because the payday won’t be in the multi-million dollar range. It appears Betts suddenly had a change of heart and decided that she didn’t want to include every single courtroom cliché in her movie, however, because I was disappointed that there was no big, blustering closing argument scene.

If you are a fan of legal dramas and like stories where greedy corporations get their what-for, then you are going to enjoy “The Burial.” This is a solid, easy watch about helping the little guy stick it to those responsible for the rampant monetary shakedowns that can lead to the financial ruin of normal, hardworking citizens.

**_By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS_**

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