Unlawful Justice (2018) User Reviews

A finely crafted drama

[verdenfell1234 · 6/10 · 27 July 2019]

A gritty intense morality tale about the justice system, race relations, and trying to follow your own moral compass in a chaotic and corrupt world. The acting is excellent and convincing, and it's a well balanced story. Don't let low budgets deter you, small films often have powerful things to say.

A lot of Gritty stories and perspective here

[jimlewisjr · 6/10 · 24 March 2020]

Unlawful Justice pulls together a variety of perspectives of the challenges of police life and work, intercity life, drugs on the street, the cost of health care, families and more. The film shows that stuff like this can happen to anybody. A gritty look from the inside out.

One terrific movie!

[AtTheMovies52 · 9/10 · 13 June 2019]

When I looked at the reviews... I thought it odd there were no 1 star ratings. I'm not sure I've ever seen that before. Well, after enjoying this film, I can totally understand why. What a gem. Everything about this film I loved. It had all the components for me I'm looking for... good story, great acting and it was shot super well. Well done everyone! I certainly give this a thumbs up.

Intense action drama which delivers

[jblockbuster · 9/10 · 2 June 2019]

Unlawful Justice is a really intense action drama who show both sides of the coin. I love films with deep characters put into a dilemma and Unlawful Justice delivers! Acting and cinematography are great. This film definitely doesn't stand back if you compare it with some of the Hollywood cop blockbuster films out there! I'm looking forward to see Chris Baxter's next film!

Moving and hard-hitting

[Phil_Chester · 11 April 2019]

A poignant and moving portrayal of race relations and the police's relationship with its community in LA. It's a little like 'Crash', but told from the point of view of one of the minor characters. Definitely worth a look.

Do Not Believe The High Ratings!

[Coogan-01 · 2/10 · 23 May 2019]

This movie is terrible. The acting is comical. Please save your money for something else. Don't believe all these higher ratings, they probably worked on the film. lol

Coogan

Timely film about race, policing, and poverty

[JGReviews · 10/10 · 5 April 2019]

Unlawful Justice is a film that confronts some of the biggest issues today. The film directly addresses race, policing, and poverty with this gritty story. Unlawful Justice follows a policeman who is struggling at his job where his department is only concerned with numerous and high profile arrests. He has to weigh doing the right thing versus playing the game and providing for his family that is under threat in a rough neighborhood. Meanwhile, in a symbolically mirrored plot line, a local teen is faced with a decision about how far he's willing to go to escape poverty, similarly weighing morality versus being able to provide and survive.

I really enjoyed this film. These are really difficult issues that the film confronts and it is very timely. I personally think that there needs to be substantial criminal justice reform in this country, so it's good to see these issues grappled with head on in film. I'd highly recommend this film to anyone looking for a relevant crime drama!

Amateurish and terrible. Tricked into watching by what must be fake reviews.

[helenlindsay · 1/10 · 30 October 2019]

The only way this could be rated good is if it was made by a group of school children. Wooden acting, bad production, poor sound and generally laughable.

Great cop drama

[vigilant56 · 8/10 · 24 July 2019]

This story is an accurate portrayal of Law Enforcement on both sides of the blue line that will resonate with you no matter what City you reside in. The Director astutely puts you in the shoes of the characters as you see how and why they make life altering decisions. I reccomend this film!

A must see cop movie

[johnapplebee-95947 · 9/10 · 15 April 2019]

This cop movie couldn't have come at a better time. U have to see this for yourself. Cops go through a lot on a day to day basis in he line of duty. It shows you the inside things that go on with a cop and the pressures they face on a day to day basis. Will he make the right or wrong decisions. Must see

Powerful film

[priest-21-556907 · 8/10 · 25 July 2019]

A hard-hitting story about how easy it is to do wrong thing for the right reasons. Emotional and topical. Excellent.

Timely Morality Tale

[bgianci-790-772540 · 9/10 · 8 April 2019]

I really enjoyed this timely and thought provoking film that tackles some heavy subject matter. At it's core, Unlawful justice is a morality tale that focusses on a police officer who is trying to do the right thing while being tempted by a flawed justice system and his own need to provide for his family. The story is well crafted, the acting is top notch and the cinematography is stellar. I look forward to watching it again.

Enjoyed this Police/Crime Drama

[caseykilloran · 9/10 · 11 April 2019]

If you are a fan of police/crime drama then this movie is for you. This police drama reminded me of many popular mainstream films in this genre and I think I caught a few Easter eggs while watching it. It brings up a lot of troubling social injustices in American society. I enjoyed it very much.

Stirring, emotional, poignant

[Smgrte235860 · 9/10 · 4 April 2019]

Unlawful Justice is a very timely film, reminiscent of some of the greats like Training Day and End of Watch. Living in LA, the film really hit home with its message. You know the events depicted in this film are happening, you may not always see them, but just the same it's heartbreaking to know what people have to go through.

A relevant and enlightening story

[jelmished · 10/10 · 13 April 2019]

Chris Baxter's Unlawful Justice sheds light on an important contemporary issue: the strained relationship between law enforcement and civilians in the U.S. There is always more than one side to a story and Unlawful Justice is a masterful demonstration of this reality.

Nuanced Crime Drama

[Graham-joey · 9/10 · 30 April 2019]

This is a pretty nuanced crime drama that involves a lot racial and class tension in whatever side of Los Angeles. This may be more centrally focused on the police officer, but was really drawn to the young men who are dealing with a very real situation of not having a lot of great alternatives in the job force or lack of funds for an education and turning to selling drugs in a very unique way I haven't seen done before. Instead of it being a melodramatic decision to lead a life of crime, its almost just like "well, what else are we going to do?" And without a great answer...they are led down a path, which like the description says puts them on a collision course with a cop just trying to make it. Racially and socially infused throughout, I enjoyed this crime drama!

Exciting Crime Drama

[asbax-86883 · 10/10 · 14 April 2019]

Very powerful movie with a lot of suspense and action. Makes you question our corrupt justice system today. Highly recommend!

Relevant and Sharp

[ringthebellsproductions · 9/10 · 25 August 2019]

Viewing this film had a real impact on me, emotionally and intellectually. The writing and the acting is fantastic, and it makes such a timely subject more complex and accessible, difficult yet immensely rewarding.

Intense, raw, vigorous ride, but worth it!

[MariaAllred · 8/10 · 30 May 2019]

Unlawful Justice doesn't hold any punches as it follows its main character, Remy (Emmanuel Vega), an LAPD officer trying to fill his father's shoes and take care of his sick infant daughter's hospital bills. We watch as he unravels from all of the pressure. Vega shines more brightly the more his character falls apart. A series of missteps leads to a tragic end, but there is redeeming justice in the honest, but difficult choices of another central character, Drew. Very intense and raw, but a valuable and well-executed look at the both sides of the cop story.

Thought provoking Film!

[kraine98-89-68831 · 10/10 · 15 August 2019]

This movie looks at life from different perspectives. I thought the acting was good and the story line interesting. I recommend this film to anyone that is willing to look at both sides of the coin. Good Job!

Powerful drama, well worth watching

[metroran · 10/10 · 20 August 2019]

Chris Baxter has made a fine film about the cycle of pain on the streets of L.A. Following the story of a cop and a college bound teenager, Baxter avoids cliches and gives us a deep and powerful look at the circumstances of these two characters that lead to decisions which put them on a collision course. Both actors (Emmanuel Vega and Marlon Fisher) give excellent performances as does the rest of the cast. The technicals of this film are first rate all around. Watch it. It's worth the time. Ten stars for sure.

Gripping, Grounded, and Real

[Ink789 · 9/10 · 12 August 2019]

Excellent verisimilitude. It was gripping, grounded, and realistic. Material was well developed, and well handled. A great police drama.

Impressive Indie

[debijohess · 8/10 · 20 August 2019]

A true indie gem. This masterful film highlights police ambition and priorities over fairness and service to the underserved. It has moral quandries throughout in the underlying plots which are executed brilliantly and lacks nothing in production value, first class acting and script. Police corruption is at the heart of the storyline and is well demonstrated in a believable trail of injustice and oppressive behavior. Give it a watch and be delighted you did.

Huge On All Fronts

[TheAll-SeeingI · 10/10 · 8 April 2019]

Chris Baxter's Unlawful Justice connects every last prerequisite of great storytelling in this police drama that originates from under the skin and surfaces to shine a light on the insult-to-injury structural injustices that obliterate an already-maligned law enforcement system.

Outside of Denzel Washington riding shotgun, Unlawful Justice steps into the cop film arena with everything going for it, and fearlessly goes toe-to-toe with the many great films of its genre. Its defining fingerprint is its ability to do this from the structural and morally queasy foundations of the law enforcement architecture itself. It's a compelling storytelling methodology, and it doesn't hurt either that the acting is no less than superb across the board. At the risk of overusing the word "gritty," the mastery of cinematography here paints a carefully crafted canvas that is no less gritty than each scene warrants: The film concedes literally nothing to major studio counterparts in its technical excellence and holistic execution.

Some of our societal systems are so eviscerated by their inherent structural corruption, it can be hard to consume entertainment vehicles built around that damage. But Unlawful Justice is self-aware filmmaking in that regard; it discloses and illustrates without preaching to the possible expense of its immersive human story. It feels like this is the kind of indie movie so well-honed that perhaps the film itself can rise from the oppressive, structural muck inherent in the indie market to one day command the kind of mass-market viewership it warrants.

Really enjoyed this film!

[Amarino100 · 9/10 · 9 August 2019]

I really enjoyed this one! I thought the acting was really strong making this film a easy watch. The police force felt legit giving the world a very realist feel. I also loved the locations and sets which gave the film a high production value. All and all I would definitely recommend checking this film out!