Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Roman J. Israel Esq. (2017)


What is it about? 

An unusual but driven and idealistic lawyer finds himself in a series of events that forces him to his extremes, and ultimately, to make a decision on what he stands for. 

Who is in it? 

Denzel Washington - Roman J. Israel Esq. 

Colin Farrell - George Pierce 

Carmen Ejogo - Maya Alston

Favorite Scene: 

[Spoiler Alert!]

After getting the $100,000 reward, Roman lives it up for a day "on the other side" away from his convictions and thinking of need for social justice. 

Favorite Quote: 

"Each of us is better than the worst thing we ever did."

Review: 

There is something odd and tremendous about this film, and even as I write this review, I still can't put my finger on it. I don't believe it's for everyone, and truthfully, it's a unique niche for some. 

The beauty in Roman J. Israel Esquire is that uniqe view on the world that we each have. Many of us have the view that we just don't understand why the masses operate the way it does without issue. If you have that, Roman's character is highly identifiable and relatable. 

Despite that odd connection, Denzel is simply Denzel in this film - boss. His depiction of Roman is downright awesome, especially in bringing to light the quirks and oddities that make him who he is. 

All in all, this film isn't for everyone, but if it is, you'll enjoy it very much. 

Grade: 3.75/5
Labels:

Recently Read

Would You Rather: Questions 121-130

This edition of "Would You Rather" is credited to the NBA Would You Rather NBA Account on Instagram ( See Here ). Adding to the fun, this edition (and possibly future ones) are all NBA basketball questions.  121. Who would you rather have on your favorite NBA team - Giannis Antetokounpo or James Harden?  Seeing how I'm a lifelong suffering Knicks fan, the thought of any of these guys in blue and orange is hard to believe. With that said, I'm taking the Greek Freak for this reason - I enjoy watching him play a bit more. Nothing against Harden who is amazing as well, but at times, the ball sticks and that isn't always fun. Plus, I feel like we haven't yet seen a finished Giannis. 122. Would you rather have Giannis Antetokounpo with no driving ability or James Harden with no Three-Point shooting ability?  This is definitely a weird and unique one, but I'll take Harden. Giannis without his strength doesn't offer much. However, if Harden's d...
Read more

Knicks Postseason 2026, NBA Finals vs. San Antonio Spurs

Part of me is in disbelief that we are here...the other part is raging and ready to go. Four more wins! Let's. GO! So much of this NBA Finals feels poetic, historical, and dream-worthy, for so many reasons, to so many different parties. This includes the NBA office. I'm sure they are loving this matchup for their biggest stage.  While defeating the Spurs does exercise some demons from 1999, I'm not sure I care about that at all. As noted from my thoughts in the Eastern Conference Finals, at this point, just win. Review Thoughts from Round 1 Review Thoughts from Round 2 Review Thoughts from Eastern Conference Finals Just. Win.  I don't care who the opponent is. The narrative that comes with it, or how we do it.  Just. Win. The NBA Cup win seems like whiteboard material for them, yet a serving example for us to match up with them. Again, it doesn't matter. Both teams are completely different beasts since November, through growth and experience.  This all comes down to...
Read more

WWE Clash in Italy 2026 Review: "I'm intrigued for what's to come this summer"

A lot of pro wrestling seems stuck in the mud right now. Nothing is terrible, but nothing outright moves me. As some of the summer's biggest shows hit the forefront of our minds, Clash in Italy felt like the kind of show that could jump-start some intrigue as the summer begins to take shape.  At the very least, WWE overseas has become intriguing for the amazing atmosphere typically seen at these shows. Italy didn't disappoint. And seeing that the WWE stacked this card quite a bit, it was a show that stood out as a can't-miss on a Sunday afternoon.  Simply put, Clash at Italy was great. And, it did its job - I enjoyed some pro wrestling on a Sunday afternoon, and I'm intrigued for what's to come this summer.  Some other thoughts from Clash in Italy (2026):  Random Tidbits The reduced stage setup is still cool in my opinion. I don't think elaborate stages are necessary for larger events, especially at the expense of additional seats being filled. I know this has ...
Read more