- MERCY
- Starring: Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson
- Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov
- Rated: PG 13
- Running time: 1 hr 39 mins
- MGM/Amazon Studios
Our Score: 4 out of 5
A.I. Artificial Intelligence. It’s everywhere these days. You can’t throw a rock and not hit something that has been affected by the increasingly popular technology. Take the city of Los Angeles. Crime has gotten so bad that the criminals are now made to occupy designated “red zones.” The court system is so overwhelmed that the most heinous crimes are now judged by the Mercy Court in a trial that not only presumes the defendant is guilty but gives them just 90 minutes to plea their case. If found guilty, execution is instantaneous. Detective Chris Raven is a supporter of the process. In fact, he was the cop that made the arrest resulting in the very first trial (and execution). But when he finds himself on trial for his wife’s murder, Detective Raven begins to wonder if maybe he should rethink his opinion.
Full of twists, turns and some amazing set pieces, “Mercy” is a film that makes the viewer constantly second guess themselves. Is Raven guilty? If he isn’t, who is? And, more importantly, in a world where EVERYTHING is captured on film, how did they do it?
My Chris Pratt viewing history consists of mostly television’s “Parks and Recreation,” “Moneyball” and the MCU. He’s always been solid but he’s never really carried a film. Here he proves himself a very capable dramatic actor, his work going up and down the spectrum from dry humor to true despair. As the “Judge” – an A.I. image who professes that her verdict will strictly be rendered on facts presented – Ms. Fergusson also excels. She is emotionless and to the point, dismissing any suggestion from Chris that is not based on facts.
Visually, the film manages to show two sides of L.A.; one sleek and modernistic, the other cloaked in dismay and chaos. The action scenes are well paced with a scene featuring a semi-truck rampaging through the steets a highlight.
To sum it up, “Mercy” is a wild ride at the movies!
On a scale of zero to five, “Mercy” receives ★★★★