Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones team up in a scene from the highly anticipated film, “The Burial,” which is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. This thrilling movie tells the true story of a groundbreaking court case in the legendary legal career of Willie Gary.
Willie Gary, now 76, was immediately drawn to Foxx as the perfect choice to portray him in this film. They had a lot in common, as Gary explained during an interview with USA TODAY. Both men were raised in the church, excelled in sports, and defied the expectations placed upon them in their childhood. Gary rose from being a sharecropper’s son to becoming a millionaire lawyer, while Foxx transformed from a class clown to an Oscar-winning actor and musician. The only major difference between them, according to Gary, is their singing abilities – Foxx has the upper hand there.
“The Burial” is based on a 1999 New Yorker article written by Jonathan Harr. The film centers around a significant court case that Gary won in 1995. Tommy Lee Jones portrays Jeremiah O’Keefe, the owner of a chain of funeral homes in Mississippi, who hires Gary to sue the Canadian funeral industry giant, The Loewen Group, for breach of contract.
Despite Gary’s lack of experience in contract law, O’Keefe was captivated by his impressive track record and charismatic presence in the courtroom. The odds were against them, as Loewen’s CEO, Raymond Loewen, had implied interest in purchasing O’Keefe’s funeral homes but had failed to follow through with the agreement. Meanwhile, Loewen acquired another funeral home business in Mississippi, which had a contract to sell funeral insurance policies held by O’Keefe. Feeling betrayed, O’Keefe decided to take legal action.
Enter Gary, a successful and flamboyant attorney who primarily dealt with personal injury cases. The unexpected pairing of Gary and O’Keefe proved to be a winning combination. Gary not only won the case but also exposed Loewen’s racially discriminatory practices, leading to a $500 million verdict (later settled at $129 million). The Loewen Group eventually went bankrupt.
O’Keefe, who passed away in 2016, continues to have an impact on Gary’s life. He remembers O’Keefe as the finest father figure he has ever known, appreciating their friendship and O’Keefe’s remarkable achievements as a World War II flying ace. The trial depicted in “The Burial” takes place in Jackson, Mississippi, with a predominantly Black jury. Gary won them over by emphasizing Loewen’s mistreatment of Black customers and highlighting O’Keefe’s commitment to racial equality.
The movie also touches on the relationship between Gary and another iconic Black lawyer of the ’90s, Johnnie Cochran, famous for representing O.J. Simpson. Gary dismisses any notion of rivalry between them and insists that they had immense respect and admiration for each other. In fact, they would even refer cases to one another. Gary views the movie as a well-deserved acknowledgment for his worthwhile contributions.
However, Gary sees this movie as far from the end of his journey. He remains open to new challenges and continues to work diligently at his law firm, Gary, Williams, Watson, Parenti & Gary. Born into a life of hardship in Georgia and Florida, Gary is no stranger to hard work. The opportunity to help families receive the justice they deserve is something he cannot walk away from. In his own words, “I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t practice law.”
As a bonus, this article also mentions Jamie Foxx’s health and a recent “medical complication” he experienced.
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