Jamie Foxx Praises Jurnee Smollett At ‘The Burial’ Q&A

*”The Burial” tells the true story of a funeral home owner, Jerry O’keefe (Tommy Lee Jones), who sues a larger funeral home corporation for not upholding their contract. One of Jerry’s lawyers seeks the help of Willie Gary, (Jamie Foxx), to take over the case. Because the case will be tried in rural Mississippi with more than likely a Black judge and mostly Black jury, Jerry’s lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) feels hiring Willie will be beneficial to their case.  

Once the Loewen company, run by Raymond Loewen (Bill Camp), gets wind of their tactics he enlists a team of Black lawyers, with lead attorney Mame Dowes. Dowes, (Jurnee Smollett), is a well-educated, no-nonsense lawyer who is ready to give Gary a run for his money. Now Willie is a flashy personal injury lawyer who has never lost a case, his confidence is unapologetic-ally loud. As these two characters go toe to toe Foxx and Smollett have a similar face-off as they act out the scenes.

Prime Video hosted a Q&A and gained insight into what the energy was like between the two actors.

“I’ll tell you there’s only been one other person that has shook me down. Journey shook me down and a young lady by the name of Viola Davis,” said Foxx.

Foxx has worked with several well-known actors and these two ladies are the only ones he feels out-acted him. In their first scene, Smollett’s character doesn’t hold back at all. She doesn’t let the fast-talking boisterous personality of Gary intimidate her. Foxx also adds how one of the producers had to check on him after that scene.

“At one point they said cut and our producer Datari (Turner) said, ‘You okay?'” Said Foxx. 

Watching these two opposite one another shows the true form of acting. Director Maggie Betts can be credited for this duo. In the real-life case, the opposing lawyer was a man. Betts thought Smollett would be a good fit for the role.

“She was like, ‘I think it would be something interesting to place a woman in that dynamic of this tennis match,’ it would shift the dynamic,” Smollett recalled.  

Foxx also credits Betts’s directing style for not letting his character become a caricature because of his flashy personality.

“He had this great spirit about him…’I want the story told,'” said Foxx about his experience of meeting with the real-life Gary. “He wasn’t precious with it. He was like you don’t have to make me look a certain way.” He goes on to share that Gary just wanted the story to be told because, during that time in the early 90s, it was unheard of that have an all-Black team of lawyers representing a white man.

“The Burial” is streaming on Prime Video now.  

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