‘Clemency’ reviews: Alfre Woodard is ‘exquisite’ as a prison warden with a crisis of conscience

Perhaps surprisingly, Christmas week brought us not one, but two films exploring the moral and philosophical implications of the death penalty — ’tis the season? The fact-based “Just Mercy” opened on Christmas Day, and “Clemency” opened two days later on December 27. While “Mercy” focused on criminal justice from the perspective of a defense attorney, “Clemency” focuses on the toll it takes on a prison warden (Alfre Woodard) who oversees death sentences. So what do critics make of this approach to that hot-button subject matter?

As of this writing the film has a MetaCritic score of 74 based on 14 reviews counted thus far: 12 positive, 2 somewhat mixed, but none outright negative. Over on Rotten Tomatoes the score is even higher: 95% fresh based on 55 reviews, only three of which are classified as negative. The RT critics’ consensus summarizes the reviews by saying, “‘Clemency’ mines serious social issues for gripping drama, brought to life by an outstanding cast led by Alfre Woodard.”

RT only classifies reviews as positive or negative (fresh or rotten), so the film’s sky-high score there indicates that the vast majority of critics admire the film to a certain degree. Meanwhile, MC scores reviews on a nuanced sliding scale from 0-100, so the fact that that score is somewhat lower indicates that critics are more in like with the film than they are in love. Nevertheless, both scores are solidly approving.

And Woodard’s performance is getting much of the praise. She is “exquisite” at capturing the emotional cost of administering death sentences. “She grounds the film,” and she has “a decent shot” at her second career Oscar nomination “with this excruciating character arc.” Writer-director Chinonye Chukwu has also gotten praise for her “unblinking exploration” of the “degradation” experienced by those who participate in the death penalty on both sides of the bars and the “remarkable” way she shows “broad empathy” for “all involved.” Other argue that aspects of the story “muddy” the message and that Chukwu shows too much “restraint,” though.

Nevertheless, the film has enjoyed success on the awards scene. It started 2019 by winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Since then it has earned a Best Feature nomination at the Independent Spirit Awards. Woodard was nominated by the Spirit and Gotham Awards. Aldis Hodge earned a Gotham nom for playing a condemned man. Are Oscars next for this intimate drama? Check out some of the reviews below, and join the discussion on this and more with your fellow movie fans here in our forums.

Roxana Hadadi (The A.V. Club): “‘Clemency’ subverts expectations with an unblinking exploration of how serving as a state-approved executor of the death penalty is its own form of degradation. Alfre Woodard captures with exquisite nuance the emotional and physical toll it might take on someone, spending years overseeing executions; she grounds the film, which otherwise strikes a balance between broad empathy and a pointed call for criminal justice reform.”

Sara Stewart (New York Post): “Hodge speaks volumes when he’s simply sitting wordlessly in his cell. Richard Schiff, as Anthony’s lawyer, is the public voice of capital punishment opposition as he pursues a last-minute pardon from the state. And Danielle Brooks of ‘Orange Is the New Black’ is heartbreaking in a single scene as Woods’ visiting ex. ‘Clemency’ is remarkable for the understanding it affords to all involved with its wrenching subject matter.”

Amy Nicholson (Variety): “If Woodard is hoping for her overdue second Oscar nomination after 1983’s ‘Cross Creek,’ she’s got a decent shot with this excruciating character arc … If Chukwu just wants the audience to witness Bernadine’s burden, the script overplays its hand by questioning Anthony’s guilty conviction. The added doubt muddies the movie’s message.”

Candice Frederick (The Wrap): “Writer-director Chinonye Chukwu deserves all kinds of acclaim for daring to tell a story about the death penalty through the eyes of one of its enactors … And she also should get props for attracting high-caliber talent like Alfre Woodard and Wendell Pierce … But despite those accomplishments, ‘Clemency’ doesn’t quite resonate … The level of restraint Chukwu has in her writing and execution, while admirable, is the very thing that prevents it from truly soaring.”

Be sure to make your Oscar nominee predictions today so that Hollywood insiders can see how their films and performers are faring in our odds. You can keep changing your predictions as often as you like until just before nominees are announced on January 13. And join in the fun debate over the 2020 Academy Awards taking place right now with Hollywood insiders in our film forums. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.

8 thoughts on “‘Clemency’ reviews: Alfre Woodard is ‘exquisite’ as a prison warden with a crisis of conscience”

  1. I think Alfre Woodard might not get nominated after all after seeing the comments of Amy Nicholson and Candice Frederick. The ‘restraint’ point in the execution and the ‘muddy’ perspective of the convicted prevents the soaring of the film’s excellent potential and the consequent drag down of Alfre’s endeavor for a bid in an Oscar nomination.

    I think the final five for the Best Actress Oscar nominations most likely would be :

    Renee Zewellger
    Scarlett Johansson
    Cynthia Erivo
    Charlize Theron
    Lupita Nyong’o

    Saoirse Ronan would also have to take a rest this year (like Meryl Streep).

    1. The reviews for Alfre Woodard in The NY Times and the LA Times were high, high raves. GD did not include them but they are more important than some included with voters so I think she remains very much in the game. I know voters (and nominees) who have seen this and think she is brilliant in it. Time will tell but I actually think Theron is more vulnerable than Ronan. I think the final five will be Renee, Scarlett, Saoirse, Alfre and then either Lupita or Charlize.

      1. Charlize is safe for a nomination. I saw Bombshell today and after getting all the necessary nominations up to this point there’s no way she’s missing the nomination.

  2. i am pretty sure that the final five will be renee, charlize, scarlett, awkafina and lupita. the “little women” love will settle on florence pugh, and cynthia will have to settle for an best song nomination. alfre would be a welcome shock.

  3. I really look forward to seeing this film when it opens in my area.

    I wish they had more slots since there are just too many good performances that get left out.

    I think the final 5 will be:

    Scarlett Johansson
    Lupita Nyong’o
    Saoirse Ronan
    Charlize Theron
    Renee Zewellger

  4. Best Actress Top 5 contenders are:

    Renee
    Charlize
    Scarlett (could have a surprise win in BSA ala Jessica Lange if she ScarJo gets nominated in both)
    Cynthia
    Alfre (surprise, but a former nominee and well-respected by the acting branch)

    *Lupita will not be nominated for a horror film plus she already has an Oscar. Saoirse gets nominated for everything, but due to the lack of support for “Little Woman,” the Academy will likely pass on her like they do for Amy Adams on occasion just to avoid the overdue narrative that follows many actors. Awakafina does not have a chance with more well names also in strong contention this year. In another year, she would be a shoo-in.

    With all due respect, but since two blacks won last year, the Academy will not award Cynthia, Alfre, Lupita, Eddie, Wesley, etc. this year for acting in consecutive years……SORRY. Cynthia or Beyonce might win for Best Song and minorities could win Best Director or Best Supporting Actress as an alternative. Check their patterns. I’ve been observing for years. Next year, Jennifer Hudson has a Best Actress chance in her biopic as the Queen of Soul. The Academy alternates from a very diverse year to a mostly white nominee list; this year will be a mostly white nominee list with a token black in nominee in Best Actress and maybe one in Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. For example, the likely nominees for Best Supporting Actor will ALL be white (Pacino, Hanks, Pesci, Pitt and Hopkins).

  5. I am predicting that Alfre Woodard will pull off an upset at the Indie Spirit awards regardless if she receives the Oscar nomination or not.

    Every other year, we get an anomaly at the Indie Spirit awards where a non-Oscar nominee wins.

  6. I am predicting that Alfre Woodard will win at the Indie Spirit awards and Clemency received a bunch of nominations despite it being a possible snub at the Oscars.

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