This weekend, my wife and I went to see the new film Just Mercy, and I knew even before the movie was over that I had to write about it. If you take nothing else away from this blog post, please understand this: You need to see this movie. In fact, if you want to just stop reading and go see the film right now, I’m alright with that. That’s how important I think it is.

But in case you need a little more convincing, here’s my review of the movie and why I think it’s a must-see for everyone concerned about faith and justice.

Just Mercy tells the story of Bryan Stevenson (played by Michael B. Jordan) and his work with death row inmates in Alabama. Bryan is a Harvard law graduate who has dedicated his career to defending the defenseless and fighting to achieve justice for those our system has wronged and cast aside. He’s the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and a superstar in the world of criminal justice reform.

He’s also a professor and an author. In fact, this movie is based on Bryan’s book of the same name. The book is half memoir about his early days at the Equal Justice Initiative, half reflections on social justice issues in our country today. I’ve been reading it in preparation to see the film, and it is incredible. Of course, no movie adaptation can perfectly live up to the book it’s based on, but Just Mercy does an excellent job of portraying the book’s central narrative in a powerful, compelling way.

Both the book and the film center on one particular true story: the case of Walter McMillian (played by Jamie Foxx). While condemned on death row for a murder he did not commit, Walter meets Bryan, who offers to take on his case for free. Over the course of the film, the two unveil the many ways the system has failed Walter and fight to prove his innocence, an upward battle that will pit them against an indignant prosecutor, corrupt law officers, and a biased public more interested in their own peace than in the truth or justice for Walter.

The premise is interesting enough on its own, and it’s made even more so by the fact that this story really happened. But that’s not all Just Mercy has going for it. It’s also been created by some incredible people. In addition to Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx, the movie also stars Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson, and Brie Larson, who each give beautiful, powerful performances that capture the passion and struggle of the real-world people they’re portraying.

The director, Destin Daniel Cretton, also co-wrote the screenplay with Andrew Lanham. Though they may not be household names like the stars of Just Mercy, you could be hearing about them again very soon. The two just received an Oscar nomination for best adapted screenplay for their work on this film. The possibility that a movie about criminal justice reform could win an Oscar this year is just amazing.

Star power and Oscar buzz aside, my favorite thing about this movie is the way that it invites viewers to empathize with a group of people they probably have no experience with: death row inmates. While it’s common to dismiss these individuals as good-for-nothing criminals, it’s important to remember that they are people. They have families, communities, feelings, and dreams, and this movie does a good job reminding us of that.

It also highlights the problems with capital punishment in the United States. While the main story is about an innocent man at risk of losing his life for no reason, the film also features the stories of other inmates, including one who admits to the crime that he’s accused of. But even his case is more complex than death row inmates are generally portrayed to be, and the film invites us to recognize the humanity even of those we may not want to.

Even though the story depicted in the film took place nearly 20 years ago, it’s still timely as ever. Debates over the issues in our legal system, especially when it comes to racial bias and capital punishment, are extremely relevant today. Regardless of where you stand on the death penalty—and I’m not shy to say that I’m opposed to the entire practice—this film is beneficial because it shares the experiences of people who’ve largely been shut out and ignored by society. It’s important that we recognize and value the humanity of every person, even those on death row.

And as Just Mercy points out, we’ve got some serious work to do if we ever wish to call our society just. I don’t think anyone wants to live in a country where an innocent man is condemned to death without recourse. If we want to avoid harming innocent people like Walter McMillian in the future, we need to face the mistakes of our past and learn from them so that we can do better going forward.

Just Mercy is a beautiful portrayal of two men working together towards justice. And it’s emblematic of a larger movement within our nation to create a more just and merciful future for everyone. I consider it a privilege to be a part of that movement, and the film invites everyone watching to join in, too.

I think that invitation is worth considering, and so I hope you’ll give this movie a watch.

Just Mercy is in theaters nationwide now. Please go see it and let me know what you think. I’m already planning to watch it again soon, and I’ll definitely be rooting for the filmmakers at the Oscars this year. We need to be support movies like this, because they do good for the world. I’d like to see more of them, and less of the incidents that inspire them. We can make that happen together.

Thanks for reading, friends! I hope you enjoyed this review, and I’ll see you next week.