The Burial Review: Underdog Triumphs & Cultural Commentary

Y’all, I am back with another movie review, and The Burial is a must-watch! The movie is hilarious and inspiring, and it makes the ancestors proud!

I was a bit hesitant when the movie started in the Black Church; I was afraid it would be another preachy Jesus-filled movie, and as a Muslimah, I was not in the mood, but that was far from the case! The Black Church greatly influenced Black American history and culture and was crucial to the film.

The Burial follows the case of a small business owner, Jeremiah O’Keefe, aka Jerry (Tommy Lee Jones), who finds himself in a sticky situation with a deal gone wrong with a multi-million dollar corporation. My friend Jerry needed to sue the corporation to kingdom come, and with the intelligent guidance of a young lawyer, Hal (Mamoudou Athie), he was introduced to Willie E. Gary (Jamie Foxx). We witnessed why you should never underestimate the underdog!

“I hate to lose. I’d rather someone pull a gun and blow my head off than lose a case!”

The Burial encompasses the American Dream, pulling yourself up from your bootstraps, family-owned businesses, and the rich get richer from our hard work, with zero regard for the little man. And, of course, what’s more American than the extra flavor of racism? But don’t worry, y’all, this is not another black trauma or white savior film. The movie does a remarkable job of highlighting Black Excellence while displaying the apparent hurdles and disadvantages Black people have in this country. It explains how our ancestors built America and how our history is constantly being erased and replaced with a whitewashed version. Siminatainously, while trying to help this white man, Jerry, keep his family legacy, about 20 minutes into the movie, I have never rooted for a white man to get justice harder. 

This movie speaks to my soul, and fun fact, y’all, I love to say nigga. I believe it is a birthright. It’s a bonus when influential Black folks use it with a competitive spirit. It always warms my heart. Throughout the film, you see black people comfortable being The Head Nigga in Charge, unapologetically. So, needless to say, I highly recommend everyone to go stream The Burial on Prime Video!

And, of course, let me know what y’all think 💭