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Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Roman J.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Roman J. Israel, Esq. is a 2017 American legal drama film written and directed by Dan Gilroy. It stars Denzel Washington as an idealistic defence lawyer whose life is disrupted after his law partner dies and he joins a new firm, leading to a moral crisis. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released in the United States in November 2017.

Premise

The film centres on Roman J. Israel, a socially awkward but highly committed civil-rights lawyer in Los Angeles. After a major change in his professional life, he is drawn into events that force him to confront ethical and personal choices.

Cast and characters

Denzel Washington stars as Roman J. Israel, with Colin Farrell as George Pierce and Carmen Ejogo in a supporting role. The cast also includes actors portraying people connected to Roman's work in the criminal justice system.

Production and release

Dan Gilroy wrote and directed the film, which premiered at Toronto in September 2017. Sony Pictures Releasing distributed it in the United States in November 2017.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics. Washington's performance was widely praised, and he received Academy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor.

Key facts

  • Roman J. Israel, Esq. is a 2017 American legal drama written and directed by Dan Gilroy.
  • Denzel Washington stars as an idealistic defence lawyer facing a moral crisis after his partner dies.
  • The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released in the U.S. on 17 November 2017.
  • Washington's performance earned him Academy Award, SAG, and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor.
  • The film received mixed reviews and was described as an underperformer at the box office.
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Canadian context

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, making it directly relevant to Canadian film audiences and the Canadian festival circuit.

Frequently asked questions

What is Roman J. Israel, Esq.?
It is a 2017 American legal drama film about an idealistic defence lawyer whose life changes after a series of professional and moral challenges.
Who directed Roman J. Israel, Esq.?
Dan Gilroy wrote and directed the film.
Who stars in the film?
The film stars Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, and Carmen Ejogo.
When was it released?
It premiered in September 2017 and was released in U.S. theatres on 17 November 2017.
How was the film received?
It received mixed reviews overall, with particularly strong praise for Denzel Washington's performance.
Did it perform well at the box office?
No. Available sources describe it as an underperformer at the box office relative to its production budget.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_J._Israel,_Esq.
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, release timing, cast, premise, and reception overview.
  2. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/roman-j-israel-esq/umc.cmc.a2nemhmox9wl7l547hk7fv8m
    Supports: Synopsis, runtime, director, and principal cast.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/roman_j_israel_esq
    Supports: Genre, release date, director, cast, and reception summary.
  4. Sony Pictures — https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/romanjisraelesq
    Supports: Official studio description, genre framing, and cast information.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6000478/
    Supports: Release year, runtime, and genre classification.