Roman J. Israel Esq. is a dramatic thriller set in the overburdened Los Angeles criminal court system. Denzel Washington stars as a drive, idealistic defence attorney whose life is suddenly disrupted. When he is recruited to join a firm led by ambitious lawyer George Pierce (Colin Farrell) – and begins a friendship with a young champion for equal rights (Carmen Ejogo) – a turbulent series of events ensues, which will put the activism that defined Roman’s career to the test.