This film was made in 2022. But the New York that was being depicted was closer to 1952. It is difficult to understand the intent of the filmmakers, given the way the law is now being interpreted in the United States legal system.
Young Elsa Mercado is a Puerto Rican who had murdered her abusive father in order to protect herself and her brother. She spent time in prison for manslaughter and the film depicts her attempt to get her life back in order.
She has two devoted and sensitive helpers in Sandy James and Paul Fleming, who are both working their way up in the New York political and judicial systems. After she is harassed in a restaurant and injures the perpetrator, Elsa fears that she will have violated her parole and will be sent back to prison. But the scrupulously honest Ms. James is reluctant to intercede on Elsa's behalf by approaching the DA to give Elsa preferential treatment.
The film's entire premise about how the law is being applied in New York was preposterous and did not reflect the new norm of "social justice" that affords protection to the criminals, not to the victims of crime. The ambitious Sandy James never would have become the mayor of New York. To accomplish that goal, she would have needed to adopt the persona of Letitia James.
Despite the good performances and the skillfully written dialogue, "What We Do Next" was a laughably bad film when it comes to the reality of the legal system today. The film should be bottled in a time capsule labeled "nostalgia" and sent back to the time when law and order truly existed.
Young Elsa Mercado is a Puerto Rican who had murdered her abusive father in order to protect herself and her brother. She spent time in prison for manslaughter and the film depicts her attempt to get her life back in order.
She has two devoted and sensitive helpers in Sandy James and Paul Fleming, who are both working their way up in the New York political and judicial systems. After she is harassed in a restaurant and injures the perpetrator, Elsa fears that she will have violated her parole and will be sent back to prison. But the scrupulously honest Ms. James is reluctant to intercede on Elsa's behalf by approaching the DA to give Elsa preferential treatment.
The film's entire premise about how the law is being applied in New York was preposterous and did not reflect the new norm of "social justice" that affords protection to the criminals, not to the victims of crime. The ambitious Sandy James never would have become the mayor of New York. To accomplish that goal, she would have needed to adopt the persona of Letitia James.
Despite the good performances and the skillfully written dialogue, "What We Do Next" was a laughably bad film when it comes to the reality of the legal system today. The film should be bottled in a time capsule labeled "nostalgia" and sent back to the time when law and order truly existed.