I promised a review of the George Lucas film directed by Anthony Hemingway with screenplay by John Ridley and Aaron McGruder. Here it is:
As with other areas of American culture, so much hope rides on a big-budget mainstream action movie with a black theme—certainly not something we’ve EVER seen before, sadly. As a result, we still look to such endeavors to do exactly what the Tuskegee Airmen and other “first” blacks have to do to succeed ~ be exceptionally better than best. With so many pinning so much on this film, it’s bound to disappoint.
Let’s go first to what worked ~ it did my heart good to see a bevy of young, black male actors on the screen in a story that not only ripped apart the usual stereotypes, but focused on a crucial untold part of American history. As one would expect from the king of intergalactic warfare, Lucas’ combat dogfight scenes in Red Tails are top-notch, even for someone like me who is not a fan of war movies, and I did hear from a young, black male friend who is studying to be a pilot (the pilot son from earlier comment!) that he liked the movie and dogfight scenes, in a classic sense.
In the end I wanted more grit, more insight into the emotions of the Tuskegee Airmen going into battle bearing the weight of racial crusades back home. I wanted fewer stilted, rapid-fire one-liners overall, and especially from the cock pits. I wanted the blood to be less fake. And if not a flashback showing one of the men at home with his wife or girlfriend (ie, a black actress) then give me her photo in the cockpit at least (we got the Italian love interest and even black Jesus for goodness sake).
For all the ways that Red Tails let me down artistically, it more than made up for by taking the risk, by saying yes to the story and getting it out there. And I thank George Lucas and his team for that.
I also thank my good friend Doc Hughes for sending me the video below this morning: Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee beautifully expresses everything else I want to say. We’re all eager to hear what you have to say so keep the comments coming…and scroll down for the Skinny…
THE SKINNY ~ This 1995 PBS film is in my queue
I, too agree with your assessment of the film. This best part about it was to watch the audience in the theater of families: white, black and brown relish learning about such brave heroes who transcended stereotypes and reached far beyond what was expected of them. Pride radiated through the room and out into the lobby.
Indeed! Proof that not every film’s worth is measured in box office sales.
I enjoyed the movie a lot ~ yes, it was shallow and the characters we not fully developed but it did my heart good to see all those actors showing us a true history that many of us did not know. It left me wanting to know more and just now listening to the Sen Cohen speech, it makes me feel a tiny bit more hopeful. After standing across the street from a pack of racists screaming hateful words to us because we support our President really made my skin crawl. On my way home on BART, I ran into a young white man (about 20ish) who was one of those people in the crowd, his sign was protesting the fact that he doesn’t want insurance to pay for abortions…..I did speak with him a little …trying to appeal to him by saying, you, my friend, will never be pregnant so why should you have anything to say about it? Ugh…