berwick, Local Online News Community, Forums, Chats, For Sale, Classified, Offers, Film Reviews, Events, Motors Sale, Property For Sale Rent, Jobs, Hotels, Taxi, Restaurants, Pubs, Clubs, Pictures, Sports, Charities, Lost Found
  1. Published on: 10/12/2016 03:19 PMReported by: Film Critic
    From the start of 2016, this film has been talked about non-stop. It's debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January saw sold-out screenings and standing ovations BEFORE the film. The reviews from the film sounded fairly positive, but nothing that mirrored the anticipation for Oscar success.

    For me, this sounded like a film that was going to be an incredibly one-sided story with no subtlety in it whatsoever. With all the discussions from last years Oscars being labelled as 'white-washing', this film to me felt like a response to that, and they are expecting to get some recognition in the awards season, whether they deserve it or not. That therefore made me apprehensive to go and see it.
    After seeing the trailer, I saw some promise in terms of its film-making. That being said, the in-your-face content was noticeable.

    After weighing up everything else, I felt it was right to see it and make my own assumption of it and that I should never separate art from the artists involved.

    In the end, I am sort of glad I did. It is always to criticize a film portraying a topic that you pretty much have to tread carefully. But I feel I am confident in giving the review it deserves.

    I must mention that it is the directorial debut for Nate Parker, who also stars as the main character. Also, while it is billing itself as a true story, it is using that term loosely. There is little information on the events or characters the film is portraying. So there is a lot of gaps to fill, and Parker does not hold up on what is left for the imagination.

    The imagery is most certainly strong, powerful, graphic, and at times gory. There were times where I could see some violent moments feeling gratuitous. But most of it seemed to mean something to the story, as the tone was pretty strong anyway.
    There is some really nice cinematography throughout, with many well constructed haunting images. But there were some oddly timed metaphorical imagery, that while it being shot well, did not seem to make as much sense as I felt it was trying to.
    As for the story, the first two acts are developed well, I enjoyed the performances and where it was going. However the third act seems to take a major shift in tone with the story and the motives of the characters. That putt me off as I felt the final third was an unrated-version of the story I was just watching.

    The performances on the whole very good and realistic. I have to give my due to Nate Parker. You can totally see the passion in this project within the performance. It is consistently strong and carries the film well to make the overall experience worthwhile.
    I was really surprised to Armie Hammer in this. Despite all the coverage I have been reading and hearing, his name never seemed to crop up anywhere. His performance was pretty good. I felt I connected well with his on-screen partnership with Parker's character.
    It was great to see Jackie Earle Hayley play a disgusting character as he has done that really well in the past. Other performances that were worth mentioning were the ones from Penelope Ann-Miller and Aja Naomi King.

    What I think is the main fault with this, is the lack of depth to the story, characters and the story structure being quite conventional and cliched. In some way, it felt like a TV movie. What I mean by that, is that TV movies usually go for spiritually uplifting or emotional stories and execute in a way that feels that they are forcing us to feel like this. The Birth Of A Nation does that, but not as extreme as most TV movies do.

    It is still a good film with a lot of ambition, especially in the imagery. But I think it lacks of depth compared with something like '12 Years A Slave' will not make this as memorable. A directorial debut is never an easy one, and I think that was the main thing lacking in Parker's film.
    Nevertheless, I think you should see it for the ambition, if you are interested in this particular subject, and if you want to know what all the fuss is about.

    I think if it was done with a bit more experience behind the camera, then I think we would have been the seeing an Oscar worthy film that I think Parker and his team were aiming for.

    It will probably do better then it would normally have done. It has been made at the right time, and all of its excitement with the studios going a bit nuts on wanting to fund this has given this the coverage that it needs. Fair to play to Parker and his crew, for a solid job.

    Rating: 7/10
     

  2. Your Comments:



You are in: UK / Berwick / North East
Find any Town in the UK, or Use UK map
Local Google MAP for Berwick
Tide Predictions from NTSLF.ORG



User Control Panel

Not a Member? Sign Up!

Login or Register


Film Reviews, Last Cinema Movies, Movies, DVDs
berwickberwick News


Stats: Qlocal over 500,000 page views a month (google analytics)
berwick Bathroom Suppliesberwick Bathroom Tapsberwick Bathroom Furnitureberwick Bathroom Showersberwick Shower Enclosuresberwick Bathsberwick L Shaped Bathberwick P Shaped Bathberwick Wet Roomsberwick Bath Screensberwick Bath Mixer Tapberwick Bidet Tapsberwick Toilet Seatsberwick Sanitarywareberwick Combined Toilet Basinberwick Stovesberwick Wood Stovesberwick Home Stovesberwick Cooker Stovesberwick Enamel Stovesberwick Designer Stovesberwick Contemporary Stovesberwick Multi Fuel Stovesberwick Accounts Softwareberwick Sage Softwareberwick Sage Line 50berwick Sage Line 200berwick Pegasus Accountsberwick Access Accountsberwick Car Servicingberwick MOTgberwick Tyresberwick Car Batteryberwick Exhaustberwick Journalist Jobsberwick Reporter Jobsberwick Writing Jobsberwick Freelance Writerberwick Self Employed Jobsberwick Franchise Businessberwick Franchise Opportunitiesberwick Driving Schoolsberwick Driving Lessonsberwick Driving Testberwick Driving Theory Testberwick Driving Instruction, 0000 berwick Driving Instructor, 0000 berwick Insolvencyberwick Insolvency Serviceberwick Insolvency Servicesberwick Liquidation Serviceberwick Business Recoveryberwick Insolvency Practitionerberwick Bankruptcy Serviceberwick Winding Up Petitionberwick Business Financeberwick Business Recoveryberwick Voluntary Arrangementberwick Individual Voluntary Arrangementberwick IVAberwick Debt Adviceberwick Debt Managementberwick Company Administrationberwick Administrationberwick Corporate Recoveryberwick Corporate Voluntary Arrangementberwick CVAberwick Corporate Insolvencyberwick Corporate Liquidationberwick Members Voluntary Liquidationberwick MVLberwick Partnership Voluntary Arrangementberwick PVAberwick Tax Demandberwick Invoice Financeberwick Bridging Financeberwick Vouchersberwick Dealsberwick Matalanberwick Firewoodberwick Fire Woodberwick Kiln Dried Hardwoodberwick Logs For Saleberwick Log Suppliesberwick Logsberwick Firewood Logsberwick Seasoned Logsberwick Hardwood Logsberwick Firewood Suppliersberwick Firewood Log Suppliersberwick Firewood Dumpy Bagsberwick Firewood Cratesberwick Cheap Firewoodberwick Homefire Logsberwick Cheap Firewood Logsberwick Kindle Conesberwick Pizza Oven Logsberwick Heating Oilberwick Home Heating Oilberwick Red Dieselberwick White Dieselberwick Kereseneberwick Commercial Fuelsberwick Calor Gasberwick Propane Gasberwick Butane Gasberwick Heating Gasberwick Horse Trainingberwick Horse Trainerberwick Horse Whispererberwick Equine Whispererberwick Horse Whisperer Victoria Smithberwick Rattan Garden Furnitureberwick Rattan Furnitureberwick Rattan Sofaberwick Rattan Dining Setberwick Rattan Directberwick Cheap Rattan Furnitureberwick Rattan Corner Sofasberwick Rattan Day Bedsberwick Rattan Sun Loungersberwick Rattan Cube Setsberwick Rattan Bistro Setsberwick Chimeneasberwick Firepitsberwick Patio Heatersberwick Card Payments Processingberwick Credit Card Processingberwick Merchant Servicesberwick Merchant Accountberwick Merchant Paymentsberwick Card Machinesberwick Card Terminalsberwick Online Paymentsberwick Worldpayberwick Bouncy Castlesberwick Bouncy Castle Hireberwick Garden Trampolinesberwick Pramsberwick Pushchairsberwick Strollersberwick Hauck Pramsberwick Huackberwick Childrens Trampolinesberwick Baby Mobilesberwick Baby Activity Matsberwick Baby Bedroom Furnitureberwick Childrens Bedroom Furnitureberwick Hygiene Vendingberwick Washroom Vendingberwick Air Freshenersberwick Air Careberwick Aerosol Systemsberwick Gel Systemsberwick Water Savingberwick Urinal Water Savingberwick Eco Capsberwick Sensaflushberwick Water Managementberwick Urinal Dosingberwick Urinal V Screensberwick Legionella Risk Assessmentberwick Legionaires Bacterialberwick Odour Controlberwick Odour Eliminationberwick Odour Removalberwick Airsterilberwick Hand Careberwick Hand Creamberwick Hand Soapberwick Hand Washingberwick Hand Dryingberwick Hand Dryersberwick Electric Hand Dryersberwick Fast Hand Dryersberwick Commercial Hand Dryersberwick Energy Efficient Hand Dryersberwick Hand Dryer Rentalberwick Hand Dryer Salesberwick Paper Towelsberwick Roller Towelsberwick Cotton Roller Towelsberwick Blue Roller Towelsberwick White Roller Towelsberwick Janitorial Suppliesberwick Janitorialberwick Cleaning Suppliesberwick Cleaning Productsberwick Cleaning Equipmentberwick Office Cleaningberwick Home Cleaningberwick Debt Recovery Servicesberwick Debt Recoveryberwick Debt Collectionberwick Outsource Credit Controlberwick Collection Agencyberwick Debt Collection Agencyberwick Commercial Canopyberwick Steel Canopyberwick Bike Shedsberwick Bike Storageberwick Bicycle Storeberwick Bicycle Storageberwick Bikes Storeberwick Bike Storeberwick Outdoor Canopyberwick Cycle Sheltersberwick Cycle Shedberwick Cycle Storageberwick Cycle Rackberwick Cycle Compoundberwick Cycle Solutionsberwick Scooter Storageberwick Scooter Shelterberwick Canopiesberwick Canopyberwick Play Area Canopyberwick Entrance Canopiesberwick Entrance Canopyberwick Waiting Shelterberwick Smoking Shelterberwick Parent Waiting Shelterberwick Parent Shelterberwick Teen Shelterberwick Nursery Canopyberwick School Canopyberwick Play Canopyberwick Envirolawnberwick Astroturfberwick Cheap Astroturfberwick Artificial Grassberwick Cheap Artificial Grassberwick Astro Turfberwick Artificial Lawnberwick Fake Grassberwick Fake Lawnberwick Fire Stove Glassberwick Heat Resistant Glassberwick Fire Glassberwick Stove Glassberwick Fire Resistant Glassberwick Replacement Stove Glassberwick Glass For Stovesberwick Spill Kitsberwick Spill Control Kitsberwick Spill Kit Refillsberwick Spill Kit Refill GK6berwick Chemical Spill Kitsberwick Oil Spill Kitsberwick Solar Panelsberwick Solar Panels Costberwick Solar Heatingberwick Solar PVberwick Commercial Solarberwick Photovoltaicberwick Dust Matsberwick Entrance Matsberwick Reception Matsberwick Anti Fatigue Matsberwick Floor Matsberwick Logo Matsberwick Washroom Servicesberwick Principal Washroomsberwick Washrooms Suppliesberwick Washrooms Solutionsberwick Sanitary Disposalberwick Sanitary Binsberwick Sani Binsberwick Lady Binsberwick Feminine Hygiene Unitsberwick Sanitary Waste Disposalberwick Sanitary Wasteberwick Sanitary Unitsberwick Feminine Unitsberwick Hygiene Servicesberwick Sanitary Bin Supplierberwick Sanitary Bin Rentalberwick Sanitary Bin Rental Servicesberwick General Wasteberwick Trade Wasteberwick Commercial Wasteberwick Business Wasteberwick Waste Managementberwick Waste Collectionberwick Cardboard Wasteberwick Paper Wasteberwick Plastic Wasteberwick Glass Wasteberwick Biomass Wasteberwick Metal Wasteberwick Confidential Wasteberwick Confidential Waste Serviceberwick On Site Shreddingberwick Off Site Shreddingberwick One Off Shreddingberwick Contract Shreddingberwick Dental Wasteberwick Dental Waste Disposalberwick Dental Waste Legislationberwick Dental Waste Complianceberwick Accupuncture Wasteberwick Accupuncture Waste Disposalberwick Accupuncture Waste Collectionberwick Tattoo Wasteberwick Tattoo Waste Disposalberwick Sharps Binberwick Sharps Collectionberwick Hazardous Sharpsberwick Non Hazardous Sharpsberwick Cytotoxic Sharpsberwick Cytostatic Sharpsberwick Ink Blockberwick Wet_Wasteberwick Tattoo Inkberwick Drug Destructionberwick Drug Disposalberwick Drug Denaturingberwick Unwanted Drugsberwick Out Of Date Drugsberwick Pest Controlberwick Rodent Controlberwick Bird Controlberwick Bird Proofingberwick Guano Controlberwick Pest Call Outberwick Pest Preventionberwick Pest Deterrentberwick Nursery Wasteberwick Nappy Wasteberwick Nappy Binberwick Nappy Disposalberwick Nappy Wheelie Binberwick Nursery Waste Disposalberwick Nursery Waste Collectionberwick Incontinence Padsberwick Offensive Wasteberwick Human Wasteberwick Nursing Home Wasteberwick Care Home Wasteberwick Hazardous Wasteberwick Infectous Wasteberwick Pharmaceutical Wasteberwick Medicinal Wasteberwick Medicine Wasteberwick Infection Controlberwick Hand Sanitisersberwick Clinical Waste Disposalberwick Clinical Waste Managementberwick Clinical Waste Policyberwick EA Registrationberwick Hammocksberwick Garden Hammocksberwick Adult Hammocksberwick Childrens Hammocksberwick Baby Hammocks