Movie Review: Harriet (2019)

Genre: Biographical Drama Thriller  

Director: Kasi Lemmons  

Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Joe Alwyn, Janelle Monáe  
Running Time: 125 minutes  

Synopsis: In Maryland of 1849, Araminta "Minty" Ross (Cynthia Eriva) is a slave on the Brodess plantation. Determined to achieve freedom and escape the brutality of her owner Gideon (Joe Alwyn), she leaves her family and husband behind and flees 100 miles north to Philadelphia. She adopts the name Harriet Tubman and settles into a life of freedom with help from abolitionist William Sill (Leslie Odom Jr.) and business owner Marie Buchanon (Janelle Monáe). Unsatisfied with passivity, Harriet then sets out to help others escape slavery, and emerges as a fearless leader of the Underground Railroad.

What Works Well: Based on actual events, this is a story of one formidable woman risking everything to make a difference and push back against a historical wrong. Director Kasi Lemmons co-wrote the script with Gregory Allen Howard, and captures the essence of Harriet's struggle to free herself, her family, and ultimately her race. Human drama alternates with heart-pounding escapes, and Cynthia Erivo's performance is filled with rage but also fragility, loneliness, and longing. While the focus is on Harriet, her faith-enabled journey is surrounded by the dynamic historical context of a country marching towards a civil war triggered by divergent ideological and economic realities.

What Does Not Work As Well: The narrative borders on a hagiography, with Harriet approaching saintly levels of perfection. The overblown and frequently melodramatic music score does not help.

Key Quote:

Harriet: I'm gonna be free or die.

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Movie Review: Wicked (2024)

Genre: Fantasy Musical  

Director: Jon M. Chu  

Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh  

Running Time: 160 minutes  

Synopsis: The land of Oz is celebrating the death of the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo). When the good sorceress Glinda (Arianna Grande) is asked what made the Witch wicked, she recalls their story in flashback. Elphaba (who became the Witch) is born green and with magical powers. Her stunned parents show her no love, although she is kind to her younger paralyzed sister. Elphaba and Galinda (later Glinda) meet at Shiz University, where they are roommates, enemies, then friends. Elphaba's powers are noticed by Dean of Sorcery Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), and she is promised an audience with the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum).

What Works Well: The cinematic adaptation of the popular stage musical benefits from imaginative world-building, with bright colours and a child-appealing light-hearted sense of fun. The basic inclusion lessons are equally spoon-fed in small and deliberate morsels to register with young minds. Arianna Grande has a lot of fun as the entitled wannabe sorceress adorably convinced that the world revolves around her.

What Does Not Work As Well: The CGI overload is often the most impressive feature on the screen, and drives the experience towards animation wizardry where success is measured by pixel density. The songs are largely forgettable and support the most superficial of societal lessons (be yourself; be kind). From beneath the green make-up, Cynthia Erivo's one demonstrated emotion is seething anger for the entirety of the inexcusably obese running time - and this is only Part 1.

Key Quote:

Glinda: Something is very wrong, I didn't get my way... I need to lay down.



All Ace Black Movie Blog reviews are here.