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: Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016)

Genre: War Drama  

Director: Ang Lee  

Starring: Joe Alwyn, Steve Martin, Vin Diesel, Chris Tucker, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart  

Running Time: 113 minutes  

Synopsis: After performing heroics during a firefight in Iraq, 19 year-old US Army Specialist Billy Lynn (Joe Alwyn) is on a two-week publicity tour of the United States along with his Bravo company members. In the lead-up to an appearance at the glitzy half-time show of a Dallas football game, Billy recalls the war experiences that led to death of his Sergeant "Shroom" (Vin Diesel). In the meantime a publicity agent (Chris Tucker) is trying to secure a movie deal for Bravo, the football team owner (Steve Martin) is eager to share in the glory, Billy's sister Kathryn (Kristen Stewart) wants to convince him to avoid re-deployment, and a cheerleader (Makenzie Leigh) shows a romantic interest.

What Works Well: This reflective drama delivers a blunt anti-war message with impressive visuals, while simultaneously saluting the soldiers dispatched to do the dirty work. Director Ang Lee seeks a sense of geographic disorientation among the Bravo team members, paraded onto a stage where they don't belong and exploited by wealthy men willing to underbid for unearned glory. Despite the surrounding razzmatazz, the clock is ticking towards the men's redeployment back to the hell of war, not that anyone on the home front cares beyond Billy Lynn's sister.

What Does Not Work As Well: More a message than a movie, the plot is directionless and never gains momentum. The Billy Lynn character provides insufficient weight to carry the narrative, and the collective group of soldiers is not much more than a compilation of banter and hijinks. The two most interesting characters are the mythology-inspired Shroom (already dead) and the grounded Kathryn (reduced to a couple of scenes).

Key Quote:

Billy: It's sort of weird, being honored for the worst day of your life.



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