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(Review originally written at 29 July 2010)

Nothing outstanding or special about this movie really. In itself there is nothing wrong with its good and powerful, intriguing story but the way it all gets brought the screen isn't the best or most effective way.

It's a made for TV movie, so of course it visually and technically never gets an impressive one to look at. Luckilly it still has some elements to compensate for this, such as the story but also some fine acting by well known actors who make their appearance in this movie. Forest Whitaker looks quite ridicules in his role but at least he really knows how to act and how to play his character.

However the way Forest Whitaker looks in this is unfortunately not the only ridicules aspect about this movie. Even though the story in itself is good, it doesn't always have a good flow to it. It also doesn't always progress very convincing. For instance, the one moment the Forest Whitaker is against all action and involvement with the human right group, in the '60's, who fight for the rights of the colored but the next he does not only gets voted leader, he is the one that screams the hardest, fights the toughest and he is willing to risk everything, even though at first he was incredibly protective and kept himself to the background. Not very convincing. Also quite ridicules how all of the KKK-people get portrayed as evil James Bond-type of villains. On top of that, the colored people get all portrayed as soft-spoken, friendly cat loving people to help to make the contrast of good and evil within this movie even bigger. It doesn't really work too well for any of the movie its realism.

I really like Bill Duke as an actor and I will love him always for some of his movies ("Commando", "Predator") but it seems that he still has a lot to learn as a director.

It's a shame, since the movie itself is trying to tell a real good and intriguing story, that's based on true events. But the movie just doesn't make that much of an impact with it. It all got done in a very average and formulaic way. So it are not only the technical aspect that makes this seems like a very average and cheap movie but also its lacking narrative.

5/10

About Frank Veenstra

Watches movies...writes about them...and that's it for now.
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