Delayed Reaction: Emancipation

Premise: A slave during the Civil War escapes in hopes of finding freedom.

That's it? That's the movie I've been hearing about for so long? Ever since "the slap" at the Academy Awards last winter, I've been hearing about what it might mean for Apple's Emancipation. Would it get pushed back a year to let things settle down? Would it get a quiet release and stay out of the awards game? Would it downplay Will Smith's involvement a la Ansel Elgort in West Side Story*? All this wondering accidentally built up Emancipation even more.

 

*Look, I know that Will Smith shouldn't be getting lumped in with people accused of much worse stuff. But let's not pretend we don't know why that's happening. "The Slap" was seen by millions. It is a very public event. Ansel Elgort's sexual assault allegations are way more damning but not nearly as visible. And Smith is way more famous. Smith's profile and the visibility of what he did wrong, for the purpose of something like awards predictions/discussions puts him in discussions with people who [allegedly] did much more abhorrent stuff behind closed doors.

 

What I realize now is that if there had been no slap at all, Emancipation still would've disappeared. Maybe Smith would've gotten a halo nomination if the Lead Actor field was weak enough. That's it though. And it makes sense. Anthony Fuqua is more of a populist director. If not for Denzel's Training Day Oscar, which was a "stars aligning" set of circumstances, Fuqua would be a director who has never touched real Oscar consideration with his films.

 

Emancipation is a pretty good movie. But it's a pretty good action thriller. It belongs in a movie night more with Apocalypto than 12 Years a Slave. The reasons it was ever considered for awards were all surface level. It's a movie about slavery. It's starring an Oscar winner. Hell, they even desaturated it to the point that it's nearly black and white. This all sounds like an Oscar player. It's just not though.

 

Despite all my criticisms, I did like the movie. I'm just annoyed that it was sold as something it's not. Fuqua knows how to make a good action movie. Giving it the backdrop of slavery effectively adds stakes. Will Smith lets the story and the pacing do the work. He's not relying on his charisma as much as normal. I guess my message is that you should watch this movie if you are a fan of Training Day, The Equalizer, or Shooter. Don't expect Apple's follow up to CODA.

 

Side Rant: Can we just stop with the Black and White? I'm so tired of filmmakers using less color as their statement of serious intent. I can't think of many films enhanced by the decision to go black and white. If you can't make your film look good using a fuller color palate then that's a failing as a cinematographer.

 

Verdict: Weakly Recommend