Mississippi Burning: Review of Mudbound

Mudbound

Director: Dee Rees

By Alex Watson

Dee Rees' Mudbound is a movie that is unafraid of tackling a dark point in US history. Among the muddy fields of Mississippi, the racial tension simmers. However, Rees also makes the human struggle element clear because this story is about how one piece of land causes a great divide among families. There is also a notion of brotherhood and two characters although worlds apart are drawn together by a terrible experience. The end result is an emotionally engaging piece.

Henry McAllan (Jason Clarke) leaves his idyllic city life in Memphis to pursue his dream of owning a farm in Mississippi. The move is hard on his wife Laura (Carey Mulligan) who struggle to adapt to living in a shack with no running water or electricity. She is also drawn to his war hero brother Jamie (Garrett Hedlund) who is affected by his combat experience. At the other end of the spectrum is sharecropper Hap (Rob Morgan) who has five children with wife Florence (Mary J Blige)- their son Ronsel (Jason Mitchell) has also returned home from WWII but faces another war altogether.

While six different characters providing narration does feel like overkill in places, there are few complaints to be had about Mudbound. Rees is able to draw us to each individual characters and bring them into their innermost thoughts. There is an unspoken sense of order through the early stages of this picture and from the moment Henry's family arrives, Hap knows their place in the world. His family has worked on the land for generations even though the land will never become his. " this character continually wonders about his place. While Henry is never outright hostile or unkind, his Pappy (a delightfully evil Jonathan Banks) is very much upfront with his hostility. Refusing to even sit next to Hap in the front of their car, his blunt hatred causes friction whenever he appears.

Jamie's arrival is one that stirs the pot. Permanently drunk and suffering from PTSD, he is saddled with a deep-seated guilt over the soldiers he failed to save in WWII. Laura is drawn to his kindness as he seems to embody everything her husband isn't. When meeting Ronsel for the first time, the pair do not see black or white but a fellow combat vet. Their friendship blossoms because they both understand the horrors of war. Sadly it also ignites a furious reaction from Pappy and what transpires is truly horrific. At the height of segregation, this friendship becomes the movie's heart and soul.  Laura's story is also one that brings a sadness to our hearts. A woman trying to make the most of the soggy and mud-filled land she occupies, she also chafes under the dominance of her unlikable father in law and her distance husband.

Rees's takes her audience into a time that most American audiences wish to forget. In 1940's deep south, there was an obvious social ladder and Hap and Florence's family unwittingly found themselves on the bottom rung. The intense hatred and hostility are at times also unbearable to watch. Especially during a tense sequence where Ronsel attempts to leave via the front door of a shop. Pappy and his equally racist pal are quick to ensure he knows to leave through the backdoor "I don't know what they let you do over there, but you're in Mississippi now!" Hap and Florence are bravely trying to build their own dream despite the odds being stacked against them. The notions of losing and keeping faith are strongly enforced- Laura is continually losing hope over her husband's perhaps foolish intentions.

While Carey Mulligan gives a stand-out turn as the struggling Laura, she is almost a background player in this story. Garrett Hedlund is outstanding in a strong supporting role and firmly captures a man wrestling with his conscience. Dismissed as drunk by both his brother and father, Jamie carries a burden few men understand. Hedlund is definitely Oscar-worthy here. Jason Mitchell's Ronsel is the character who will capture your heart. A brave soldier, he comes home to find the old problems that plagued his life are still there. Mitchell's barely contained disgust is mesmerizing to watch and on merit alone, he deserves to rewarded. Mary J Blige is the one tipped for Oscar glory and as in a powerful and less showy turn- she thoroughly lives up to the hype.

Mudbound is a movie that captures the struggles of everyday people trying to live a dream. It is also a powerful voice about a dark era of US history.

Motor City Mayhem: Review of Detroit

Detroit

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

By Alex Watson

Tensions flare ferociously in Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit and from the opening frame, a city descends into anarchy. Reviewing one of the worse riots in US history, Bigelow is unafraid of showing the full horrors. At the centre, this is a picture of how lives get taken for granted when a city is out of control. 1967 Detroit is a place where the rules have disappeared and the effect of this will make audience members feel sick to the stomach by the movie's end.

In July 1967, during the third day of rioting, the Detroit police hear several gunshots from a window at the Algiers Motel. Quickly storming the building with bullets, officer's Krause (Will Poulter) and Demens (Jack Reynor) take control of the situation and line all guests up against the wall. Among the people persecuted are singer Larry (Algee Smith) and his buddy Fred (Jacob Latimore), returning Vietnam veteran Greene (Anthony Mackie) and security guard Melvin Dismukes (John Boyega). By the end of the night, lives will become irreparably damaged.

Furiously frothing away like a pot ready to boil over, Bigelow wastes no time in igniting the movie's revolt. When a raid on an unlicensed bar goes south, African-American onlookers quickly descend into looting and arson to vent their frustrations. This knife edge feel becomes unbearably claustrophobic almost immediately. Civil rights protestors are tired of feeling like second class citizens and the cops are fed up of the destruction. Officer Krause establishes himself as the primary antagonist, particularly when he casually shoots a running offender in the back. An abusive cop who makes full use of the chaos to play by his own rules. We are given time to both love/hate respective characters with Larry by far the most heart stealing. A talented singer for group 'The Dramatics' his dream gig gets pulled moments before he steps on stage due to rioting. This along with a series of unfortunate events send these different characters towards the Algiers Motel. You can sense the storm is about to hit, but you will not be prepared for the sheer force of it.

In one of the most sickening and horrific sequences of the year, Bigelow brings her audience right into the thick of a shocking violation. Physically exhausting and nauseating, this hour long experience is as close to a home invasion horror as you can get. After a prank involving a starting pistol started by pig-hating guest Carl (Jason Mitchell), Krause and co. descend upon the motel with a lust for vengeance. Honest and hard working security Dismukes also follows and his intention to do the right thing will land him a whole world of trouble. The sheer glee the officers get from threatening, repeatedly assaulting and shockingly even murdering guests is the most uncomfortable feeling imaginable. Detroit refuses to soften the blows and some audience members might want to hyperventilate into their empty popcorn bags. Krause acts as the sadistic judge and jury and the psychological torture he inflicts on the innocent people is like a fun game. The most stunning aspect to this whole thing is just how much people are willing to forget or overlook in the aftermath. Mark Boal's meticulously executed script shines brightest of all here.

Dismukes decline is possibly the most devastating aspect of Bigelow's movie. A security guard trying to act as liaison and saviour is looked down upon by both the cops who see him a siding with the enemy. Eventually, he will become an attempted fall guy. Those hoping for justice to be served and closure to be given are in for one hell of a ride. The third act is where this picture loses steam, even though our hearts are still racing uncontrollably. As the three cops and Melvin are thrown on trial for the nation to see- the steps taken to discredit and ignore the crimes that took place simply build anger and frustration. Overall 42 died and 1,200 were injured during the Detroit riots- in this picture the city is willing to overlook whatever transgressions took place and sweep this under the rug. Some characters are unable to look at life the same way again and after the trauma suffered it is little surprise.

The casting of this picture has been excellently done and Will Poulter is outstandingly evil as the baby faced Krause. A scene stealer whenever he appears, Poulter channels the joy he gets from playing his mind games. A bigoted and calculated cop, the riots have given Krause the chance to run wild. John Boyega is also excellent as the good intentioned Dismukes, giving us the same likeable charm as Force Awakens. A dedicated professional and wanting for everyone to be at peace, Dismukes is the victim of fate and being thrust into a no-win compromise is what seals his fate. Algee Smith is perhaps the most affecting performance as Larry. At first, a happy-go-lucky crooner about to hit the big time, his experience at the Algiers will send his life spinning out of the control.

Detroit is another example of just what an incredible filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow truly is. Few directors could have taken an event like this and shown the horrors in such unflinching details. Keep a spare heart for afterwards, you will need it.

Mean Streets: Review of Straight Outta Compton

Straight Outta Compton

Director: F. Gary Gray

By Alex Watson

Although slightly let down by a slower second half, Straight Outta Compton is still an explosive and arresting look at a musical era that inspired a generation. Director F.Gary Gray isn't afraid to pull the punches the movie needs to show the harsh reality of the 90's hip-hop era. Produced by old boys Ice Cube, Dr Dre and Easy E's widow, Tomica Woods-Wright this charts the fast rise and dramatic falling apart of N.W.A kicks the movie into a high gear. What begins and friends just dropping tracks becomes something far bigger which will lead to egos increasing and rivalries being forged. 

When Compton, CA friends Dr Dre (Corey Hawkins), Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson Jr) and Easy-E (Jason Mitchell) form the legendary hip-hop group N.W.A, their sound will quickly grab the nations attention. Quickly after releasing their débutalbum, these once solid friends begin to turn against one another as each becomes affected by Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti). After the mighty triumvirate has fallen, each will take their own path leading to some life altering decisions. 

From the moment that Straight Outta Compton drops the needle, there is an animosity slowly building. This pressure cooker feel reflects the tough existence that growing up in Compton, CA would bring these characters, who were repeatedly harassed by a police-force unable to tell one gang-banger apart from another. N.W.A were a group all about confronting the things they hated in society and their Once such humiliating shakedown while recording in Torrance, California would lead to their anger filled anthem "Fuck Tha Police" which gets them arrested while at a concert in Detroit. Their form of "reality rap" is widely embrace and feared by the public as they encourage violence and standing up against society. As Ice Cube tells one unimpressed reporter "Our Art is a reflection of our Reality!" 

Each character is unique in his own way and F.Gary Gray is able to bring about some astute observations. Easy-E is by far the most engaging of the three heavy players. Underneath his high-pitched voice and street smart persona lies a shrewd and complex character. Dre is the more pacifying element to this group and is a genius producers always on the look out for the perfect sound. The game changing element is very Jerry Heller, a veteran rock producer who lures the boys in boy promising to open the important doors. This man is not made out as the outright villain for this piece, just a man who wanted to keep the big wheel spinning. Whether he had honest intentions or not, Heller would create one hell of a mess through his shady actions. 

The second half of Straight Outta Compton is a slower and times too drawn out affair. It does however give a fascinating look at the groups life after N.W.A. Ice Cube will achieve solo success in the midst of a verbal dissing match with his former group mates. Dr Dre will go on to found Death Row records with Marion "Suge" Knight (R.Marcos Taylor) and discover artists Tupac and Snoop Dogg. Suge's introduction is a thumping and at times terrifying one. At first the kindly and fatherly savior, he helps Dre go his own way. However, when his more violent and tyrannical side is let out the bag, Dre begins to realize his error! Easy-E's downward descent provides the movie with a surprisingly emotional feel as his health deteriorates and his money runs dry. 

For this piece we are given a trio of fine performances by three impressive young actors. Jason Mitchell is this pictures biggest find and gives a stunning turn as the convoluted Easy-E. His strongest work comes in the movies latter half when Easy dissolves into a shell of the man he once was. O'Shea Jackson Jr makes for great casting as Ice Cube because he the son of very same artist! Embodying his fathers hard attitude and his refusal to accept being second best, Jackson Jr makes a fine tough element. Corey Hawkins as Dre is the quieter but more assured voice of the group but he nonetheless has a great presence. Demonstrating his keen ear, Dre is by far the most successful because he doesn't just need to his own voice to succeed. 

Straight Outta Compton is a movie that deserves your time and F. Gary Gray has made one flick that can appeal universally. Forget that your knowledge of the West Coast rap scene maybe zero, this picture is one that will have you improving your ipod playlist urgently the second you get home.