GRADE: B-
THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED.
IN BRIEF: Historically inaccurate, but a well-acted bio-pic.
JIM'S REVIEW: Let's talk history and begin this review with a side note about banknotes. Harriet Tubman, that famous Civil War heroine who saved hundreds of slaves as a "conductor" for the Underground Railroad still may not have her own $20 bill...that's long in the working stages, but she does finally have her own movie.
Harriet, the film biography of the this famous abolitionist's life, plays more like a game of truth or dare, with more of the latter and less of the former. It's Hollywood's version of a real-life figure and, once again, historical accuracy be damned!
A former slave, Harriet (a wonderful Cynthia Erivo, giving a fierce performance) escapes from slave owner Eliza Brodess (a fine Jennifer Nettles portraying this real person). Harriet is chased by Eliza's grandson, Gideon (a walking example of fake news, and played with overwrought villainous glee by Joe Alwyn). A bounty on her head as a runaway slave, she also eludes trackers who worked to catch slaves running north. Although black trackers were in the minority, the film has African-American actor Omar Dorsey in the role of Bigger Long to heighten the drama and sense of irony.
That said, many elements of the story are based on facts: she was born Araminta "Minty" Ross before renaming herself, had godly visions, dressed as a man, was a straight-shooter who carried guns, walked 100 miles to escape capture, risked her life numerous times to travel in the South and rescued approximately 70 slaves (not the embellished 300). All true events in this icon's life. Also on the plus side, the film does not soften her character and shows her to be the militant radical that she proudly professed to be.
Still, director / Writer Kasi Lemmons' film takes too many creative liberties and makes Ms. Tubman into a modern day superhero without cape or spandex. This woman may be fearless in her mission, but there's enough far-fetched exaggeration thrown in to preach to any choir or denomination. The director and co-screenwriter, Gregory Allen Howard, lay it on rather thickly, serving the melodramatic hyperbole in huge dollops as thick as day-old Southern grits. Instead of restraining their emotional focus on the title character's factual life, they pump up the story with enough dangerous adventures and add too many fictitious characters which push the limits of history while moving the plot along at a brisk pace. Loosely based on the facts, the film continually contradicts reality, even if it remains rousing entertainment. The plot device of Harriet Tubman's freaky premonitions and fainting spells are overdone and are more frequently on view in this movie than one would find in an average Stephen King horror film.
Ms. Erivo is excellent in the lead role. She shows her character's courage and determination with a vengance. The actress also displays Ms. Tubman's vulnerability in the film's rare quieter moments. The acting is strong throughout the film with ample support from Leslie Odom Jr. as real-life activist William Still, Zackary Momoh as her husband John, Clarke Peters as her father, and Janelle Monáe as freed slave Marie Buchanon (not a real-life individual).
Harriet Tubman's life-story is a solid and powerful tale of an oppressed woman's fight for freedom. It truly deserved a more accurate treatment and could have stood on its own without the creative tinkering. (I think Harriet would have agreed.) Harriet, the film, does shamelessly manipulate facts vs. fiction, but the movie tells an important chapter in our nation's history with consistent flair and is crowd-pleasing in its storytelling of a legendary American hero.
THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED.
IN BRIEF: Historically inaccurate, but a well-acted bio-pic.
JIM'S REVIEW: Let's talk history and begin this review with a side note about banknotes. Harriet Tubman, that famous Civil War heroine who saved hundreds of slaves as a "conductor" for the Underground Railroad still may not have her own $20 bill...that's long in the working stages, but she does finally have her own movie.
Harriet, the film biography of the this famous abolitionist's life, plays more like a game of truth or dare, with more of the latter and less of the former. It's Hollywood's version of a real-life figure and, once again, historical accuracy be damned!
A former slave, Harriet (a wonderful Cynthia Erivo, giving a fierce performance) escapes from slave owner Eliza Brodess (a fine Jennifer Nettles portraying this real person). Harriet is chased by Eliza's grandson, Gideon (a walking example of fake news, and played with overwrought villainous glee by Joe Alwyn). A bounty on her head as a runaway slave, she also eludes trackers who worked to catch slaves running north. Although black trackers were in the minority, the film has African-American actor Omar Dorsey in the role of Bigger Long to heighten the drama and sense of irony.
That said, many elements of the story are based on facts: she was born Araminta "Minty" Ross before renaming herself, had godly visions, dressed as a man, was a straight-shooter who carried guns, walked 100 miles to escape capture, risked her life numerous times to travel in the South and rescued approximately 70 slaves (not the embellished 300). All true events in this icon's life. Also on the plus side, the film does not soften her character and shows her to be the militant radical that she proudly professed to be.
Still, director / Writer Kasi Lemmons' film takes too many creative liberties and makes Ms. Tubman into a modern day superhero without cape or spandex. This woman may be fearless in her mission, but there's enough far-fetched exaggeration thrown in to preach to any choir or denomination. The director and co-screenwriter, Gregory Allen Howard, lay it on rather thickly, serving the melodramatic hyperbole in huge dollops as thick as day-old Southern grits. Instead of restraining their emotional focus on the title character's factual life, they pump up the story with enough dangerous adventures and add too many fictitious characters which push the limits of history while moving the plot along at a brisk pace. Loosely based on the facts, the film continually contradicts reality, even if it remains rousing entertainment. The plot device of Harriet Tubman's freaky premonitions and fainting spells are overdone and are more frequently on view in this movie than one would find in an average Stephen King horror film.
Ms. Erivo is excellent in the lead role. She shows her character's courage and determination with a vengance. The actress also displays Ms. Tubman's vulnerability in the film's rare quieter moments. The acting is strong throughout the film with ample support from Leslie Odom Jr. as real-life activist William Still, Zackary Momoh as her husband John, Clarke Peters as her father, and Janelle Monáe as freed slave Marie Buchanon (not a real-life individual).
Harriet Tubman's life-story is a solid and powerful tale of an oppressed woman's fight for freedom. It truly deserved a more accurate treatment and could have stood on its own without the creative tinkering. (I think Harriet would have agreed.) Harriet, the film, does shamelessly manipulate facts vs. fiction, but the movie tells an important chapter in our nation's history with consistent flair and is crowd-pleasing in its storytelling of a legendary American hero.