Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Blood Done Sign My Name

Release Date: February 19th, 2010

Genre: History / Drama

Stars: Michael Rooker, Omar Benson Miller, Rick Schroder, Nate Parker, Afemo Omilami

Synopsis: Based on the true story of an African American that returns from the Vietnam war and is murdered in his small North Carolina home town by racist store owners.

AltAss Ratings (On a scale of 1 to 5 asses)

Plot:                                         

Focusing on the segregation era south and a racially motivated murder is usually a good formula for an effective drama.

Writing / Production:          

The film starts slowly and doesn't seem to generate the heat and passion that similar films have brought in the past.  The dialogue is a strength especially during the inspirational speeches of the activists and the closing statements of the prosecuting attorney.

Acting:                                      

When this kind of film is successful there is usually a performance or two that stands out and makes the drama particularly real for the audience which simply isn't the case in "Blood Done Sign My Name".  There are several nice performances, most notably Nate Parker as Ben Chavis, but this film is missing the "it" factor in the acting category to push it over the top.

Originality:                         

The reality of the racist segregationist south has been brought to light many times much of them more impressively than in this movie.

Overall:                                  

This film is based on a book written by the son of the methodist minister who is one of the main characters in the film but it might have been more successful to focus more on the perspective of the little known civil rights activist Golden Frinks that travelled to communities struck by tragedy and garnered support for the movement.  As important as it is to never forget the many tragedies and injustices brought about by our racist history, this film suffers from being too similar to others movies that are more entertaining and moving.

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