The true story of Mamie Till Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14 year old son, Emmett Till, who, in 1955, was lynched while visiting his cousins in Mississippi.
- Released:
- Runtime: 120 minutes
- Genre: Drama
- Stars: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Whoopi Goldberg, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, Jayme Lawson, Tosin Cole, Kevin Carroll, Sean Patrick Thomas, John Douglas Thompson, Roger Guenveur Smith, Princess Elmore, Josh Ventura, Ed Amatrudo, Gail Everett-Smith, Brendan Patrick Connor, Tim Ware, Keisha Tillis, Kevin Brown, Bradley King, J.P. Edwards, Jackson Beals, Summer Rain Menkee, Reid Jameson Smith, Mike Dolphy, Ralph Hughes, Ed Sturdivant, Rakeem Massingill, Al Mitchell, Lee Spencer, Njema Williams, Sean Michael Weber, Alyssa Talbot, Euseph Messiah, James Sanders III, Thea Clark, Jamie Renell, Friedman Twinkies, Jonathan D. Williams, Jaylin Webb, Eric Whitten, Diallo Thompson, Cora Maple Lindell, David Caprita, Elizabeth Youman, Charles T. Massey, Angela Yale, Phil Biedron, Carol J. Mckenith, Torey Adkins, Maurice Johnson, Noel Sampson, Brandon P. Bell, Oz Keenum, Destin Freeman, Bree Fyffe, Josh Mendez Sr., Marcus Atkins, Darian Rolle, Brennan Schram, Melina Datta, Blaine Huslig, Ryan Austin Bryant, Richard Nash
- Director: Chinonye Chukwu
Comments
- aalaaeldin-19249 - 6 June 2024
A Film Undermined by Its Pacing
My main issue with this film is the languid pacing of its events. While everything else is acceptable, the sluggish tempo detracts from the overall experience. I understand the story is heartbreaking, but many scenes drag on longer than necessary, diluting the emotional impact. In contrast, key moments, like the courtroom scenes, feel rushed and could have included more gripping details, offering a deeper insight into the legal battle and its significance. The film also contains numerous side conversations that reiterate the same ideas, which adds to the feeling of repetitiveness and further slows down the narrative.
Despite these flaws, the film has its strengths. The performances, especially the portrayal of Mamie Till-Mobley, are powerful and emotionally charged, successfully conveying the profound grief and determination of a mother seeking justice. The cinematography and period details are well-executed; overall, it remains good, offering a poignant and vital look at a tragic chapter in history. - cgvsluis - 20 August 2023
My favorite part of this film is the costumes and the historic sets, which I know sounds weird.
I absolutely loved the costumes in this film which is based on the true life story of Emmet "Bo" Till and his mother Mamie Till-Bradley. I also loved Bo's childhood room...with its boat, plane and car theme. The cinematography was wonderful and lent itself to this period piece. I was also really impressed with how well they recreated Mamie Till-Bradley's famous open casket photograph.
Tough subject matter due to this film dealing with a lynching. Unfortunately, it wasn't the only lynching but it was very pivotal in both the NAACP and the Civil Rights Movement. There are a few inaccuracies, but overall a good retelling of Emmett Till's fateful encounter with Carolyn Bryant which lead to his subsequent kidnapping and horrific murder by JW Milam and Roy Bryant. (The real life Milam and Bryant confess their guilt to a reporter for Look magazine.)
I really appreciated that the director chose not to show the actual violence. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to watch. I think it was tastefully handled and allowed me to learn a bit about history that I didn't know a lot about.
