Brian Banks

Name: Brian Banks
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Released: August 9, 2019
Duration: 99 min
Rating: 58
Cast: Aldis Hodge, Calvin Williams, Charles Alexandre, Chen Tang, David Clyde Carr

2019

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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Brian Banks: Truth Matters

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Movie Details & Credits

Bleecker Street | Release Date: August 9, 2019 | PG-13

Starring: Aldis Hodge, Calvin Williams, Charles Alexandre, Chen Tang, David Clyde Carr, Dean Denton, Dorian Missick, Edward Parker, Freedom, Gino Vento, Greg Kinnear, Harrison Stone, Jennifer Pierce, Mary Faulkner, Matt Battaglia, Melanie Liburd, Monique Grant, Mystie Smith, Sherri Shepherd, Tiffany Dupont, Xosha Roquemore

Summary: Brian Banks (Aldis Hodge), an All-American high school football star committed to USC, finds his life upended when he is wrongly convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. Despite lack of evidence, Banks is railroaded through a broken justice system and sentenced to a decade of prison and probation. Years later, with the support of JustinBrian Banks (Aldis Hodge), an All-American high school football star committed to USC, finds his life upended when he is wrongly convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. Despite lack of evidence, Banks is railroaded through a broken justice system and sentenced to a decade of prison and probation. Years later, with the support of Justin Brooks (Greg Kinnear) and the California Innocence Project, Banks fights to reclaim his life and fulfill his dreams of playing in the NFL.… Expand

Director: Tom Shadyac

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Sport

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 99 min

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Critic Reviews

Alan Ng

Aug 8, 2019

From a macro level, Brian Banks should just be a social justice film, but as we peer into the life of Banks himself, you’ll see a deeper and more profound story. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Aug 8, 2019

Sure, there are times when we’re aware our emotions are being manipulated — but we’re fine with that, because we want to see, and we expect to see, the heroic underdog triumph against nearly insurmountable odds. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Aug 8, 2019

Conventional but effectively so, more tense and involving than might be anticipated as obstacles pile on obstacles, this emotionally affecting story knows enough not to push too hard and reaps the benefits from its relative restraint. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Aug 8, 2019

Brian Banks isn’t a great movie, but it is a worthwhile one. And if it’s indicative of a new direction for its director, you won’t hear any complaints from me. Read full review

Peter Travers

Aug 9, 2019

The proceedings are raised when Hodge is onscreen, using every nuanced look and gesture to jump the hurdles of a banal script and reveal the pain tearing up Banks. Having made a mark in films like "Straight Outta Compton" and "Hidden Figures," and on TV in "City on a Hill," Hodge hits new heights of commitment. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Aug 6, 2019

Despite some real virtues, Brian Banks as a whole, is only a break-even experience. Read full review

The Playlist Andrew Bundy

Aug 6, 2019

Shadyac’s movie may ask difficult questions about the ills that society grapples with today, but it tackles them in a shallow, facile, sometimes uncomfortably out of touch manner. Read full review

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User Reviews

LamontRaymond

Aug 9, 2019

What a fantastic story! (A shame that the critics put it in the "mixed reviews" territory). Aldis Hodge is fantastic (love him on City on a Hill), and it's great to see Great Kinnear back on the big screen. About a third of the way through (no spoilers), I was really pissed that the personWhat a fantastic story! (A shame that the critics put it in the "mixed reviews" territory). Aldis Hodge is fantastic (love him on City on a Hill), and it's great to see Great Kinnear back on the big screen. About a third of the way through (no spoilers), I was really pissed that the person responsible for putting Brian behind bars wasn't getting enough blame in the story. It was truly an evil act that almost ruined Brian's life. And it was just that easy to do. But by the end of the film, once you've gotten to know Brian's mentor (played by Morgan Freeman), you begin to accept things, and you realize that "how you react to life" is all you can control. The movie received a warm round of applause in my theater - including from me - and it's something that most Americans should see. Hope to see that happen.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Brent_Marchant

Apr 23, 2020

Though somewhat formulaic in its presentation, director Tom Shadyac's genuinely earnest offering about an aspiring football player's 11-year struggle to clear his name for a sex crime he didn't commit hits many of the right notes emotionally and morally, an effort made valiant by theThough somewhat formulaic in its presentation, director Tom Shadyac's genuinely earnest offering about an aspiring football player's 11-year struggle to clear his name for a sex crime he didn't commit hits many of the right notes emotionally and morally, an effort made valiant by the outstanding lead performance of Aldis Hodge. The story here may seem familiar to a number of other pictures, but this well-executed venture is worth the time and, like those other titles, should inspire those seeking reform to a criminal justice system that's unfortunately all too often broken. Sadly, this release slipped through the distribution cracks when it came out in late 2019, garnering virtually no attention, but one can only hope it makes up for that oversight now that the film is available for streaming and on home media.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AWESOM-0

Jun 9, 2020

Good movie with a great cast! It's crazy that Mr Banks has been accused of sexual assault twice. He's got a great story to tell and it came together very well.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JEsFsF

Apr 4, 2020

Functional but endearing. Not great, but pleasant-with-a-purpose.

If you have a child in the house that you're wanting to watch a Social-Justice themed movie with, this is contemporary and acceptably entertaining.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mauro_Lanari

Apr 2, 2021

(Mauro Lanari)
I don't appreciate Shadyac's cinema, usually shamelessly inspirational. Even in this case he dares to try his hand at soteriology, but his idea of justice is once again human, too human.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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