Apple TV+ | Release Date: December 2, 2022
4.2
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 42 Ratings
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Positive:
12
Mixed:
10
Negative:
20
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1
motorcity6Mar 15, 2023
I came hoping this movie would slap, but I was just really turned off by Will Smith. I could not empathize with his facial expressions and how bad his obviously overreacting was...
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0
Jarhead0341Mar 6, 2023
**** YOU WILL SMITH. You're a **** Your movie sucked ass. I hope everything you make, or star in FLOPS.
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10
Creativecritic1Feb 25, 2023
This is a good movie it's worth an 8 though most people will rate it lost because of Will Smith.
The Oscar was example of a human being everyone has made bad decisions at times. That moment should not define Will Smith neither should diminish
This is a good movie it's worth an 8 though most people will rate it lost because of Will Smith.
The Oscar was example of a human being everyone has made bad decisions at times. That moment should not define Will Smith neither should diminish this movie. This movie was good a not a typical slave film. Most people should watch it.
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0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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0
joashFeb 16, 2023
There is nothing here that you haven't already seen in any other movies, the only difference is it's harder to watch due to the filter choice
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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1
HamishIIIJan 8, 2023
Not well done boring and smith just dials it in - not sure why this hot made -
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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10
Tulip7148Jan 8, 2023
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Will smith killed it in this movie best movie ever 5 stars gonna watch it again Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
Brent_MarchantDec 27, 2022
Depicting the horrors of slavery is never an easy task for a filmmaker. How much is too much, and how little is too little? Either way, directors often face the dilemma of being labeled gratuitous or of underplaying the savagery of anDepicting the horrors of slavery is never an easy task for a filmmaker. How much is too much, and how little is too little? Either way, directors often face the dilemma of being labeled gratuitous or of underplaying the savagery of an institution typified by unspeakable atrocities. And, in a story where the victims are running for their lives, where does one draw the line? That’s particularly pertinent here, where the protagonist flees for his freedom after it had already been legally granted by Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. Director Antoine Fuqua’s ambitious effort to tell the fact-based story of a slave (Will Smith) who made his way through the Louisiana swamp to seek the protection of Union forces, all the while threatened by myriad natural dangers and the relentlessness of trackers looking to capture him, is quite a compelling tale. The filmmaker’s effort holds little back in telling his protagonist’s epic story while successfully managing to avoid becoming needlessly wanton, and he does so with positively stunning black-and-white visuals. However, the picture’s overlong manhunt sequence could have been trimmed considerably without losing much or becoming less effective, getting viewers to the much more impactful and emotionally moving closing segment more expeditiously. Of course, it’s impossible to talk about this film without mentioning the presence of Will Smith in his first film role since his regrettable actions at the Oscars. Many viewers have opted to skip this offering completely, and many reviewers have used their overwrought criticism as an excuse for punishing the actor for his bad behavior. However, as much as I disapprove of what Smith did, I have long made it a practice of attempting to separate artists and their art from their outside lives, judging their works on their merits and not on their personal behavior. It’s indeed unfortunate that Smith may well have torpedoed his career because of the slap, especially in light of his fine performance in this film, a portrayal that might have otherwise earned him another Oscar nomination and could have been a springboard to other coveted roles. Whether that happens remains to be seen, but, given the piling on response that has occurred in connection with this performance, I wouldn’t bank on it. What’s more, many of the other cast members and crew who worked on this production may suffer the consequences of guilt by association. To reiterate, I don’t approve of what went down, but I also don’t approve of what’s going on in connection with the response to this offering. It may not be perfect, but it doesn’t deserve to be unduly dumped on for someone’s off-screen behavior. To do so, in my opinion, is a real slap in the face. Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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10
KECH22Dec 23, 2022
Awesome! Probably the best movie I've seen on the historical truths of American history. Will Smith is brilliant! Anthony Fuqua is genius!
0 of 3 users found this helpful03
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8
alanpotter17Dec 22, 2022
O amadurecimento de Will Smith como ator dramático chega ao seu ápice neste filme visceral, onde encarna um escravo fugitivo em sua busca por libertação.
Embora todo o cenário se dê em uma paisagem quase sempre aberta, com direito a pântanos,
O amadurecimento de Will Smith como ator dramático chega ao seu ápice neste filme visceral, onde encarna um escravo fugitivo em sua busca por libertação.
Embora todo o cenário se dê em uma paisagem quase sempre aberta, com direito a pântanos, jacarés, cobras e muitas trilhas, temos a todo o tempo uma sensação claustrofóbica que persiste em suas mais de duas horas. A fotografia enegrecida aqui foi muito bem vinda, onde não se vê a cor vermelha do sangue, mas é possível sentir na entrega das atuações toda a dor sofrida pelos negros recém-libertos, numa época em que Lincoln acabara de assinar a alforria, mas os estados do sul persistiam naquilo que foi um dos maiores episódios de desumanização.
Antoine Fuqua não se esquiva de alguns deslizes, como a câmera lenta em várias ocasiões, ou o velho clichê familiar, beirando a pieguice. A cena final também, com um exército de resistência, no plano aéreo ficou muito bela, mas ainda meio confusa nas trincheiras, coisas que Spielberg ou mesmo Malick fizeram de forma mais visceral, mas isso em nenhum momento tira o brilho da obra.
Uma das coisas que tem grande destaque é a locação das cenas, os cenários parecem se repetir, mas dão a exata dimensão do quão extenso são, de fato você sente a imensidão da floresta durante toda a projeção, e a luta pela sobrevivência, coisa que "O regresso", por exemplo, só conseguiu arranhar.
Se não fosse pelo Elvis de Austin Butler, e o cancelamento do Will Smith dado o episódio lamentável na última premiação, teríamos aqui um fortíssimo concorrente a ator, porque a atuação dele está realmente excepcional, inclusive pelo sotaque sulista e falas haitianas.
É um filme doloroso, mas também contemplativo, um grande acerto. Não chega a ser um "12 anos de escravidão", mas já entra na galeria dos melhores filmes sobre esse período sombrio.
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0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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5
Mauro_LanariDec 22, 2022
(Mauro Lanari)
The photo of "Whipped Peter", entitled "The Scourged Back" and published in 1863 in "Harper's Weekly", is the cue for "Emancipation". And if it's more stirring than the film's 132 minutes, maybe it's because Fuqua and Smith,
(Mauro Lanari)
The photo of "Whipped Peter", entitled "The Scourged Back" and published in 1863 in "Harper's Weekly", is the cue for "Emancipation". And if it's more stirring than the film's 132 minutes, maybe it's because Fuqua and Smith, here also executive producers as well as director and star, have stepped out of their comfort zone. Historical epic on the abolition of slavery during the American Civil War and redemptive gesture after the slap to Chris Rock at the Academy Awards: an Apple product as artificial as the (a-)chromatic choice of the iPhone. Half a dose of "12 Years a Slave" (McQueen 2013), the other half of "The Revenant" (Iñárritu 2015), a sprinkling of "The Book of Eli" (Hughes Brothers 2010), and the result is on the shelves and in the windows of the best stores, oops: in the catalog for the platform's subscribers.
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0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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10
Melpk20Dec 19, 2022
Great acting, great writing. It wasn't too grueling but gave you just enough to understand the impact.
0 of 3 users found this helpful03
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7
sepehrDec 18, 2022
Great cinematography, amazing performance by Will Smith, good direction and very thin script. Emancipation is not more than a good film. people still joking about the SLAP, Will Smith's action was shameful and no one denies that, but shouldGreat cinematography, amazing performance by Will Smith, good direction and very thin script. Emancipation is not more than a good film. people still joking about the SLAP, Will Smith's action was shameful and no one denies that, but should we hang him for that?? Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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0
enut_butterDec 15, 2022
While the entire movie is laughably bad, Will Smith comes in like a broken dog. Not the character he’s portraying, but the man playing the character is broken and therefore can’t channel any of his former acting abilities. It’s probablyWhile the entire movie is laughably bad, Will Smith comes in like a broken dog. Not the character he’s portraying, but the man playing the character is broken and therefore can’t channel any of his former acting abilities. It’s probably because his wife bangs other people and publicly talks about it. Expand
3 of 6 users found this helpful33
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5
bertobellamyDec 13, 2022
'Emancipation' reminds us that the abolition of slavery during the American Civil War was a complicated matter that the Union failed to understand and facilitate completely. However, the poor character development and the way it becomes Oscar'Emancipation' reminds us that the abolition of slavery during the American Civil War was a complicated matter that the Union failed to understand and facilitate completely. However, the poor character development and the way it becomes Oscar bait is kind of shameful. Will Smith is not terrible, but beyond the stoicism of his character, there is no other quality that gives him nuance. Also, the transition between escape drama and war movie is certainly not the most organic. And despite its brutality and crudeness, the film does not offer the emotions it believes it has built, nor does it move the feelings it believes it has. Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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3
MetacriticOnurDec 13, 2022
bad
[ bad ]

adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.
bad
[ bad ]

adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.
1 of 6 users found this helpful15
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4
royalguy07Dec 12, 2022
Very displeased by the overall aesthetic and the 90% black and white nonsense. 2+ hours of complete despair with an awful color grade. Some cool drone shots I guess sprinkled here and there.
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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5
JLuis_001Dec 11, 2022
A gross and shameless Oscars bait that promised to be an epic and probably another great showcase for Will Smith to get a Best Actor nomination. Well, that was before what happened at this year's ceremony.

However, the truth is that it is
A gross and shameless Oscars bait that promised to be an epic and probably another great showcase for Will Smith to get a Best Actor nomination. Well, that was before what happened at this year's ceremony.

However, the truth is that it is nothing of the sort, and what it is, is deeply disappointing.
Beyond its craftsmanship, Emancipation is a poor and dull film, lacking in ferocity, poignancy and emotion, and worst of all, it is inconsequential in almost every aspect. It's a film that, as I said, unabashedly aspired to be something huge, but from what I saw and how it looks in most of its component elements, Emancipation gives the feeling of being something conceived to get lost in the broadcast model as novelty content for the weekend, and never to create a cinematic impression of stature.

It was certainly a frustrating and underwhelming experience.
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3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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10
Dadsaplaya2Dec 9, 2022
It's a very good movie. Will Smith does a good job and the movie is engaging without being so brutal that I feel traumatized. I mean it is a brutal subject that needs to be watched like the holocaust or Vietnam Era truthful movies but if youIt's a very good movie. Will Smith does a good job and the movie is engaging without being so brutal that I feel traumatized. I mean it is a brutal subject that needs to be watched like the holocaust or Vietnam Era truthful movies but if you identify too much with the trauma it is not a meaningful experience. I'm disappointed with reviews that concentrate on the Oscar's rather that this movie and subject matter. The negative bias is pretty obvious. Expand
4 of 11 users found this helpful47
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0
snorkissDec 9, 2022
You must be kidding'? - Will Smith wants to bang on about slavery and play a brave and noble man who overcomes the odds. I'm sorry, when you bully a black man half your size in front of the entire world you lose that privilege - I'm going toYou must be kidding'? - Will Smith wants to bang on about slavery and play a brave and noble man who overcomes the odds. I'm sorry, when you bully a black man half your size in front of the entire world you lose that privilege - I'm going to slap this film with 0 Stars out of 10 Expand
6 of 13 users found this helpful67
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0
jzathajeniusDec 7, 2022
God i hope he gets the **** slapped outta him in this movie. Screw you Will.
6 of 13 users found this helpful67
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