Emancipation

Apple TV+ | Release Date: December 2, 2022

4.4	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 47 Ratings

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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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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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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 isA 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.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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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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