Harriet

Name: Harriet
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama, History
Released: November 1, 2019
Duration: 125 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Claire Bronson, Clarke Peters, Cynthia Erivo, Deborah Ayorinde, Henry Hunter Hall

2019

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 169 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 169 Ratings

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Harriet

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: November 1, 2019 | PG-13

Starring: Claire Bronson, Clarke Peters, Cynthia Erivo, Deborah Ayorinde, Henry Hunter Hall, Janelle Monáe, Jennifer Nettles, Joe Alwyn, Joseph Lee Anderson, Leslie Odom Jr., Mitchell Hoog, Nick Basta, Omar J. Dorsey, Tim Guinee, Tory Kittles, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Vondie Curtis-Hall

Summary: Based on the inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter, Harriet tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.

Director: Kasi Lemmons

Genre(s): Action, Biography, Drama, History

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 125 min

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Critic Reviews

Richard Brody

Nov 8, 2019

The intensity and the lyrical fervor of Kasi Lemmons’s direction lend this historical drama, about Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery and her work with the Underground Railroad, the exalted energy of secular scripture. Read full review

Moira Macdonald

Oct 30, 2019

Harriet is a handsome and surprisingly quiet film, taking the time to honor the main character’s deep religious faith. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Tomris Laffly

Nov 1, 2019

This might not be the optimal film to tribute an American hero who’s long been neglected on our screens, but Erivo’s performance might very well become a definitive one, synonymous with Tubman. And that’s not a bad place to start by any measure. Read full review

David Rooney

Sep 11, 2019

Despite Erivo's tenacity in the role, the drama feels more stately and impressive than urgent and affecting. It's never uninvolving though, and the script does a solid job of tracing the formation of a courageous freedom fighter out of a scared runaway. Read full review

Roxana Hadadi

Oct 30, 2019

A better version of Harriet might have kept the focus squarely locked on the real-life hero at its center, instead of defining her through the relationship with the man who once owned her. Read full review

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

Nov 29, 2019

The whole package is so sleekly watchable, if risk-averse to a fault, that I can’t recall a recent time at the cinema where I learned more by thinking less. Read full review

Jake Cole

Sep 15, 2019

Portraying Tubman above all else as a vessel for a higher power ironically only makes her appear less tangible. Read full review

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User Reviews

Jakedaholmes

Nov 6, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Her sister die
She freed 750 slaves
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2 of 2 users found this helpful20

AmyMArt

Nov 5, 2019

Ignore the bad reviews they are from people who are ignorant and haven't seen the film which is a beautiful piece of art about one the most important and courageous people in American history wonderfully portrayed by the amazing lead actress Cynthia Erivo. She deserves all the awards forIgnore the bad reviews they are from people who are ignorant and haven't seen the film which is a beautiful piece of art about one the most important and courageous people in American history wonderfully portrayed by the amazing lead actress Cynthia Erivo. She deserves all the awards for this portrayal, one of the best performances of this century so far. An Oscar win wouldn't be sufficient reward for the work Cynthia did in this film.… Expand

11 of 11 users found this helpful110

JAmiekennerson

Nov 5, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The negative reviews for this movie mainly come from people who have not actually seen the film and due to xenophobic attitudes to Cynthia Erivo due to her being British and of Nigerian descent. Despite what they are spewing online Cynthia has not expressed any hateful attitudes to African American people and she has cleared up any misunderstanding people have. However, this small number of xenophobic Americans have shown despicable behavior by setting out to ruin this movie's online ratings. The film is a great showcase of a great American hero and should be seen by every American citizen. The star Cynthia Erivo gives a moving and passionate lead performance and deserves every award available to her. Despite the importance and significance of this movie, these small-minded xenophobic people have now claimed that the black slave catcher character who attempts to kill Harriet leading for her former master to kill him is a 'white savior' theme and that the film attempts to make black men the villain. This is uneqiviquoly untrue and shows that these people will do and say whatever it takes to attempt to ruin this movie. In reality, the black slave catcher is one of many black male characters, the character of Harriet's father and William Still are positive portrayals of black men who take up much more of the film than the slave catcher which these people ignore. The idea of a white savior is also false as Harriet is not saved out of respect or goodness, but is saved for the slave masters own good. Overall the campaign to ruin this movie by certain black Americans displays why it is so difficult for black movies such as this to be made as for some reason certain individuals do not allow for them to be made and told. My final point is to ignore the hateful people attempting to destroy this movie and see it for yourself it is a great movie and has many positives.… Expand

39 of 39 users found this helpful390

LaSaundraPowell

Nov 20, 2019

Phenomenal! This is an enlightening piece on the journey of Harriet. They took a piece of history that many of us should know and yet still enlightened us to a different side of Harriet, it personifies her for who she truly was. While entertaining, this movie is powerful! This moviePhenomenal! This is an enlightening piece on the journey of Harriet. They took a piece of history that many of us should know and yet still enlightened us to a different side of Harriet, it personifies her for who she truly was. While entertaining, this movie is powerful! This movie cultivates emotions in ways that as a person of color, you can’t help but feel powerful and proud. Phenomenal!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tropicAces

Nov 1, 2019

It’s an important movie, but it’s also a very safe one. It’s historically accurate, but not realistic. The whole thing just comes off like a TV movie, and Ervio is outshined in her own film but Odom and Hunter Hall.

2 of 13 users found this helpful211

Mauro_Lanari

Jul 3, 2020

(Mauro Lanari)
Not knowing Harriet Tubman's story at all, I won't touch the thorny point of the veracity or not of this biopic. Additional considerations:
1) Is the protagonist a woman? Checked. 2) Is the female protagonist black? Checked 3) Does she help herself and others on her own(Mauro Lanari)
Not knowing Harriet Tubman's story at all, I won't touch the thorny point of the veracity or not of this biopic. Additional considerations:
1) Is the protagonist a woman? Checked.
2) Is the female protagonist black? Checked
3) Does she help herself and others on her own instead of resorting to a "white savior"? Checked.
4) Is the style terribly televisiony even in the most compelling moments on paper? Checked.
5) Harriet was a mystic and decided by trusting the visions she received. God? Today one would prefer to talk about channeling, guiding spirit, guardian angel, etc. Always better than Malick's last repulsive film that already from the first shot shows the married couple immersed in an Edenic environment while their hands in the foreground flaunt the wedding rings. Anyway, Harriet is named the new "Moses": perhaps someone has not yet understood (for example Michael Walzer in "Exodus and Revolution", 1985) that according to the Bible Moses died in Sinai together with all the Hebrews who had escaped from Egypt with him, while only who was born in the desert crossed the Jordan River and entered the so-called "promised land". That is to say that the intersection between those who had lived the Egyptian experience and those who crossed "The River" is ∅ (= empty set). Yet still now such a "Pesach" is celebrated as an indispensable event in the historical process of salvation.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

luminaxster

Nov 1, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film's cinematographer was awful, with non existent photography. Harriet story is convoluted with unnecessary God's vision to the point I thought she was a mutant and not being brain injured by her slavers. It has empowering moments, but don't let that fool, she deserves better. The acting is amazing but the direction and script buried this film, and, pointing to the civil war enterprise as part of the story in the trailers is a disgrace, it is like 30s tops.… Expand

1 of 13 users found this helpful112

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