Small Axe: Alex Wheatle

Name: Small Axe: Alex Wheatle
Genre: Drama
Released: December 11, 2020
Duration: 66 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Andrew G. Ogleby, Elliot Edusah, Sheyi Cole, William Hanson

2020

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Ratings

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5.9

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5.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Amazon Prime Video | Release Date (Streaming): December 11, 2020 | Not Rated

Starring: Andrew G. Ogleby, Elliot Edusah, Sheyi Cole, William Hanson

Summary: Alex Wheatle follows the true story of award-winning writer, Alex Wheatle (Sheyi Cole), from a young boy through his early adult years. Having spent his childhood in a mostly white institutional care home with no love or family, he finally finds not only a sense of community for the first time in Brixton, but his identity and ability toAlex Wheatle follows the true story of award-winning writer, Alex Wheatle (Sheyi Cole), from a young boy through his early adult years. Having spent his childhood in a mostly white institutional care home with no love or family, he finally finds not only a sense of community for the first time in Brixton, but his identity and ability to grow his passion for music and DJ'ing. When he is thrown in prison during the Brixton Uprising of 1981, he confronts his past and sees a path to healing.… Expand

Director: Steve McQueen

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 66 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Lucy Popescu

Dec 6, 2020

Remarkably, this is Cole's first time in front of the camera. He approaches Alex’s emotional journey as a teenager with a sure touch, switching effortlessly between innocence and a gradual hardening. Read full review

Alonso Duralde

Nov 29, 2020

Even as its lead character endures physical and psychological torment at the hands of authorities, the film is very much of a piece with the ebullience of “Small Axe,” as the ongoing themes of community, music and defiance play a huge role in the story. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Nov 29, 2020

McQueen makes the viewer work towards understanding the themes and subtexts of these films. He gloriously recreates the jaw-dropping delight the bullied, racially-taunted kid experiences the first time he sees the shops and colorfully-attired street life of “his” people on moving day. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Nov 29, 2020

It’s not episodic, but feels more like the first act of a larger story begging for further exploration. Nevertheless, with a complex, ever-evolving turn by newcomer Sheyi Cole at its center, the story it does offer up turns on McQueen’s usual sophisticated narrative techniques and the same striking penchant to render Black British culture in complex lyrical terms. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Odie Henderson

Dec 14, 2020

Even as a standalone feature, this installment falters by keeping its main character at arm’s length. We never get close enough to Alex Wheatle to feel as if we know him. Despite my mild dissatisfaction, I believe that distancing is on purpose, a part of the film’s design. Read full review

K. Austin Collins

Dec 16, 2020

If Alex Wheatle proves less powerful than the other films in this series, that’s in large part because of the strengths of the series. Every entry in Small Axe is a study in expansive miniatures. None of these films flexes its muscle by way of length. They burrow. Alex Wheatle’s primary imperfection is that it almost doesn’t burrow enough. The intricacies of Wheatle’s inner life feel almost rushed through or limited in their illustration. I wanted to know more about this young man — which is also a sign that the film is doing something right. Read full review

The Playlist Robert Daniels

Nov 30, 2020

Alex Wheatle combines the relevant themes that guide the prior “Small Axe” installments: music as an escape from one’s environment, police brutality, and a character adrift from his community — yet the writing struggles to connect the major plot points for big picture interpretations of Alex’s cultural self-education. Read full review

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User Reviews

JLuis_001

May 8, 2021

What's surprising about this entry in the anthology is that Steve McQueen seems to limit himself, narrative speaking. Maybe I can't argue that this real-life character's story deserved a great biopic, but even so, his story is still very interesting, and the fact that McQueen limits it toWhat's surprising about this entry in the anthology is that Steve McQueen seems to limit himself, narrative speaking. Maybe I can't argue that this real-life character's story deserved a great biopic, but even so, his story is still very interesting, and the fact that McQueen limits it to about 60 minutes makes it feel rushed and not so detailed.

So far I think this is the weakest part of the whole thing.… Expand

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