The Birth of a Nation

Name: The Birth of a Nation
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Released: October 7, 2016
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 69
Cast: Armie Hammer, Aunjanue Ellis, Colman Domingo, Jackie Earle Haley, Mark Boone Junior

2016

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Generally favorable reviews based on 50 Critics

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 109 Ratings

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The Birth Of A Nation

Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: October 7, 2016

Starring: Armie Hammer, Aunjanue Ellis, Colman Domingo, Jackie Earle Haley, Mark Boone Junior, Nate Parker, Penelope Ann Miller

Summary: In the antebellum South, Nat Turner (Nate Parker) is a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer), accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities - against himself and his fellow slaves - Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes ofIn the antebellum South, Nat Turner (Nate Parker) is a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer), accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities - against himself and his fellow slaves - Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.… Expand

Director: Nate Parker

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History

Rating: R

Runtime: 120 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

New York Post - Kyle Smith

Oct 6, 2016

Both broader and deeper than the relentless and monotonous “12 Years a Slave,” it’s one of the few important movies to hit cinemas this year. Read full review

New York Magazine (Vulture) - Bilge Ebiri

Jan 26, 2016

It's a beautiful, reflective film even as it is also a brutal, visceral one. Read full review

Total Film - James Mottram

Dec 22, 2016

An impressive directorial debut – and acting turn – from Parker that deserves to be seen, despite the PR firestorm. Read full review

Arizona Republic - Bill Goodykoontz

Oct 5, 2016

It’s a complicated movie about a complex man that courts controversy, both intentional and not. If that doesn’t make it a great movie, it makes it a necessary one, now more than ever. Read full review

Washington Post - Ann Hornaday

Oct 6, 2016

The Birth of a Nation is a flawed but fairly compelling chapter of the American story that powerfully resonates with how that story is playing out today. Read full review

New Orleans Times-Picayune - Mike Scott

Oct 6, 2016

The Birth of a Nation is ultimately involving as a cinematic history lesson. It is its flashes of modern relevance, however, in which it scores most effectively. Read full review

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) - Barry Hertz

Oct 6, 2016

The director’s pedestrian tactics are most evident in his command, or lack thereof, over his cast. While Parker knows how to expertly play to the camera – he all but winks at the audience, so confident is he in his admittedly captivating lead performance – he abandons his fellow actors, allowing them to exploit their worst instincts: hammy accents, wild gesticulating, uneasy line readings. Read full review

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User Reviews

ALoum

Jan 3, 2017

This movie is much more real than 12 years a slave and I can imagine that it will leave many feeling uncomfortable. It is the truest account of slavery that I have seen on the screen and it is the best movie I have ever seen. I notice that the negative comments all come from a racist point of view.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

Foreverangel

Oct 7, 2016

This movie was mind blowing and one of the best movies I have ever seen. He was genius in writing, producing and directing this move while also having a leading role. Unlike other slave movies that have been done in the past, this movie set itself apart as the audience viewed the suchThis movie was mind blowing and one of the best movies I have ever seen. He was genius in writing, producing and directing this move while also having a leading role. Unlike other slave movies that have been done in the past, this movie set itself apart as the audience viewed the such bravery, will and spirit of the slaves despite being under wicked oppression. This movie also highlighted such horrors that slaves were left to endure and how evil many slaveholders were. Mr. Parker also added a dash of ancestry to the movie which intensified the movie all the more. I will purchase the DVD when it is available and recommend this movie for all to see.… Expand

3 of 10 users found this helpful37

IPOCHASE

Oct 10, 2016

The movie "Birth of a Nation" is truly a great film, especially for young black Americans who will not learn about Nat Turner because our education system purposely leaves this piece out. The negative views are biased, they would prefer to see slave movies where slaves were nothing butThe movie "Birth of a Nation" is truly a great film, especially for young black Americans who will not learn about Nat Turner because our education system purposely leaves this piece out. The negative views are biased, they would prefer to see slave movies where slaves were nothing but submissive, people are simply upset that this is a film about slave rebellion… Expand

4 of 12 users found this helpful48

Ralfbergs

Feb 18, 2017

I enjoyed the movie and acting, it talked about a really important topic. Some do say that it could have been a lot better, but I think it was still pretty good and it is an important movie

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

skeptic303

Nov 3, 2016

The Birth of a Nation is based off of a true story that I have been previously unaware of. It is about Nat Turner and his eventual slave rebellion that lasted a couple of days (correct me if I'm wrong). The first thing to know about this movie was the price at which it was purchased at aThe Birth of a Nation is based off of a true story that I have been previously unaware of. It is about Nat Turner and his eventual slave rebellion that lasted a couple of days (correct me if I'm wrong). The first thing to know about this movie was the price at which it was purchased at a festival by Fox Searchlight. For them to pay up $19 million for this film means that they expected it to be an awards favorite. However, that isn't the case really.
Admittedly, this was an easier disappointment to watch compared to the Free State of Jones, not just because the runtime is 15 minutes shorter, but the fact that this movie had much better scenes with character development and was definitely able to explore its themes. But similar to Free State of Jones, this movie took its sweet time to start; in fact the rebellion lasted for only 20 minutes of this movie. Arguably, it is possible to say that they wanted to build up character motivation (it is effective), but the characters do very little, and it leaves them empty in comparison to the complex environment around them.
In summary, this movie is boring to an extent, but not unlikable. To hear later that this movie flopped big time is a reminder to Fox Searchlight: the purchase may set records, but that doesn't mean the movie is entirely worth the price. I liked the imagery in this movie (though some moments are brutal and hard to watch) and I do feel that this movie needed to be made, but overall, it is lacking in a few key areas and only manages to earn a seal of acknowledgement.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

TrevorsView

Dec 9, 2016

With every news report of an African American getting shot to death by a police officer, with every Facebook post sharing an article surrounding “Black Lives Matter,” with every spark of controversy over the lack of Oscar nominees of color, we gradually get closer and closer to living backWith every news report of an African American getting shot to death by a police officer, with every Facebook post sharing an article surrounding “Black Lives Matter,” with every spark of controversy over the lack of Oscar nominees of color, we gradually get closer and closer to living back in the times of slavery. Hence it is in appropriate timing for this account of revolutionary Black priest Nat Turner to make the light of day, under the title of the most famous anti-Black propaganda film in history, The Birth of a Nation.

What amazes me is how this early addition to the 2016/2017 Oscar race stands at a 4.9 rating on IMDb, and yet a 78% on RottenTomatoes. Does it show how grand it is as a biopic, or how harmful it is to America’s pride? Well one thing’s for sure, it’s appropriately violent for its R-rating and chocked full of effectively gruesome imagery that makes every whipping and beating painful to watch. It even goes as far as showing hopeless slaves getting auctioned off to White buyers as if they were property. These are the types of things that just make you want to go “grr…” out of self-loathing.

Those little moments make the experience worth it, but what doesn’t make it worth it, and what supposedly causes the most scathing responses towards Producer/Director/Writer/Lead Actor Nate Parker to surface, is its loyalty to history.

The Birth of a Nation claims to be based on a true story, but this article by The Nation proves how the story is anything but true. Rather than feeling hopeful and redemptive, it instead becomes a beat-by-beat rip-off of Braveheart that justifies revenge as a path to God’s Promised Land.

There’s also little impact from the personal side of the story. Nat Turner’s wife in this movie, Cherry, played with an appropriate level of trauma by Aja Naomi King (How to Get Away with Murder), is treated more like a plot device than an actual human being, as her marriage to Nat is skimmed over in as little as thirty seconds. It’s not made any easier to take seriously when she makes appearances to her husband in visions that belong in a corny 1970’s music video.

Yet I wouldn’t say the bad parts outweigh the good. If you just forget the fact that this is not true to history, then it becomes a fairly inspiring account that empowers people of color. It’s done in a pretty typical fashion done better by 12 Years a Slave, but the love of ancestry, Holy Scripture, fulfillment of Matthew 20:16, and redemption are all there untainted.

On the plus side, the performances are quite stellar in and of themselves. I already praised Miss King, but Armie Hammer’s part as Turner’s slave owner gives an effectively believable performance that works perfectly off of Mark Boone Junior’s portrayal of the ruthless town reverend. Be sure to keep a keen eye out for them when the awards shows come around.

Much like any other revenge-story biopic you have seen, this one leads up to the Black priest rounding up all the slaves so that he can ignite a rebellion onto the Whites. Here is probably where most of the mixed responses have come from. One could argue that it is an uplifting display of Blacks finally getting the recognition they long deserved. Another could argue that it offensively paints Whites as the villains who caused all our world’s problems. I can’t answer this debate for sure, but showing more of these wars between races without any hope of harmony is doing more damage than benefit to our socially correct times.

So now, here is what I’m thinking: I won’t tell you whether or not you should see this movie. It’s all up to you whether The Birth of a Nation is a celebration or a disgrace. While it is a slap in the face to historical accuracy, it also celebrates Blackness through a finely acted ensemble. It may be offensive to Whites, but it also offers important biblical morals in fighting for a well-deserved freedom that will last onto eternity. Maybe time will tell whether if this helps restore peace or pushes it further into oblivion, but either way, The Birth of a Nation is what it is.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

Viaje

Dec 8, 2016

Here's yet another "propaganda" film to remind people, especially Black people, they were and remain **** The screenplay, acting, direction, editing and all other artistic aspects of "The Birth of a Nation" embrace the mediocrity of predictable "Hollywood" filmmaking.

QUESTION: Do filmsHere's yet another "propaganda" film to remind people, especially Black people, they were and remain **** The screenplay, acting, direction, editing and all other artistic aspects of "The Birth of a Nation" embrace the mediocrity of predictable "Hollywood" filmmaking.

QUESTION: Do films like "The Birth of a Nation" or "12 Years A Slave" or "Glory" (1989) or "Amistad" (1997) really function as entertainment, or education, or both?

RESPONSE: Looking at the big picture, it doesn't matter, because ultimately the purpose of these films is to make money. Just over a decade ago, the U.S. entertainment industry was the second largest export industry following the aerospace industry (Source: Sandrine Cahn & Daniel Schmimmel, The Cultural Exception). Even today, nearly sixty-(60) percent of film revenue is from foreign countries. Clearly, by exporting films like "12 Years A Slave," White people relish the opportunity to repeatedly tell the whole world how the U.S. successfully controlled and managed its **** and guess what, White people are still doing it! The plantation system evolved to become the reservation system for Native Americans. Adolf Hitler learned from it, and along with other tactics employed by advocates of eugenics, he eliminated six-(6) million Jews, which is only a drop in the ocean when compared to the tens of millions of Blacks/Africans that died directly as a result of slavery during the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

QUESTION: After being educated about the horrors and impact of slavery through **** slave films, have White people demonstrated any significant change in their dealing with Black people to prompt social change?

RESPONSE: HELL, NO! There are more Black men in prision now than the total number of Black men held captive during slavery! Source: The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander. White Americans make up only 64% of the U.S. population, but possess 90% of all wealth. For every dollar in assets owned by Whites in the United States, Blacks own less than a nickel, a racial divide that is wider than South Africa’s at any point during the apartheid era. Source: Matt Bruenig of Demos

Like the overwhelming majority of theatrical films featuring Black people in leading roles, "The Birth of a Nation" is NOT entertainment, nor is it educational. It's just another **** film paying homage to slavery, oppression, discrimination, and especially White privilege, and these films have absolutely no artistic and educational value. These **** films embolden White privilege and change nothing. Albert Einstein said it so clearly, “Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

http://www.tripoetry.com/Film/Reviews/Get-Up.htm
http://www.tripoetry.com/Film/Reviews/12-Years.htm
http://www.tripoetry.com/Film/Reviews/12-Years-PS.htm
http://www.tripoetry.com/Black.htm… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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