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CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Film Review: ‘The Birth of a Nation’ Depends on its Own Piety
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 7, 2016 - 8:43am
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”The Birth of a Nation” opens everywhere on October 7th. Featuring Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Penelope Ann Miller, Jackie Early Haley, Gabrielle Union and Aunjanue Ellis. Screenplay written and directed by Nate Parker. Rated “R”
Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Birth of a Nation”
A Nation is Born: Nat Turner (Nate Parker) in ‘The Birth of a Nation’
Photo credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Birth of a Nation”
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CHICAGO – “The Birth of a Nation” has been making news since it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival early this year. Taking place before the American Civil War, this incendiary look at a real slave rebellion in the deep South does pack a punch, but its approach isn’t completely successful.
 Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
The major theme of religion is the most interesting part of the narrative, as it motivates the main character of Nat Turner and eventually incites the rebellion. The workings of religion, and how it can be used to justify sins, is as purposeful in the film as how a faith is suppose to forgive. But the pacing in the story is off, and some of the scenes are a bit too precious, questioning the expression of how history should be enhanced, and exactly what is authentic. But there are two nations of birth within the United States history, and we’re still feeling the effects of the nation after slavery, as the film rightly points out.
Nat Turner (Nate Parker) is a slave on a plantation in Virginia in the late 1820s, owned by Samuel (Armie Hammer) and Elizabeth (Penelope Ann Miller) Turner. He shows mastery of language as a child, and learns to read and preach to his fellow slaves. This reputation spreads throughout the county, and Nat is used by Samuel for compensation as a traveling minister, using the Bible’s language to keep slaves in their place.
Nat marries a woman named Cherry (Aja Naomi King), but becomes increasingly disgusted on the treatment of his fellow African Americans. When Cherry is attacked and raped by a gang of slave chasers, led by Raymond Cobb (Jackie Earle Haley), revenge becomes a absolution ordained by God. This historical event called “Nat Turner’s Rebellion” is about to begin.
Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Birth of a Nation”A Nation is Born: Nat Turner (Nate Parker) in ‘The Birth of a Nation’
Photo credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Birth of a Nation”
