On-Air Film Review: Will-ing Redemption in ‘Emancipation'

Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 2, 2022 - 12:45pm

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Jason Makos on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 1st, 2022, reviewing “Emancipation,” featuring Will Smith and set in the Civil War period within the eradication of slavery. In theaters on December 2nd, streaming December 9th on Apple TV+.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

This based-on-history story has Smith portraying Peter, a slave during the Civil War era who is separated from his family and forced to work for the Confederacy building a railroad. The overseer during this project is Fassel (Ben Foster), a notorious slave hunter and wrangler. Peter overhears that Lincoln has freed slaves, so when the war disrupts the worksite, he escapes. He is intent on getting to Baton Rouge, after also hearing that the Union occupies it. Fassel is in pursuit, but Peter has his own power, and it leads his into another realm … eventually as a solider for the Union.

”Emancipation” is in theaters beginning December 2nd, and streaming on Apple TV+ on December 9th. Featuring Will Smith, Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa, Gilbert Owuor and Aaron Moten. Written by Bill Collage. Directed by Antoine Fuqua. Rated “R”