Apple TV+’s 2022 slavery drama “Emancipation”, actor Will Smith’s first film since he assaulted comedian Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars, has received mixed early reviews from film critics.
Danielle Broadway for Reuters:
The movie has scored a 59% positive rating on Rotton Tomatoes so far, with 14 out of 24 reviewers applauding the film as of Thursday afternoon.
The movie directed by Antoine Fuqua is based on the true 1863 story of a former slave named Gordon, called Peter in the film, and the photographs taken of his battered back that depict the brutalities of American chattel slavery.
The first batch of reviews have earned “Emancipation” the rotten label, as many reviewers voice their disappointment in the historical action film’s execution.
“Emancipation devolves into a confused jumble of messages,” Lovia Gyarke from The Hollywood Reporter wrote.
Several critics however applauded Smith’s performance as the lead. Johnny Oleksinski from the New York Post praised Smith’s “rich emotionality and laser-focused intensity”.
MacDailyNews Take: Smith had already completed filming of “Emancipation” when he walked onto the Academy Awards stage in March and assaulted Rock for making a joke about the hairstyle of his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith was subsequently banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years, but he remains eligible for nominations and awards.
Please help support MacDailyNews. Click or tap here to support our independent tech blog. Thank you!
Shop The Apple Store at Amazon.
If Apple wanted to make a movie about oppression they should have made a documentary about China. That’d be a little more current. Of course, you’d have to actually care about the issue rather than just want to virtue signal for cheap grace.
I agree. And, FJB. And F Will Smith. I will never watch his trash again.