Oxford, North Carolina, is the settling of the inspirational “Blood Done Sign My Name,” the story of the trial and aftermath that results from the 1970s killing of a black Vietnam veteran by a white family who are acquitted by an all-white jury. As written and directed by the Arkansas-born Jeb Stuart (co-writer of “Die Hard” and “The Fugitive”), based on Tim Tyson’s book, the post-Jim Crow tinderbox is depicted straightforwardly, without elevating the story to “To Kill a Mockingbird” myth-making or wholly reducing the conflict to television-movie level cardboard. The performances are erratic, suggesting a rushed production. Stuart is a 1978 alum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which surely reinforces the fine location work with an eye for small towns of that region and era. “Blood” is the debut production of North Carolina native Robert K. Steel, a former vice-chairman of Goldman Sachs.With Michael Rooker, Rick Schroder, Omar Benson Miller, Afemo Omilami, Lee Norris, Lela Rochon, Rhoda Griffis, Nick Searcy, Gattlin Griffith, Nate Parker, Darrin Dewitt Henson. 128m. (Ray Pride)
Ray Pride is Newcity’s Senior Editor and Film Critic. He is a contributing editor of Filmmaker magazine.
Ray’s history of Chicago Ghost Signs is planned for publication next year. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram. More photography on Instagram.
Heart: A Review of Soul The real world is soulful, too, in Pixar's bountiful life of the mind.
Seeing The Elephant: A Review Of Babylon The boisterous, brawling yet melancholy "Babylon," is a variation on film history, but more drawing for drama. It's gaudy and mean, celebratory and sorrowful.
Spawn Sacrifice: A Review Of The Creator "The Creator" is richly detailed, punchy, pulpy, punkish entertainment that still has highly serious subjects in mind, without growing didactic and with substantial heart.
Uncanny Ally: A Review Of M3GAN "M3GAN" sells itself in its first handful of seconds in how it introduces the handiwork of roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams, "Get Out") and her present product, PurrPetual Petz from Funki.
Fine Line: A Review Of Shortcomings It's a season for the comeuppance of a curmudgeon in Randall Park's smart, biting "Shortcomings," adapted by Adrian Tomine from his graphic novel of the same name.
A Drag Getting Old: A Review Of Indiana Jones 5 In the protracted opening couple of reels, a very young, computer-crafted Harrison Ford plays a younger cultural marauder who first encounters the dull MacGuffin of the title.
Oxford, North Carolina, is the settling of the inspirational “Blood Done Sign My Name,” the story of the trial and aftermath that results from the 1970s killing of a black Vietnam veteran by a white family who are acquitted by an all-white jury. As written and directed by the Arkansas-born Jeb Stuart (co-writer of “Die Hard” and “The Fugitive”), based on Tim Tyson’s book, the post-Jim Crow tinderbox is depicted straightforwardly, without elevating the story to “To Kill a Mockingbird” myth-making or wholly reducing the conflict to television-movie level cardboard. The performances are erratic, suggesting a rushed production. Stuart is a 1978 alum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which surely reinforces the fine location work with an eye for small towns of that region and era. “Blood” is the debut production of North Carolina native Robert K. Steel, a former vice-chairman of Goldman Sachs.With Michael Rooker, Rick Schroder, Omar Benson Miller, Afemo Omilami, Lee Norris, Lela Rochon, Rhoda Griffis, Nick Searcy, Gattlin Griffith, Nate Parker, Darrin Dewitt Henson. 128m. (Ray Pride)
