So I recently watched The Birth of a Nation (2016) and I'm here to bring you my review. So without further ado.
NOTE: Before I start I want to state that with ongoing controversy and allegations against Nate Parker, I am going to keep this review and his personal life separate. If I don't then my personal views take over and I wouldn't be able to give the credit that this film deserves.
Nat Turner (played by Nate Parker) is an enslaved Baptist preacher who lives on a Virginia plantation owned by Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer). With rumors of insurrection in the air, a cleric convinces Samuel that Nate should sermonize to other slaves, thereby quelling any notions of an uprising. As Nate witnesses the horrific treatment of his fellow man, he realizes that he can no longer just stand by and preach. On Aug. 21, 1831, Turner's quest for justice and freedom leads to a violent and historic rebellion in Southampton County.
This is a very violent and emotional film. In previous years we've seen films like this that have really painted a haunting picture of the history in the United States at time when we as a country were most divided. Nate Parker does a great job of capturing the atmosphere of the time with the dialogue and set design and you get the feeling of being in 1831 Virginia. Nate Parker also gives a phenomenal performance that absolutely deserves an Oscar nomination and even his work on the screenplay deserves consideration. Armie Hammer is fantastic in a supporting role and he looks like a lock to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. The film gets its title from the D.W. Griffith film of the same name which came out over 100 years ago and this film tells a complete opposite story of what that film told. The visuals look amazing and the tint used on the cameras makes this film feel gritty and it just gives you and old fashioned feel. As mentioned before the film is very violent on a lot of different levels and there is one scene in particular that will make everyone uncomfortable especially with things going on outside of the films production. When you see certain actions happen it can get very emotional and leave you speechless that these types of acts actually happened. While this film does a lot of great things film wise, the film doesn't really develop the characters well at all and when they do certain things none of the reasoning behind the actions are ever explained. It also moves at a very fast pace and you as an audience member aren't given enough time to get invested in the scene and by the time you do, the film has already moved on. Overall this film had a lot of potential to be an all-time great film, but the lack of development really hinders it in getting an investment, but Nate Parker and Armie Hammer gives performances that deserve a lot of award attention. I give The Birth of a Nation (2016) an 8.5 out of 10.
So ladies and gentlemen what did you think of The Birth of a Nation (2016), what would you rate it and what did you think of my review? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.
Jonah Sparks
NOTE: Before I start I want to state that with ongoing controversy and allegations against Nate Parker, I am going to keep this review and his personal life separate. If I don't then my personal views take over and I wouldn't be able to give the credit that this film deserves.
Nat Turner (played by Nate Parker) is an enslaved Baptist preacher who lives on a Virginia plantation owned by Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer). With rumors of insurrection in the air, a cleric convinces Samuel that Nate should sermonize to other slaves, thereby quelling any notions of an uprising. As Nate witnesses the horrific treatment of his fellow man, he realizes that he can no longer just stand by and preach. On Aug. 21, 1831, Turner's quest for justice and freedom leads to a violent and historic rebellion in Southampton County.
This is a very violent and emotional film. In previous years we've seen films like this that have really painted a haunting picture of the history in the United States at time when we as a country were most divided. Nate Parker does a great job of capturing the atmosphere of the time with the dialogue and set design and you get the feeling of being in 1831 Virginia. Nate Parker also gives a phenomenal performance that absolutely deserves an Oscar nomination and even his work on the screenplay deserves consideration. Armie Hammer is fantastic in a supporting role and he looks like a lock to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. The film gets its title from the D.W. Griffith film of the same name which came out over 100 years ago and this film tells a complete opposite story of what that film told. The visuals look amazing and the tint used on the cameras makes this film feel gritty and it just gives you and old fashioned feel. As mentioned before the film is very violent on a lot of different levels and there is one scene in particular that will make everyone uncomfortable especially with things going on outside of the films production. When you see certain actions happen it can get very emotional and leave you speechless that these types of acts actually happened. While this film does a lot of great things film wise, the film doesn't really develop the characters well at all and when they do certain things none of the reasoning behind the actions are ever explained. It also moves at a very fast pace and you as an audience member aren't given enough time to get invested in the scene and by the time you do, the film has already moved on. Overall this film had a lot of potential to be an all-time great film, but the lack of development really hinders it in getting an investment, but Nate Parker and Armie Hammer gives performances that deserve a lot of award attention. I give The Birth of a Nation (2016) an 8.5 out of 10.
So ladies and gentlemen what did you think of The Birth of a Nation (2016), what would you rate it and what did you think of my review? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.
Jonah Sparks
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