Recommended

Rating: 9/10 (10 October 2017)

​'DETROIT' - 2017
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Starring John Boyega, Will Poulter and Algee Smith
Plot Overview: ​In the summer of 1967, rioting and civil unrest starts to tear apart the city of Detroit. Two days later, a report of gunshots prompts the Detroit Police Department, the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Army National Guard to search and seize an annex of the nearby Algiers Motel. Several policemen start to flout procedure by forcefully and viciously interrogating guests to get a confession. By the end of the night, three unarmed men are gunned down while several others are brutally beaten.
It's hard to review a film that is so harrowing and depressing. Such a barbaric and disgusting event requires the utmost of a care and compassion and empathy, and I think that Bigelow nails it. Detroit is such a hard to watch and upsetting film, that I couldn't watch it multiple times but that shouldn't represent the quality. It is a truly amazing movie that deserves the Oscar buzz it's getting. I definitely recommend it, just be preferred to squirm.
Representing such a tale on screen in a semi-entertaining way(I don't mean fun) while simultaneously being respectful and poetic to the night's events is a very difficult task. And honestly, the movie may have worked better as simply a documentary. But we got a movie, and it was really good so I'm not complaining. The story for this movie is a very harsh and upsetting one, and Bigalow/the writers deal with it in the most perfect way possible. I agree with the criticism that they don't delve into WHY it happened, but I'm just happy this event was brought to modern day audiences, and those of us in the UK, who didn't study this event(not myself but others I know). Great movies that are hard to watch are things of rarity. I'm not talking about 'Saw' or whatever, that's just disgusting and hard to watch. I'm talking films that make you uncomfortable for watching them purely because of the sadness and barbaric nature of the events. That sums this movie up. I rarely squirm or avert my eyes in a film like this but for sequences in this movie, I found it challenging to not do so. Watching is difficult for points in this movie but I think that should merely serve as credit for what Bigalow has created.
Now, for the performances. This movie is an ensemble cast and every single main performer does a fantastic job. Most notably, however, would probably include the likes of John Boyega, Anthony Mackie, Will Pouler and Algee Smith. While every single actor does an amazing job and draws you deeper into the world(that is unfortunately ours) that Bigalow has 'created', these four were the main ones that stood out and were memorable for me after the movie had gone of.
This is pretty much the first movie I've seen that features Boyega(because I don't like Star Wars. This review'll get marked down purely for this comment I guarantee it) and after seeing him perform, I'm shocked he's not in more movies. The man was excellent in this movie.
Anthony Mackie, who is perhaps most well known as 'Falcon' from the MCU, shows a different side of him that I hadn't seen before and does it masterfully. He provides such a deep and harrowing performance that I very much so hope that he appears in more dramatic roles, and doesn't get stuck in a 'Goofy sidekick' typecast.
Will Poulter, formerly known as 'Eye Brows Kid', is also in this movie as a corrupt cop. And corrupt is the key word. Poulter is despicable, disgusting and destructive in his role as Krauss, and that really just shows how remarkable the performance is. I hated this guy from second one and he doesn't disappoint that initial expectation all the way through the 2 hour run time.
And then there is Algee Smith. The performance Smith gave was exceptional. I mean exceptional. The man stood out among everyone else and delivered a powerful performance. I commend the performance and truly believe that he should be given a round of applause because he was so, so good in this film.
The cinematography and editing are also excellent in this movie. It is a very good looking movie. I love the grittiness and grimness that make it feel like a dystopian future, which is what it was for African-Americans at the time. I do love how Bigalow has directed this movie.
As for flaws, I'll say that the opening third of this movie drags on way too long and is very dull. The setup for this film is done for what feels like an eternity and they REALLY could have cut chunks of it out. That is honestly my only flaw with the movie because, apart from that, it is pretty great. I can definitely recommend it but be prepared to feel uncomfortable. It's not for the faint of heart. I'll rate Detroit 9/10.