The Victim vs All The Bad People

Rating: Null/10 (23 November 2007)

Starring Will Smith, his son, and Thandie Newton. Based on a true story I'm sure had many more grays than blacks and whites, with deeper personalities. Will Smith does a fine job, especially as he begins to collapse under the weight of his situation, but I was disappointed in the set up: Victim vs "all the Bad People". It is of course too simplistic. I'm sure this made the film more accessible to a general public, and it IS inspirational if you suspend disbelief, but Life just ain't like this, folks. One person DOESN'T take all the hits while others always walk away unbruised. The film ended as predictably as an old Western: the calvary arrives at the last second to save the brave-but-outnumbered pioneers. Newton's character is automatically given a nasty role, with no real explanation for her anger, and especially not her final behavior. Many of the people are mere convenient cutouts representing what Smith could not seem to reach. Do we sometimes feel like this? Yes. Is it when we're busy seeing ourselves as victims, even if we ARE trying? Yes. This was a very "80's" film. Decent person struggles, has setbacks, overcomes bad guys, and wins in the end. Toss in the class struggle, and there you have it: THIS. It's the second time I've watched it this year. The interactions between Smith and his son are often very moving and THAT is the heart of this story.