The Best and Worst War Movies About African-Americans
Glory (1989)
The Best!
This Civil War movie about the first black regiment of infantry soldiers is a powerful film that sticks mostly to the real-life facts, including the unit's demise at Morris Island. Of course, while it gives us plenty of time with fleshed out black characters, it still focuses primarily on their sympathetic white commander. Mostly, though, the film is a moving tribute to the black soldiers that served in the Civil War.
It's thrilling, and well done throughout. Also, has a fantastic performance by a young Denzel Washington. Also stars Morgan Freeman and Matthew Broderick. Also made my top war films of all time list.
Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
The Best!
This HBO movie, which was eventually released into a limited theatrical run, is the best of several TV films, which have focused on the Tuskegee Airmen. The story is a familiar one to African-American families: Black soldiers (or in this case Airmen) are told they're not good enough to fight, but an exceptional service record and a track record for heroism demonstrate their determination to participate along side white soldiers.
Eventually, the Tuskegee Airmen enter the war - perform exceptionally - and the rest is history. This film suffers from some low production values, but otherwise solid performances (particularly, by Laurence Fishburne) save the day.
Men of Honor (2000)
The Worst!
Men of Honor is the (sort of) true story of Carl Brashear (Cuba Gooding Jr.), the black son of a sharecropper who joined the Navy, and was immediately assigned to the galley. However, Brashear had plans of his own. He wanted to be the first African-American to join the Navy's elite diving program. Once in the program, Brashear has to overcome racism and a program which is made harder for him than it is for anyone else.
It's an amazing story and one worth telling - unfortunately, the film has a sort of "TV Movie of the Week" quality to the drama. Also, Brashear isn't given much characterization beyond being very determined, and there's too much focus on the white dive instructor (Robert DeNiro).
Antwone Fisher (2002)
Best!
In real life, Antwone Fisher was a troubled youngster from a rough neighborhood. Put into foster care at an early age, he was physically and sexually abused. When he joined the Navy to avoid being homeless, he was angry, and prone to disciplinary problems. By working with a psychiatrist, Fisher was able to come to terms with his past, re-connect with his family that gave him away, and come to an understanding of who he is as a man, and what it is he wants in life.
This film based on his life story is not a war film, but it is a Navy film, and it's also a powerful film about relationships, coming to terms with one's past, and learning to accept that which we cannot change. It was directed by Denzel Washington.
Hart's War (2002)
The Worst!
Bruce Willis and Colin Farrell starred in this psuedo-remake of Stalag 17, as Ferrell must serve as lead counsel and defend two African American Airmen charged with murder in a makeshift court martial held inside the prisoner of war camp, turning what should be a concentration camp war film into a courtroom thriller. Of course, the court drama is just to distract from the tunneling that's occurring underneath the base.
It makes the film too busy, it's simultaneously a film about black airman dealing with racism, a prisoner of war film, an escape movie, and a courtroom legal thriller. None of it gets enough attention, and ultimately, nothing ends up carrying the film.
The Worst!
Spike Lee, normally a talented gifted director, was responsible for this World War II travesty. Focusing on the black Buffalo Soldiers of World War II in Italy, it's unfortunately too busy of a film. It's not just a war movie, it's also a civil rights movie, but it's also a modern-day crime movie, with the main story told in flashback with one of the central characters also involved in a crime focused sub-plot in modern times as an old man.
That's just too much going on. Lee should have just kept it on the Buffalo soldiers of World War II, their story is strong enough to carry their own film without any other sub-plots.
The Worst!
George Lucas produced this fictionalized portrayal of the Tuskegee Airmen, which has been sited for embellishing the units success. Which begs the point? Why fictionalize? The Tuskegee Airman don't need embellishing. They should have enough heroic stories to just tell the actual stories of the real men that served. We don't need fictionalized tales of real-life heroes.
The Best!
This Civil War movie about the first black regiment of infantry soldiers is a powerful film that sticks mostly to the real-life facts, including the unit's demise at Morris Island. Of course, while it gives us plenty of time with fleshed out black characters, it still focuses primarily on their sympathetic white commander. Mostly, though, the film is a moving tribute to the black soldiers that served in the Civil War.
It's thrilling, and well done throughout. Also, has a fantastic performance by a young Denzel Washington. Also stars Morgan Freeman and Matthew Broderick. Also made my top war films of all time list.
Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
The Best!
This HBO movie, which was eventually released into a limited theatrical run, is the best of several TV films, which have focused on the Tuskegee Airmen. The story is a familiar one to African-American families: Black soldiers (or in this case Airmen) are told they're not good enough to fight, but an exceptional service record and a track record for heroism demonstrate their determination to participate along side white soldiers.
Eventually, the Tuskegee Airmen enter the war - perform exceptionally - and the rest is history. This film suffers from some low production values, but otherwise solid performances (particularly, by Laurence Fishburne) save the day.
Men of Honor (2000)
The Worst!
Men of Honor is the (sort of) true story of Carl Brashear (Cuba Gooding Jr.), the black son of a sharecropper who joined the Navy, and was immediately assigned to the galley. However, Brashear had plans of his own. He wanted to be the first African-American to join the Navy's elite diving program. Once in the program, Brashear has to overcome racism and a program which is made harder for him than it is for anyone else.
It's an amazing story and one worth telling - unfortunately, the film has a sort of "TV Movie of the Week" quality to the drama. Also, Brashear isn't given much characterization beyond being very determined, and there's too much focus on the white dive instructor (Robert DeNiro).
Antwone Fisher (2002)
Best!
In real life, Antwone Fisher was a troubled youngster from a rough neighborhood. Put into foster care at an early age, he was physically and sexually abused. When he joined the Navy to avoid being homeless, he was angry, and prone to disciplinary problems. By working with a psychiatrist, Fisher was able to come to terms with his past, re-connect with his family that gave him away, and come to an understanding of who he is as a man, and what it is he wants in life.
This film based on his life story is not a war film, but it is a Navy film, and it's also a powerful film about relationships, coming to terms with one's past, and learning to accept that which we cannot change. It was directed by Denzel Washington.
Hart's War (2002)
The Worst!
Bruce Willis and Colin Farrell starred in this psuedo-remake of Stalag 17, as Ferrell must serve as lead counsel and defend two African American Airmen charged with murder in a makeshift court martial held inside the prisoner of war camp, turning what should be a concentration camp war film into a courtroom thriller. Of course, the court drama is just to distract from the tunneling that's occurring underneath the base.
It makes the film too busy, it's simultaneously a film about black airman dealing with racism, a prisoner of war film, an escape movie, and a courtroom legal thriller. None of it gets enough attention, and ultimately, nothing ends up carrying the film.
The Worst!
Spike Lee, normally a talented gifted director, was responsible for this World War II travesty. Focusing on the black Buffalo Soldiers of World War II in Italy, it's unfortunately too busy of a film. It's not just a war movie, it's also a civil rights movie, but it's also a modern-day crime movie, with the main story told in flashback with one of the central characters also involved in a crime focused sub-plot in modern times as an old man.
That's just too much going on. Lee should have just kept it on the Buffalo soldiers of World War II, their story is strong enough to carry their own film without any other sub-plots.
The Worst!
George Lucas produced this fictionalized portrayal of the Tuskegee Airmen, which has been sited for embellishing the units success. Which begs the point? Why fictionalize? The Tuskegee Airman don't need embellishing. They should have enough heroic stories to just tell the actual stories of the real men that served. We don't need fictionalized tales of real-life heroes.
