ReelBob: ‘Emancipation’ ★★½

By Bob Bloom

“Emancipation” is a muscular action thriller inspired by the 1863 photos taken during a Union Army medical examination of the mutilated back of a runaway slave named Peter.

The story built around the picture is fictionalized as it follows Peter’s bid for freedom from a Confederate Army outpost —where, like other slaves, he is forced to build a railroad — to reach Union forces in Baton Rouge.

The movie, directed by Antoine Fuqua, is part “The Great Escape” and “The Defiant Ones” with a bit of “Glory” thrown in during the last act.

Will Smith heads the cast as Peter, a devout family man who uses his wits and the resources he finds around him to achieve his goal.

Despite the noble intentions of Fuqua and writer Bill Collage, “Emancipation” is formulaic, with Peter continually outsmarting his pursuers as he traverses the dangerous Louisiana swamps to achieve his goal.

“Emancipation” never really reveals much about Peter, except that he is from Haiti. How he acquired his various skills is not explained. His main characteristic is his single-mindedness to eventually reunite with his family.

It also doesn’t help that the Confederate soldiers are all portrayed as one-dimensional brutal bigots who continually refer to their Black chattel with the “n-word” or as “boy.” They are barbaric sadists who enjoy inflicting pain and death on their workers.

The Northern soldiers are not treated much better. The officers give the former slaves a choice — become contraband and join Union army work details or enlist to fight for their freedom. The officers talk down to their Black recruits and basically use them as cannon fodder in battle.

The characters, including Peter, are defined not by who they are, but by what they do.

Ben Foster as the slave catcher hunting Peter is nothing more than a cruel cipher whose purpose is the catch “runners” and either kill them or return them — depending on his mood.

The movie, like the various protagonists and antagonists, is filmed .in black and white. The filmmakers allow no room for subtlety.

Peter’s escape through the swamp is exciting — he does battle an alligator — and provides some tension. But the outcome is preordained, which dilutes some of the suspense.

“Emancipation,” which is streaming on Apple TV+, offers some exciting moments. Overall, though, it is too cliched with its main drawback of using the sin of slavery as a mere plot device.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob.com or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.

EMANCIPATION
2½ stars out of 4
(R), disturbing and brutal images, strong racial violence, language