I caught Night Catches Us last night at the New Directors/New Films Festival. I went in with way too high expectations given the dynamic combination of Kerry Washington and Anthony Mackie. It is still rare to see African-Americans play the leads in complex dramas, much less two actors in their prime, and I was eager to sit-in.
The story focuses on two former Black Panthers whom reunite during a 1976 Philadelphia summer. As is likely with a movement that encouraged armed resistance in protection of community and family, there is a lot of psychological trauma to wade through. Having spoken to former Black Panthers personally, I appreciated the portrayal of justified paranoia that encircles the characters, whether through bugged phones, insipid surveillance, or opportunistic cops. COINTELPRO was also a constant source of intimidation and fear perpetrated by the government to disrupt a myriad of free-thinking movements in the 60′s–the Panthers being a favorite target.
However, the personal relationships seemed to be under duress, competing with repetitive stock footage and an overpowering soundtrack. Mackie does what he can to bring an internal life to Marcus. Turmoil seethes beneath his eyes and under the burden of his black duffel bag, which belies a history of moving often and quickly. And it pains me to admit this, but Washington may have been miscast. Her clipped phrasing and too easy smile mark her immediately as not of this time. She is built up as the emotional linchpin of the story, but her climactic scenes fizzle quickly without delving into her motivations in a convincing way.
Veteran actors from The Wire–Jamie Hector and Wendell Pierce almost destabilize the piece, given their instant recognition. I’m not one to typecast, but they do it well enough without me, as it feels they are playing watered down versions of their Baltimore doppelgangers.
Ultimately, despite my apprehensions, more films like this need to be made, as access to these stories require a large stage to provoke discussion. The struggles of that time are still portrayed in cliche and costume. Night Catches Us has not completely escaped that quicksand, but it is a step forward. I look forward to seeing if first-time director Tanya Hamilton continues to unearth this rich, untapped well in her future work.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: 1970's, Anthony Mackie, Black Panther Party, COINTELPRO, Jamie Hector, Kerry Washington, Night Catches Us, Philadelphia, Tanya Hamilton, Wendell Pierce
