The Basics
Where To Watch: In Theaters (December 2) | Apple TV+ (December 9)
Starring: Will Smith, Ben Foster, Mustafa Shakir, Steven Ogg, Charmaine Bingwa
Description: Emancipation tells the triumphant story of Peter (Will Smith), a man who escapes from slavery, relying on his wits, unwavering faith and deep love for his family to evade cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on his quest for freedom. The film is inspired by the 1863 photos of “Whipped Peter,” taken during a Union Army medical examination, that first appeared in Harper’s Weekly. One image, known as “The Scourged Back,” which shows Peter’s bare back mutilated by a whipping delivered by his enslavers, ultimately contributed to growing public opposition to slavery
Trailer
Critics’ Chatter
“Antoine Fuqua consistently delivers an air of epicness as a director, and he captures Peter’s gaze as he traverses the swamps on his journey to Baton Rouge. However, that dynamic movement featured in many of Fuqua’s films isn’t a part of Emancipation. The color-graded hues sit somewhere between black, white and gray, but why wasn’t the full-color spectrum utilized? Probably to protect the audience from the nonstop blood and gore projected onscreen throughout its 2-hour, 12-minute runtime. Smith’s and Foster’s performances are strong and sincere; they recite their lines with conviction and are committed to their character goals. However, these are characters that have been seen time and time again in other films about slavery in America.”
-Valerie Complex, Deadline | Read The Full Review Here
“Will Smith gives one of the most emotionally raw performances of his career in Emancipation, an intense drama that shows the abuse endured by a formerly enslaved man fighting for freedom and his family during the U.S. Civil War. Most people who see Emancipation will know in advance that it’s a movie that depicts enslavement and the brutality that comes with this crime. And many people watching Emancipation might have seen other films or TV shows covering the same subject matter in detailed ways. However, even with that prior knowledge, viewers will feel the potent impact of Emancipation not just as a movie about the Civil War era but also as an inspirational survival story in the midst of cruel human rights violations.”
-Carla Hay, Culture Mix | Read The Full Review Here
Timeline Talk
Let me tell y’all something! Will Smith is beyond commanding as Whipped Peter illustrating the strength and tenacity of a man whose refusal in being allowed to embrace freedom by any means necessary is powerful, jaunting and necessary. #Emancipation pic.twitter.com/Mp6tMYlSn3
— Carla Renata (@TheCurvyCritic) December 1, 2022
#Emancipation is haunting. It is a stunning achievement from Antoine Fuqua, superbly written. Will Smith is magnificent, with sweeping performances from Ben Foster and Charmaine Bingwa. Bob Richardson's cinematography is a poetic experience @AppleTV
— Jazz Tangcay (@jazzt) December 1, 2022
