Review of Nightjohn (1996) by Peter K — 05 Feb 2010

A great film. Charles Burnett takes enough elements from Gary Paulsen's sadistic depiction of slavery to fashion an unforgettable, emotionally wrenching statement about the thirst for knowledge and our sometimes limited ability to quench that thirst.

Lumbly with his strong features and mesmerizer's eyes would make the perfect Judas Iscariot, or Jesus Christ--either would do; I doubt if Mel Gibson would have had the balls to cast him in his religious snuff flick.

The film, however, really belongs to Beau Bridges as Clel Waller, the affable, casually cruel plantation owner who sees his slaves as his true treasure--troublesome and rebellious and untrustworthy, yes, but treasures nevertheless; it's this nuanced view that makes Burnett's depiction of slavery and its inhumanities (as opposed to Paulsen's, who looks at Waller as a 'white maggot') so persuasive.

Would make a fascinating double feature with Mandingo.