Review of Detroit (2017) by Ergo F — 07 Aug 2017

Director Kathryn Bigelow is no stranger to telling true stories in honest ways. Yes, she has made blockbuster films like Point Break in the past, but her current staple is bringing true events to the big screen. Whether it's as simple as a bomb-defusing team in The Hurt Locker or tracking down Osama bin Laden in Zero Dark Thirty, her way of slowly giving the audience what they came for, is even more present in her latest outing with Detroit. Much like I felt about Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, this film is a very well-executed depiction of an historic event in history, but there are elements that could've easily been tweaked, added, or removed in order to make a better film overall. Here is why Detroit may deserve your time if you know what you're in for.

When it comes to films like Detroit, you want to be as accurate as possible, due to the fact that it's a very touchy subject. When I read that one of the focusses of the film would be on a fictional character (played by John Boyega) I was very nervous. Thankfully, his addition was for a specific reason, which I will let you experience for yourself. That being said, this film suffers from a few things at the same time. At its core, this is a movie surrounding an event during the riots in 1967, but the fact that the riots themselves are not in the forefront enough, is exactly what the average moviegoers will be complaining about. Personally, a film about the riots themselves would be a great showcase, but I thought the choice of following particular people to one event was just as thrilling.

The biggest complaint that I feel people will have, is the fact that the run time of 143 definitely feels its length. Quite honestly, this film feels like a three hour picture at times, but once the detached storylines finally meet in the middle of the film, the pace picks up quite a bit. Personally, Detroit is a little too long for the story that it tells, but it's not that it's slow. I know I stated that the film feels its length, but that's only because of the fact that takes place in very few locations, with little to no action. This film is all about the inner demons in who is good and bad throughout this city. I found myself incredibly engaged, even though it could've easily been trimmed down to two hours.

What also makes this film feel its length, is the fact that you can clearly see the three acts. The first being the riots that build each character up, the second being the incident itself, and the third being the aftermath. The fact that you could see each act begin and end was a big issue for me, because you knew there was still a little or a lot left for the film to showcase. Once again,I found myself incredibly engaged throughout this movie, and everyone delivers fine performances all around, so the content presented in the film itself was very well-done. I just found that they could've tightened the film up and been a little less formulaic.

From Will Poulter (who I grew an insane hatred for throughout the film), to John Boyega, to credible newcomers in Jacob Latimore or Algee Smith, the cast of this film gives their all in their portrayals of these figures. Kathryn Bigelow directs with visceral realism, providing shaky cam footage that feels like you're right up in their faces, and film itself provides an interestingly secretive look into a specific event during the 1967 Detroit riots. It's definitely too long, but it really doesn't feel slow, but take from that what you wish, because I can still see how people may find themselves checking their watches. Detroit sets you up for an event and the majority of the film takes place solely at that one location, but I feel that aspect both benefits and hurts the movie as a whole. In the end, Detroit is a very realistic film that sucks you in from the start. As long as you're weary of the run time and are not expecting a film filled with quickly paced rioting in the streets, then you may just find yourself engaged like I was. This is a very solid film worth checking out.