Review of Detroit (2017) by Francisco G — 15 Dec 2017

Kathryn Bigelow creates another film based on real life events that shakes you to your core. One of the very best films of the year.

Will Poulter puts in a shocking performance as officer Philip Krauss. John Boyega presents the the conflicted Melvin Dismukes in an sympathetic way. Algee Smith steals the show portraying Larry Reed.

Bigelow takes a raw approach in direction. Barry Ackroyd executes her vision to perfection. The cinematography places you in the middle of the action along with the characters. Words cannot describe how the technique behind the camera makes you feel. Despite this, the movie presents the events in an objective way. Never falling into an incredible amount of pathos, nor undermining the deaths that took place that day. The movie may start off slow, but towards the middle it is relentless and hard to watch. It does not push a viewpoint on you, but rather encourages you to form your own opinions.

Bigelow along with strong performances and Barry Ackroyd's amazing work, delivers a hard to watch but necessary reminder of our past relevant to our present. Bigelow puts on a masterclass of cinema.