Review of Detroit (2017) by Kevin M — 06 Aug 2017

I knew very little about Detroit before heading to the theater. I knew it was about riots from the 60's, and I knew it was directed by the highly esteemed Kathryn Bigelow; known for masterpieces like The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty.

What I got was a little different. It opens with a very out of place animated short briefly explaining the hardships African Americans faced when making their voyage from Africa to America. The text that followed seemed very political and opinionated, and I was shocked knowing that Bigelow was behind it; in other words, it felt forced and tacked on.

What I wasn't expecting was when the focus shifted from several groups scattered throughout the city of Detroit to the same groups converging towards one small motel. It's raided by police after they were targeted by what they thought was a sniper coming from the 2nd floor, and the team of cops that raid it are some of the most racist characters I've ever seen on screen.

Will Poulter shows a young but commanding presence as their leader, and he's brutally violent, ruthless, and crazy. His performance will hopefully lead to an Oscar-nomination. John Boyega does a great job as an African American security guard; a man among a huge force of white police officers.

We're given the constant lingering anxiety knowing that although he's on the cops' side, he is nonetheless a man of color. But the biggest downside here is the cinematography. They were definitely going for up-close and personal, guerilla-esque camerawork, but it ends up coming out way too shaky and dizzying.

Screenwriter Mark Boal is seemingly learned on the subject, but I can't help but wonder how much of it is accurate and how much of it is spiced up for Hollywood's sake. At the end of the lengthy but hearty 143 minute running-time, my friend and I got up to leave the theater.

My friend and I, being the only two white guys there, felt a lot of eyes on us as we walked out. This proves that Bigelow has made a huge, horrifying and affecting statement on police brutality, and I have to give her a lot of credit for having pulled it off.