Review of Imperial Dreams (2014) by Chris O — 02 Mar 2017

A realistic and dramatic depiction that showcases Boyega's acting skills.

A young father returns home from jail eager to care for his son and become a writer, but crime, poverty and a flawed system threaten his plans.

I had heard of this film when I was researching John Boyega prior to the release of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and saw this film on his resume. I was interested in it but I didn't have a good outlet for access to the film. The film was finally released on Netflix and I watched it ASAP.

John Boyega is a fantastic actor. I'm surprised this guy didn't make headlines earlier in his career because he really is a fantastic actor. This guy can play multiple roles and I'd love to see him in more dramas. Everyone in the film was good overall, but Boyega easily stole the show.

This felt like a realistic depiction of the life that some have to live through in rough areas. What makes it even harder is trying to care for a child in the middle of all of it. What this movie did was it kept you on the edge at all times, even if nothing was necessarily happening. It just felt like it was a stressful situation 24/7 and that they were never really safe. The movie did a good job and the screenplay was great.

The film felt a bit slow at times and I wasn't completely encapsulated. I felt like I was wanting just a little bit more, but that's just my personal opinion. In fact, there's nothing really wrong with the movie, but on a likability scale, it's not the best film I've ever seen. It's a really well made film and I think people should give it a chance, especially considering it's free on Netflix instant watch.

In the end, "Imperial Dreams" is a solid film and a must see on Netflix.