Review of Red Tails (2012) by Karl S — 25 May 2012

I heard somewhere (I think... maybe I'm dreaming) that they were trying to recreate the feel of a war movie from the WWII era. In fact, I think I recall George Lucas saying that in an interview. Anyway, they succeeded. All too well.

Despite great effects and combat sequences, some of the moments in the film feel totally artificial and much of the dialog is cringe-worthy. Much of it seems forced and disingenuous. Cuba Gooding's character is the weirdest. I couldn't help but wonder, as he sauntered around pipe in hand, he is trying to be a black MacArthur? It's almost as if you can tell the actors are having to hold down the bile - or the giggles - while delivering lines.

This is one of those movies that you really want to like (at least I did), and yet... there is just something missing that is very hard to put a finger on. It's as if they went searching for that elusive movie magic and lost it somewhere in the skies over Italy (or in the edit bay in Hollywood).

It's really too bad, because some fine talent came together to make this movie, and it's a story that few know about. In some ways, the much lower budget Tuskegee Airmen (HBO 1995) was a better film.

I give it 3 stars simply because it's a movie that tells an important story from American and world history. But I hate to say it... if it weren't for it's scope and ambitions, I'd give it a 2 on the merits.