A police raid in Detroit in 1967 results in one of the largest citizens' uprisings in the history of the United States.
John Boyega
Melvin Dismukes
Will Poulter
Philip Krauss
Anthony Mackie
Greene
Algee Smith
Larry Reed
Hannah Murray
Julie Ann
Jason Mitchell
Carl Cooper
Malcolm David Kelley
Michael Clark
Jack Reynor
Demens
Ben O'Toole
Flynn
Jacob Latimore
Fred Temple
Kaitlyn Dever
Karen
John Krasinski
Attorney Auerbach
Joseph David-Jones
Morris
Ephraim Sykes
Jimmy
Leon G. Thomas III
Darryl
Peyton Alex Smith
Lee
Nathan Davis Jr.
Aubrey
Gbenga Akinnagbe
Aubrey Pollard Sr.
Tyler James Williams
Leon
Chris Chalk
Officer Frank
Jennifer Ehle
Morgue Doctor
Jeremy Strong
Attorney Lang
Laz Alonso
John Conyers Jr.
Austin Hébert
Warrant Officer Roberts
Samira Wiley
Vanessa
Mason Alban
Police Sergeant James
Miguel
Malcolm (as Miguel Pimentel)
Miguel Pimentel
Malcolm
Darren Goldstein
Detective Tanchuck
Kristopher Davis
Blind Pig Patron
Glenn Fitzgerald
Homicide Detective Anderson
Bennett Deady
Police Officer Bill
Tokunbo Joshua Olumide
Dave
Benz Veal
Nate Conyers
Dennis Staroselsky
Detective Jones
Zurin Villanueva
Martha
Ricardo Pitts-Wiley
Spencer
Timothy John Smith
Foreman Pete
Chris Coy
Detective Thomas
Joey Lawyer
National Guardsman Mike
Will Bouvier
National Guardsman Matthew
Morgan Rae
Linda Tucker
David A. Flannery
Police Officer David
Kris Sidberry
Roberta Pollard
Lizan Mitchell
Ma Pollard
Ato Blankson-Wood
Eddie
Henry Frost III
George
JJ Batteast
Philip
Michael Jibrin
Vietnam Vet
Karen Pittman
Dismukes' Mother
Malcolm David Kelley
Michael
Eddie Troy
Police Officer Paul
Alexander Cook
Head Juror
Frank Wood
Judge Demascio
Gary Wilmes
Reporter at Court
Khris Davis
Blind Pig Patron
Director
Kathryn Bigelow
Screenplay
Mark Boal
October 21, 2020
6
An important story to tell no doubt, but as a film it's a disappointment in my opinion.
Of course I cared for the characters from the first second due to the obvious subject matter, but that's as far as I ever got. It's a long 143 minutes, with one scene in particularly lasting an age without really doing much; except the final act of it. A film needs to do more, if this was a documentary - even a docudrama - then fair enough but it isn't.
It also wastes a pretty top notch cast. John Boyega is in this, portraying Melvin Dismukes. The amount of times he's just there standing around doing nothing is frustrating, he has a few moments where he gets to act and you can see his phenomenal talent - especially one time where you see the effect of events on Melvin - but that's about it. A waste.
Similar can be said for Anthony Mackie, star of one of my favourite films in <em>'The Adjustment Bureau'</em>. He plays such a minor role, you cast someone like Mackie you gotta use him more surely?
Will Poulter gets most of the screen time. He's good I guess, not sure we need to see quite as much of him as we do - given his character is an open/shut case. Elsewhere, you have other familiar faces like Tyler James Williams (shoutout Noah) and John Krasinski.
I don't intend to crap on this film. It's clearly well made, has great intentions and relays a notable story. I'm just disappointed with the end product, I judge films as films and <em>'Detroit'</em> is rather underwhelming.