The "Detroit" movie is pretty brutal, challenging to watch from start to finish; even with all of my foreknowledge about the various events of the rebellion, it's still very striking -- and rather infuriating-- to see this incident dramatized for essentially the first time some 50 years after the fact. I watched it with my mom and her memories were still there of the incidents and that era. And of course, all of the issues presented are still here and still having negative impact on city residents.
all the actors gave good performances- very notable is Will Poulter as Krauss (a pastiche of the real cop(s) who were on trial for murder)-- hard for me to believe this guy played the nerdy son in that We're the Millers film.
Another is John Boyega as security guard Melvin. His character is presented with any number of opportunities to "go off", but (I don't think this is much of a spoiler) he doesn't. Instead he just kind of semi-silently deals with it, possibly seeing that he's outnumbered and outgunned. [There's also a vague connection to Star Wars' Finn in that both characters are reluctantly drawn into a big-deal conflict, but their attempts at "heroism" fall way short]. Jason Mitchell is memorable as Carl, who manages to become the inadvertent catalyst for the night of horror that awaits the folks at the Algiers. Algee Smith plays Larry, an early member of the Dramatics whose life gets turned completely around by that night.
Anthony Mackie's role is a little smaller than you might assume, but he's solid as an ex-paratrooper who is among the victims of the interrogations.
Large parts of the film are still sickening to watch. It's a very claustrophobic film once it gets to the hotel setting. I'd have to classify it as a horror film as well as a "historical drama".
Not enough attention was paid to the "lead-up" to the riots, as well as the trial and the political aftermath in the city. But of course, this was still 2.5 hours, and not everything could be said.
I'd give it an A- overall. Hopefully when awards season comes around, this movie will get some acknowledgments for the director, actors, cinematography, and screenwriter.
