Night Catches Us

I just recently watched this movie and thought to myself. This movie is phenomenal especially with Kerry Washington. A must see with a outstanding cast and incredible storyline.

"Night Catches Us" is a movie written and directed by Tanya Hamilton. It seeks to tell the story of a Philadelphia neighborhood and how it was shattered by the police killing of a Black Panther Party member. The movie takes place in 1976 where we see Marcus Washington (Anthony Mackie) returning home to a cold welcome for his father's funeral. There are those who are angry with him for running away, and those who are angry with him for being a snitch. Nothing is really clear to begin with though it becomes a little clearer later on. He's at odds with Dwayne Miller (Jamie Hector) over "snitching," and he's at odds with his brother Bostic (Tariq Trotter) and his secret flame Patricia (Kerry Washington) over disappearing. By the end we find out why he was labeled a snitch and why he disappeared.

This movie suffered from a weak script and an uncompelling plot. It's not a good thing when the best parts of your movie are archive footage and photos. It looked as if Tanya Hamilton was attempting to pay a tribute to the Black Panther Party, but she did the complete opposite. What we saw from ex-members and current wannabes was an organization that left people broken and confused. It was like all ex-members and allies were directionless without the Party, kind of like this movie. As if the legacy of the Party was poor, angry Black folks who were destined to remain poor and angry.

The movie attempted to be deep and poignant with the partial conversations and emotional pleas, but it never got past the surface of what the Party meant and what they were about. "Night Catches Us" may have been about a prodigal son returning, but he and all of the other characters were so hollow. There was nothing to them except that they were Black, had a connection to the Party, and had a death hanging over them of one of their members years ago.

It's hard to say just what Hamilton intended with this movie. She got quality actors in Mackie, Washington, and Hector, but that only takes you so far. Given the subject matter this movie could've been, and should've been so much better.

NIGHT CATCHES US is a gripping film that reminds us of the importance of the Black Panther Movement. Historical distance and changes in this country may have numbed the memory of a social movement as an important racial equality step and the very words 'Black Panther' are unfortunately tainted with the radical ugly aspects. But Tanya Hamilton has written and directed this compelling movie NIGHT CATCHES US and hopefully the core meaning of the movement will gain respect in the minds of those fortunate to see this brilliant little film. In order to help those who are unfamiliar with this movement a brief history may help appreciate this film. 'The Black Panther Party (originally the Black Panther Party for Self- Defense) was an African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from the mid-1960s into the 1970s. The Black Panther Party achieved national and international impact through their deep involvement in the Black Power movement and in US politics of the 1960s and 70s, as the intense anti-racism of the time is today considered one of the most significant social, political and cultural currents in US history. The group's "provocative rhetoric, militant posture, and cultural and political flourishes permanently altered the contours of American Identity. Founded in Oakland, California, by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton on October 15, 1966, the organization initially set forth a doctrine calling primarily for the protection of African American neighborhoods from police brutality. But the Black Panther Party's objectives and philosophy expanded and evolved rapidly during the party's existence. The organization's leaders passionately espoused socialist and communist (largely Maoist) doctrines, but the Party's black nationalist reputation attracted an ideologically diverse membership. Ideological consensus within the party was difficult to achieve, and some prominent members openly disagreed with the views of the leaders.'

The year is 1976 and Marcus Washington (Anthony Mackie, in a brilliant role) returns to Philadelphia after serving a jail term. He is without a job or place to stay and his father has just died, leaving the old family house to his brother who has sold it. Marcus sees his old friend Pattie -now Patricia - Wilson (Kerry Washington, likewise in a moving performance) who had been married to and had a child Iris (Jamara Griffin) by his best friend who was brutally murdered by the police in his own home. Marcus' arrival in the neighborhood (essentially unchanged from the height of the Black Panther days) and branded a 'Snitch' by his old friends: they believe Marcus informed the police of his friend's killing of a police officer and blame his friend's death on him. Patricia is now a lawyer and spends her days defending young black men and her time off supplying food and shelter to the parentless children of the neighborhood. Her nephew Jimmy (Amari Cheatom) has inherited the anger of the past and Patricia must frequently bail him out of jail for arrests for 'verbal abuse' of police officers. Though Patricia has a live-in lawyer boyfriend Carey Ford (Ron Simons) who helps her in her drive to better the lives of the neighborhood, once Patricia and Marcus rekindle their past friendship (and more), Carey moves out and Marcus moves in. Together Marcus and Patricia share the cause of the death of Iris' father with the bright young girl, an incident that draws the three of them closer. But old hates still exist and the bloody aspects of the Panther Movement appear to rekindle because of Marcus' presence. Marcus is approached by a black police captain Wendell Pierce (David Gordon) to infiltrate Marcus major enemy 'Do Right' Miller (Jamie Hector), but Marcus sees through the age old struggle between the neighborhood and the police, remembers the anguish of the past, and refuses to carry out the planting of evidence. After a scene of the Truth in the retelling of the history of Iris' father's murder - Patricia and Marcus finally face the past - and Marcus moves on.

To give more details of the story would distract from the power of the message. This is a movie that simply should be seen to put that period of time in perspective. The cast is particularly fine, not only Mackie and Washington, but also the young and very talented Amari Cheatom among others. One wonders why the sound track doesn't reflect the music from that period, instead using contemporary rap music, but that is a very small defect in an otherwise VERY fine film.

Grady Harp

Night Catches Us (2010) is a movie I recently watched on Tubi. The storyline follows a man who returns home to his neighborhood after his father passes away. He wants to help his family fix-up the house but quickly comes to the realization he isn't wanted around by his former friends or family. There is one single mother who appreciates who he was and who he is and together they try to overcome some of their inner demons. This movie is directed by Tanya Hamilton (The Chi) in her directorial debut and stars Kerry Washington (Scandal), Anthony Mackie (Avengers), Ron Simons (27 Dresses) and Tariq Trotter (Yelling to the Sky). The storyline for this picture is very interesting and fun to watch unfold. There's numerous mysteries of each other's pasts for the two main characters that keep the audience intrigued. The acting is very good as is the cinematography, settings and backdrops. The character interactions also have the appropriate level of intensity. Overall, this is far from one of the best movies in this genre but is still worth a viewing. I'd score this a 6.5-7/10.

The late Sixties found people in life quandaries they could not have imagined based on how they were raised. As the US government continued to kill thousands in other countries they turned also upon their citizens and sought to dampen dissent through the murder of those on what they defined to be the fringes of society. The Black Panthers, Students for A Democratic Society, the Weather Underground, students at Jackson State, Kent State; members found political commitments tied to life and death decisions. How far does one go to dissent? To what does one commit oneself with all their heart and soul? What price is one willing to pay when the corruption and moral bankruptcy of one's nation is no longer tolerable. "Night Catches Us"illuminates the maze of personal and political commitments necessary for living through those times. People no longer put their lives on the line in quite the same way. The US continues to murder thousands across the globe but the protest is only seen on cable television. Gil Scott Heron could not have realized that in the end the revolution would be televised. It just wouldn't have any real impact or foment real change.