Night Catches Us

"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 (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.

Watching this film was a deeply moving experience for me. So many times we think we know something about a certain period in history and time, but we don't have a real grasp of the impact the events had on real people, how deep it cut, and how people had to struggle to survive.

In 1976 Philly the remnants of Black Panther movement is transforming itself, and we get to watch how different people choose their directions in life. It was eye-opening to understand how these choices will play out in today's Philly, today's America, 35 years later. The tragic events of the early 70's are bleeding into the love triangle that evolves, and the pain is palpable, thanks to beautiful, thoughtful performances by Kerry Washington, Anthony Mackie and an overall very strong cast.

The director's approach to film-making is essentially European in storytelling style, she employs different visual media modes from documentary to animation without a cheesy effect, and the main characters are complex and believable.

The movie is easy to watch, you root for the people you meet in it, and it allows you to explore simple, yet important questions - how would you act under pressure, who would you choose above all, what sacrifices you would make in life and how do you live with the aftermath of your decisions. Leaving a movie theater and still pondering over these questions a few days later - now, that's a rare occurrence these days.

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.

Night Catches Us (2010)

A really fascinating look at an African-American reality in Philadelphia in 1976. The plot hook is more sensational than the movie itself—a former Black Panther returning home has to adjust to regular life and accusations of tattling. What really grips you, though, is the "regular life" part, because the acting and direction make this all feel honest and revealing. A slice of life done well.

If the core of the movie is how Blacks of different attitudes and philosophies learn to get along (and not get along) with each other, there is also the more expected acrimony between the Black community and the mostly White cops patrolling it. It's hard to know how accurate this part is, because here we are shown clichés of some very dumb and mean and hardheaded white cops, and maybe that was the norm. I'd like to think that some other movies have it right when there are those bad eggs on the force, but that many make an effort to get along and be reasonable with the people they are protecting.

But maybe one message of the movie taken whole is just how different it was back then, in the shadow of the truly radical and violent 1960s, as the Muslim influence was rising, as power was promising to shift more evenly between groups but was lurching too slowly. Maybe it was just filled with such distrust it led to caricatures for real. There are several segments of archival footage of Panthers and other protesting, and the gritty roughness of those scenes reveals some kind of glossing over of the situation for this fictional version made 35 years later.

The leading actor, Anthony Mackie, and leading actress, Kerry Washington, are both likable and excellent. You might say too likable and excellent—there is a modern feel to their demeanors that's hard to put your finger on. But they're both a joy to watch act and interact. The intentions are low key, and the result is easy going despite the tensions around them. It's a love story after all! Writer and director Tanya Hamilton is making her first feature film here, and she makes the most of her modest intentions.

As a commentary on race relations it is nearly the opposite of Spike Lee's approaches in their highly produced flair. And whatever the limitations of the film and its script, it has the net gain of a feeling of sincerity. Which goes a long way.