Brian Banks

Just saw the latest superhero movie tonight. Although it was not advertised as one. I am talking the new movie Brian Banks. Don't get me wrong-I enjoy superhero movies and even attended Comic Con when I used to be able to afford it. Tonight, was a great reminder that we are the true superhero's with comics mimicking how sensational we can be as humans when we rise above injustice. Brian Banks is played outstandingly by actor Aldis Hodge who is amazingly convincing as Banks. Actress Sherri Shepard plays the role as Banks mother, who is everything one could want as a loving and protective mother. Greg Kinnear as the attorney Justin Brooks provides the right touch of truth about our judicial system, while exuding gut-wrenching care to this heartfelt classic hopeful. This movie is as compelling as The Blind Side-another based on true events story. Except you get blind-sided in a different way. As uncomfortable as this movie makes you feel, due to its disgusting unfairness faced by Brian Banks. You can't help but feel sorrow for what must be missing inside someone propelled to tell such sickening lies on the innocent-played perfectly by actress Xosha Roquemore as the accuser Kennisha Rice. This movie made me mad, cry and grateful for the freedom and life that I have. Test yourself, see how feel when you come out. All I can say is Wow, my eyes are now wide open.

My mom, nephew and his girlfriend went with me to see this and we thought it was a good drama.

The story is about Brian Banks who wants to join the NFL but his dreams were shattered when a girl gets him arrested for rape which never happened so because his life is essentially over, he tries to clear his name.

The performances are really good. The main actor reminds me of Idris Elba, always a delight to see Greg Kinnear, and I didn't know Morgan Freeman is in this movie. It's a good movie to watch and there were some tear jerker scenes. Sadly it's not a comic book movie so it will quickly be on DVD soon.

The writing was a little bland with its flat, formulaic-style story-telling, and the pacing too slow, that the normally decent 99 min runtime felt much longer. Directing was ok, but I expected more from Tom Shadyac. I guess a long hiatus does flaw some of the skills. The soundtrack wasn't anything special, and the score felt out of place and cheap in some scenes.

Kinnear, Liburd and Roquemore's performances were the only stand-outs imo, the rest of the cast was adequate, but I wasn't too impressed with Hodge's performance, unless of course his bland demeanor was portraying the real Brian Banks. During the ending credits, I will say how uncanny the resemblance was between most of the actors and the people they were portraying.

Nevertheless, it was a great biopic on a serious issue with some tear-jerking moments in the end. It certainly isn't a 9 or 10/10, so ignore those fake reviews the producers felt they needed. It is a solid 7-8/10 film, but gets only my 7 for annoying me with the obviously phony reviews. Would I see it again? Nope. Would I recommend it? Of course.

Wonderful to see a true story that matches the person it covers. I have heard Brian Banks speak before and Aldis Hodge captures his spirit and intellect in a beautiful way. He was a victim that does not ask to be seen as a victim. He stands up and fights for himself and others in the same position. Welcome back Tom Shadyac!

It's cool. I still had a few tears cause it's not just about a innocent man finding justice it's about a young black man who had the world turn against him and he kept his head up. That's important. It's also about a lawyer who seeks justice for those who cannot get it themselves, using the system to fight the system. Two really good reasons to shed a tear over this film. It's definitely inspiring but I did not fully feel the emotion I was expecting to get from it.