Brian Banks

Powerful and intense drama, based on a true story. Aldis Hodge and Greg Kinnear lead the way here but the supporting cast are excellent as well.

Hodge portrays Brian Banks, a promising football star who was falsely accused of rape and kidnapping when he was 16-years-old. He will spend years trying to clear his name and regain his life, with the help of the California Innocence Project, as well as his supporters.

At times, the movie seems to veer into contrivances, but, overall, I found it to be a heartfelt and moving film, well acted and presented.

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.

I've been crying.. He is incredible man.. He never gives up

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!