Released: October 2018
Director: George Tilllman, Jr.
Rated PG-13
Run Time: 133 Minutes
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Genre: Drama
Cast:
Amandla Stenberg: Starr Carter
Regina Hall: Lisa Carter
Russell Hornsby: Maverick Carter
Anthony Mackie: King
Issa Rae: April Ofrah
Common: Carlos
Algee Smith: Khalil
K.J. Apa: Chris
Do you want to know why I love film as a medium? It’s not just a method of delivering a story or a form of education. It’s also a tool. It’s a tool that can help shape the world in ways that we’ve never been able to before. Film is a medium that isn’t reserved for the few. It’s something that can reach millions of people across the world. It can be used as a way to bring people together or to divide. There is more power in film than most people will ever admit. In some ways, it can be far more powerful than just reading a book. There is a unique potential in film to change the world for the better, and if it can’t, it will lead to conversations and actions that will. THAT is the power of film. THAT is why I talk about movies, because every once in a while, you come across a film that is not only powerful, but extremely profound in ways that we have yet to imagine. Movies that spark conversation about our society are the movies that can incite change. Hopefully, for the better. One such film is The Hate U Give.
The film opens on a small black family as Maverick, the father, tells his children about how to behave if and when they are confronted by police. A few years later, Starr, the daughter of Maverick, is attending a predominantly white prep school. A few days later, she’s at a party with her friends when she runs into an old crush, Khalil. After a fight breaks out, Khalil takes Starr home when they’re pulled over by a cop. Khalil is shot and killed by the cop because he pulled out a hairbrush. Traumatized by the event, Starr’s life at home and at school begin to fall apart as news reaches her that the cop may not be prosecuted. While this particular story is fiction, the fact of the matter is is that stuff like this happens every single day in real life, so there is an element of realism to what happens in the film. There are a lot of thematic elements in the film that deal with racism, police brutality, and black-on-black crime. All of these things feed into each other and make for a very tense situation. While the film is centered around Starr and her experience with law enforcement and some of the situations that cops themselves find themselves in. Starr also has to deal with the fact that her classmates have been using this tragedy for their own gain. Again, this also happens in real life, so things like this are not entirely inaccurate. I love this story because it doesn’t really hold the audience’s hand and actually forces them to confront these issues that are plaguing our society today.
The performances in this film are absolutely amazing. Russell Hornsby’s performance as Maverick is incredible as an ex-con that’s trying to protect and provide for his family. Regina Hall delivers that motherly warmth that makes you want to hug her. She’s amazing. The breakout performance of The Hate U Give is Amandla Stenberg as Starr. She is the heart and soul of this picture. Amandla gives such a powerful performance for someone so young, it’s incredible. I can’t say that I relate to the character, because I’m not from that walk of life, so I have no idea what it’s like to be confronted with bigotry, but Amandla’s performance has you on the character’s side every step of the way and you begin to feel what she feels, especially if you have a strong sense of justice and see that ripped from you. Amandla has an incredibly bright future ahead of her. Rapper Common also delivers a pretty striking performance as Starr’s cop uncle Carlos. There is a scene in Carlos’ house where he describes what happens when a cop confronts a black man, and then describes a situation when a cop confronts a white man. Seeing his reaction when Starr confronts him about it says everything that needs to be said about the situation and how wrong it is.
All the protests that you see in the film are incredibly well-staged and shot, and it looks like something you would see on the news, because these protests have been on the news. One of the most striking scenes in the film is the opening when Maverick is telling his kids how to behave in front of a cop. Honestly, I had no idea that was even a thing until I watched one of the special features on the Blu-Ray. That speaks more to my ignorance of how people in these smaller communities live and raise their kids. It’s not a reality that I’m used to seeing, so it is an eye-opener. Another aspect of the film is the difference between the way that Starr behaves at school, and how she behaves at home. These details are extremely important in a film that deals with systemic issues like racism and police brutality. There were moments in the film that really pissed me off not because they were poorly done, but rather in how accurate the situation in the film is to real life. Cops getting off with barely a slap on the wrist for killing an unarmed black man? Anybody who has a strong moral center and a strong sense of justice should get pissed off about that, which is why these protests happen. The film does have an optimistic view of how things could eventually turn out, but it doesn’t shy away from the unfortunate truth that many of these injustices are swept under the rug. The pacing of the film is perfect and it just hooks you from the beginning, and as you follow these characters on their journey, you begin to understand important a film like this really is. I haven’t read the book that the film is based on, but even so, The Hate U Give is a powerful experience that should spark conversations about things happening in our communities.
One of the most enduring themes of the film is the right to speak out against injustice. It’s an important message for everyone who cares to listen. If you see something wrong, you should be able to be allowed to speak out against it. It’s important to find your voice and use it. That’s why you have it. The Hate U Give, I think, is a film that deserves to be seen by everyone. It’s also one that needs to spark conversations about how to deal with some of these real-life issues. It’s an extraordinary film that has some of the greatest performances that I’ve seen in years, and it’s one of the most powerful films of the decade. It’s extraordinarily relevant in today’s world. When I said that film, as a medium, has the potential to spark change in a positive direction, I meant it, and The Hate U Give is a perfect example. The title itself has a purpose and a message. This is a film that needs to be seen. It’s not always easy to sit through, but it is absolutely worth it.
My Final Recommendation: 10/10.