Blind Faith (1998 film)
Blind Faith | |
---|---|
Ernest R. Dickerson | |
Starring |
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Music by | Ron Carter |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Producers |
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Cinematography | Rodney Charters |
Editor | Stephen Lovejoy |
Running time | 122 min |
Original release | |
Network | Showtime |
Release | January 20, 1998 |
Blind Faith is a 1998 American
Plot
Set in 1957, Charlie is a Black 18 year old male who is secretly gay. He is accused of killing a young white man in a nearby park late at night. The white man was one of seven young white men, who had ganged up and murdered his secret boyfriend David Mercer, who is also white, during a hate crime based on his sexuality. Charlie is arrested and claims to have attempted to rob the white boy, stating that his death was accidental. Charlie purposefully concealed the truth so as not to expose his own homosexuality and shame his father. He is charged and put on trial, where the young white men lie and testify against him. During the trial, the circumstances of how it really happened are never revealed due to Charlie not wanting to displease his homophobic father, who is a well-respected police officer in line for a promotion to become the first Black sergeant. One of his uncles, played by
Cast
- Charles S. Dutton as Charles Williams
- Courtney B. Vance as John Williams
- Kadeem Hardison as Eddie Williams
- Lonette McKee as Carol Williams
- Garland Whitt as Charles Williams Jr.
- Karen Glave as Anna Huggins
- Joel Gordon as David Mercer
- Sandra Caldwell as Paulette Mercer
- Aron Tager as Judge Aker
- Shawn Lawrence as Prosecuting Attorney
- Birdie M. Hale as Mrs. Barry
- Peter MacNeill as Captain McCully
- Jeff Clarke as Timothy
Critical reception
Dennis Harvey, film reviewer for Variety wrote that the "screenplay has some stretches of hackneyed dialogue", but "generally has narrative punch and passion to spare". He was generally satisfied with the acting, saying "Vance anchors the action, alternating convincing courtroom savvy with a desperate, bittersweet familial loyalty...and Hardison, Whitt and Karen Glave ably lead the supporting scroll". Harvey also mentions the "racism and homophobia" being played out in the 1950s murder trial, and highlights the brief prelude to the movie where an older Vance (Charlie's lawyer) is seen in 1989 watching in disgust as the white perpetrators in the racially motivated murder of Yusef Hawkins "get wrist-slap punishment".[4]
Janet Maslin wrote in The New York Times that the movie was "directed with conviction and restraint" and Courtney B. Vance's performance was "first-rate". She also suggested that in the end Blind Faith is "a father-son tragedy, with a lesson to be learned".[5] In another review for the Times, Bernard Weinraub called the film a "drama on racism", and "the story, by Frank Military, a former actor, deals not only with racism but also homophobia".[2]
Nominations
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie (Charles Dutton, nominated)[6]
- Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male (Charles Dutton, nominated)[6]
- Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead (Courtney B. Vance, nominated)[6]
- Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay (nominated)[6]
References
- ISBN 978-0-312-31690-7.
- ^ a b Weinraub, Bernard (January 30, 1998). "At The Movies". The New York Times.
- OCLC 606827696.
- ^ Harvey, Dennis (January 22, 1998). "Blind Faith". Variety.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (February 26, 1999). "Film Review; Tragedy at Home and in the Courtroom for a Black Youth". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c d Octavius (2012). "Movie Review: Blind Faith". Cypher Avenue.
External links
- Blind Faith at IMDb
- Blind Faith at Rotten Tomatoes