Film Preview: Emancipation (2022)

Film Poster

Page Revisions:

(October 9, 2022) Original
(November 20, 2022) New Trailer (#2)
(December 18, 2022) New Trailer (#3)

Release Date:

December 2, 2022

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “A runaway slave forges through the swamps of Louisiana on a tortuous journey to escape plantation owners that nearly killed him.”

Poster Rating: D

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Review: There’s just nothing of interest to this and having Will Smith front and center isn’t going to do the job Apple wants it to.

Trailer Rating: C+ / B / B-

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Review: (#1) There are a lot of very interesting elements on display in this trailer, but the material feels overdone. Important, but overdone. It does not overcome the stench of Smith’s actions at the Oscars earlier this year.

(#2) If it weren’t for the persona-non-grata status of the film’s star, this could have been Will Smith’s follow up trip to the Oscars. While I doubt the film will be utterly left out on his account, it could struggle to push through that haze towards full-bodied acceptance. After all, with a trailer like this, it’s a pity that its star hasn’t done an apologia tour before jumping right into the Oscar landscape.

(#3) The prior trailer did a far better job of creating a sense of presence and place without feeling like an overeager Will Smith performance. This one regresses and recertifies that notion without feeling necessary, which for this subject matter is a disservice.

Oscar Prospects:

Apple says it thinks it has a contender, but after last year’s Will Smith incident, it is folly to put him out front of an Oscar campaign so soon. In a few years, it could have been a contender, but right now, it’s more likely to be purposely ignored.