Filed under: Reviews
Tanya Hamilton's directorial debut, 'Night Catches Us,' tackles the Black Panther movement through its two leads, Kerry Washington and Anthony Mackie. It's a provocative and powerful drama that moves with solid acting from the ensemble cast.
Set in Philadelphia during 1976, Marcus (played by Mackie) returns home under a cloud of suspicion from the community, including his Muslim brother Bostic (played by The Roots member Tariq Trotter) and old buddies from the Black Panther. The theory is that he left town to avoid the wrath from new leader Dwayne 'DoRight' Miller (played by 'The Wire's Jamie Hector) for allegedly ratting out on a member/best friend to the FBI.
His only trusted friend who's waiting to see him but doesn't want to discuss the past is his best friend's wife and former BP member Patricia (played by Washington). Having given up that life to be a successful attorney, Patty welcomes Marcus home but encourages him to leave his past behind and move forward like she did.
Bringing the past to the forefront is Pat's cousin, Jimmy (played by Amari Cheatom), who continues to provoke the police with his shenanigans and Pat's daughter Iris (played by newcomer Tamara Griffin), who's eagerly pursuing answers to her father's death.
With a renewed emotional relationship that threatens to change the lives of Pat and Marcus, the only way for peace to exist is for everyone involved to come out with the truth before tensions rise among the cops and the community.
The power behind the film is the acting from the ensemble cast from Mackie, Washington, Wendell Pierce, Cheatom and the debut performance from Griffin. Tackling the Black Panther movement is a bold move from Hamilton as she uses stock footage within the film, but it's also what keeps one entertained and enlightened.
The past is what people remember and at times forget, and here's a film where you get a subject matter and story that folks can relate to and walk away pleased with Hamilton's first film.