"Brian Banks" (2018 release; 97 min.) is"based on a true story" we are reminded at the beginning, and that is of course Brian Baker's incredible story. As the movie opens, we get to know Brian as an insanely talented line backer at Long Beach Poly Tech who is falsely accused of rape by a 16 yr. old class mate. Back in the present, Brian is called in by a parole officer, and a new state law forces him to wear an ankle GPS tracker, which ruins his dreams of perhaps making it to the NFL. Banks decides to call on the California Innocence Project to clear his name once and for all... At this point we are 10 min. into the movie, but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is the latest film from veteran director Tom Shadyac ("Ace Ventura: Pet Detective", "Bruce Almighty"). Here he brings the incredible story of Brian Banks. By all means, the movie should be a riveting and critical look at the justice system and how a rogue accusation of rape forever alerts a young man's life and dreams. Instead, what we get is a movie that is riddled with cliches and wooden performances. The writing is so poor that it makes you want to laugh. When Brian wants to take a date out to an art museum but doesn't have the money, his mom gives him $100 and says "The car payment can wait, your happiness can't. No, really, I'm not making this up! I feel sorry for Aldis Hodge (playing the title role), who does the best he can with what little he is given. Hodge looks utterly lost on the screen. Greg Kinnear doesn't fate much better as the guy heading up the CA Innocence Project. Morgan Freeman plays a small (and uncredited) role as the "wise man" in juve. I wish I could be more positive about this film, but sadly it is one of the worst I've seen this year (and I see a lot of films). A darn shame that this turns out to be so lame, when the source material by all means should've made for a riveting and, if nothing else, an entertaining movie.
"Brian Banks" premiered at the 2018 LA Film Festival, yes almost a year ago. It's now getting a limited theater release. The movie opened this weekend here in Cincinnati and the Saturday matinee screening where I saw this at was attended poorly (7 people, including myself). Given that this movie will not generate much of a positive word of mouth, I cannot see this playing in theaters much longer. Of course, if you are interested in movies dealing with men falsely accused of a crime, I'd suggest you check this out, be it in the theater (if you still can), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the latest film from veteran director Tom Shadyac ("Ace Ventura: Pet Detective", "Bruce Almighty"). Here he brings the incredible story of Brian Banks. By all means, the movie should be a riveting and critical look at the justice system and how a rogue accusation of rape forever alerts a young man's life and dreams. Instead, what we get is a movie that is riddled with cliches and wooden performances. The writing is so poor that it makes you want to laugh. When Brian wants to take a date out to an art museum but doesn't have the money, his mom gives him $100 and says "The car payment can wait, your happiness can't. No, really, I'm not making this up! I feel sorry for Aldis Hodge (playing the title role), who does the best he can with what little he is given. Hodge looks utterly lost on the screen. Greg Kinnear doesn't fate much better as the guy heading up the CA Innocence Project. Morgan Freeman plays a small (and uncredited) role as the "wise man" in juve. I wish I could be more positive about this film, but sadly it is one of the worst I've seen this year (and I see a lot of films). A darn shame that this turns out to be so lame, when the source material by all means should've made for a riveting and, if nothing else, an entertaining movie.
"Brian Banks" premiered at the 2018 LA Film Festival, yes almost a year ago. It's now getting a limited theater release. The movie opened this weekend here in Cincinnati and the Saturday matinee screening where I saw this at was attended poorly (7 people, including myself). Given that this movie will not generate much of a positive word of mouth, I cannot see this playing in theaters much longer. Of course, if you are interested in movies dealing with men falsely accused of a crime, I'd suggest you check this out, be it in the theater (if you still can), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.