Red Tails (20th Century Fox)
Rated PG-13 for some sequences of war violence.
Starring Cuba Gooding, Terrence Howard, Bryan Cranston, Nate Parker, David Oyelowo, Tristan Wilds, Daniela Ruah, Ryan Early, Method Man, Kevin Phillips, Henry Garrett, Robert Kazinsky, Rick Otto, Lee Tergesen, Andre Royo, Ne-Yo, Elijah Kelley, Marcus T. Paulk, Leslie Odom Jr., Michael B. Jordan, Jazmine Sullivan, Edwina Finley, Stacie Davis, Aml Ameen, Gerald McRaney.
Written by John Ridley and Aaron McGruder.
Directed by Anthony Hemingway.
GRADE: D-
REVIEW:
Race relations have come a long way since the birth of our nation, and it could be argued that we still have a long way to go, despite successes over the years. One of those great triumphs was led by several hundred heroic men who were willing to fight and die for their country, even in the face of extremely racist segregationist military policies during World War II. Red Tails is the story of the Tuskeegee Airmen, as told through the lens of George Lucas.
The film, although based on a very real group of people, centers on a group of fictional airmen who are stationed in Italy during the final year of the war. Due to racial opposition within the higher echelons of the Defense Department, the first African-American fighter pilots have been relegated to non-combat missions in which they are allowed to shoot at trains, trucks and other stationary targets, but no air combat. Their troubles are compounded by their own personal troubles, like alcoholism and trouble with authority. Two of the central characters are Marty "Easy" Julian (Nate Parker) and Joe "Lightning" Little (David Oyelowo). "Easy" is squadron leader, but "Lightning" has trouble following his pal's orders. In the meantime, the group's commanders (Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard) fight the Washington brass to get real combat missions and better planes until necessity provides an opportunity.
The airmen are thrust into battle protecting bombers on raids over Europe and quickly gain a reputation among the white aviators for their success. Although most return, a few are shot down or killed.
Red Tails, despite some spectacular special effects-driven battle scenes - is an awful film. The inane script is overflowing with mindless cliche's and overstating of the obvious. Much of the dialogue is delivered by characters riding in cockpits of fighter planes over radio, which would have been nearly impossible since such radio chatter would have been monitored by the enemy. A certain scar-faced German pilot also makes several appearances throughout Red Tails, creating the perfect dastardly villian akin to a man in a dark hat who twirls his mustache at the thought of killing men from an inferior race.
The real Tuskeegee Airmen deserve better (much like the 1997 HBO movie). They were real heroes who fought in real battles, even after enduring through some thick racist barriers. Red Tails writers John Ridley and Aaron McGruder ought to have their union cards revoked for penning such crap. Even though he's listed as executive producer, I smell a lot of George Lucas in this film, complete with a lot of dialogue that real people don't use (delusions of grandeur, perhaps?).
Like I said before, the special effects in Red Tails are incredible, but that can't cover up a film that truly crashes and burns.
