Just watched the movie Red Tails at the theater and came away feeling lukewarm about it. It really was more a feel good movie and less a feel history production. Sure, we get to see and hear the Tuskegee Airmen inspired story presented on a grand Hollywood scale budget, but something just didn't ring authentic.
Maybe the real Airmen who's story this movie is based on chose only to hint at the unfair and challenging conditions they faced. Maybe for national security reasons or government confidentiality much was left unsaid or edited out. Or just maybe the non-black investors and producers were more comfortable with a nice and safe, can't we all get along for the greater good, story. Whatever the reason for it's shortcomings, Red Tails left me feeling like someone was trying to retell it like it was without showing it how it really was. And all to the sound of an epic Star Wars-like music score.
We must remember though that the airmen were mostly young educated middle and upper class black men coming from a time and place that demanded their obedience, discipline and restraint. Therefore, they might come across today as privileged schoolboys experiencing their first taste of racial inequality.
Their strength was definitely in their commitment to be the best at what they did and show not just the enemy abroad, but enemies at home just how much man a black man can be when given an even playing field. They were some of the most courageous fighter pilots of the war.
For those who aren't familiar with the story of race in America, this movie will be easy to nibble on without choking down any guilt. For others, they might find it serves the purpose of getting the word out about WWII race issues in the United States. For those few like myself, who bought their theater ticket hoping to see the Tuskegee Airmen's story in their own words, be glad there's quality documentary material on the subject and let's try not to be too harsh on this entertaining film.
After all, there's a generation of young people of all colors and ethnicities who receive a message better when accompanied with lights, music and action. Only Hollywood!
Red Tail reviews from rotten tomatoes:
...though it's tempting to root for Red Tails based on its intentions alone, I fear it would be similar to clapping extra loud for the handicapped child at the little league game, a celebration of effort over execution.
January 21, 2012
Any movie that makes even one person want to find out more about The Tuskegee Airman makes it an worthwhile effort in my book. I walked in with high expectations, I wanted to love this movie but came away just liking it.
January 22, 2012
feels like an apology from Lucas for having only one African American character in the original Star Wars trilogy
January 20, 2012
note: I recently watched one of my favorite films on the subject of race in the U.S. military during WWII. I never tire of watching the 1984 movie "A Soldier's Story," with actors Howard Rollins and a young Denzel Washington.
read about the 40-year Tuskegee Syphilis Expermint, another U.S. injustice toward black (African-American) citizens.
