Detroit is powerful, captivating, and emotional. People warned me that this movie’s violence is so raw that several of them had to turn away from the screen because Kathryn Bigelow didn’t hold back on the truth. I never turned away; the story never got me to that point. I’ve seen a lot worse in movies and history books, that this particular reenactment is watchable. Now having said that, if you watch this and don’t get furious at the police and national guard, then you don’t have a soul. Innocent people were beaten to an inch of life, and several others were murdered in cold blood, all during a search for a “sniper” that may or may not be in the hotel. Throughout the movie, tension builds as the riots across the streets of Detroit boil out of control, with the incident at the Algiers Motel taking center stage. Race wars are the focal point of the story, which is about cops and military personnel who use their own skin colour as an excuse to over power innocent people without leaving any blood on their hands. The acting is so good that you want the bad guys to die a slow, painful death, and you want the victims to be released and their wounds treated. At almost two and half hours long, the slow parts drag, but when the raid happens, you’ll be on the edge of your seat as the drama unfolds. My feelings about the film were kinda down the middle, until the very end. The aftermath of this horrific night plays out unlike anything else you’ve ever seen. Sadly, the system was so rigid that these violent acts are swept under the rug. I wish I could name a movie off the top of my head related to this particular story, but only 12 Years a Slave only comes to mind when I think of racism and violence. They are not the same story by any means; just the violence displayed in both really captivated me and got me heavily invested in the story and outcome. Detroit is another great film from a director who continues to bring true stories to life.
star rating: 8/10
Ten Stars or Less 