Running Time: 130 minutes
This film from United Artists and Orion Pictures opens in San Diego on October 21th. The movie opens nationally on October 28st.
While many biopics can feel, well, a little formulaic and predictable, a few real-life stories are so powerful and unusual that one can’t help but take notice. Till not only details the atrocious and appalling lynching of a black teenager, but also shows the very unexpected events that followed. In some respects, this movie does feel like a glossy Hollywood production, but the lead performance is so compelling and the narrative unconventional enough that the end result is gripping.
In 1955, the Civil Rights Movement was gaining traction in the US, although many black families at the time were simply trying to make ends meet and support their families. This film focuses on Mamie Till (Danielle Deadwyler), a single-mother living in Chicago and raising her son Emmett (Jalyn Hall). When the boy leaves to visit relatives in the Mississippi Delta, his mother is immediately concerned for his safety… especially in a region still enforcing their own code of racial apartheid. Shortly after his arrival, Emmett is targeted for complimenting Carolyn Bryant (Haley Bennett), the white wife of a shop owner and Mamie’s worst fears are realized. The grieving mother, against the wishes of several advisors, decides to show the country in explicit detail exactly how her son was victimized.
Visually, the movie has a glossy appearance, which initially doesn’t seem like the best choice given the gruesome subject matter. And admittedly, there’s nothing subtle about the film’s message or its delivery. But of course, the approach does mirror the central character’s attitude of wearing one’s heart on their sleeve. As soon as the story focuses on Mamie’s bold way of processing her unfathomable loss, any minor issues fade well into the background.
Most viewers will be focused on Deadwyler’s remarkable performance and her transformation. While effectively displaying the massive loss at all times, the actress also embodies the woman’s sudden change into an unstoppable force and activist. Her unorthodox choice for an open-casket funeral results in plenty of debate from all sides. This and other scenes in which the lead demands answers from those directly involved in the lynching to family members who allowed Emmett to be taken are al potent. And Mamie’s unerring pursuit also causes friction in her personal relationships, including that with significant other Gene Mobley (Sean Patrick Thomas). Through all of the drama, the actress commands attention.
And if these moments weren’t impressive enough, the trial that follows includes the movie’s most moving monologue. After defense attorneys question how Mamie could possibly identify the body in the morgue as actually being that of her son, her powerful reply is the highlight of an already impressive performance. Deadwyler certainly delivers award-worthy work and this particular scene serves as the culmination of her efforts (it should definitely be the clip used during any ceremonies).
The choice to focus on the journey of the mother (instead of the victim and the hate-crime itself) ends up being a wise one, allowing for a different perspective that possesses a strong emotional core. And of course, the lead performer shines in the role, easily making audiences understand exactly who she is, her loss and why she chose an unconventional method in order to get results in her quest. There’s nothing understated about Till, but it is an engaging and potent examination of a heinous act that should never be forgotten and how it garnered the attention of the entire country.