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The Tuskegee Airmen

Play trailer Poster for The Tuskegee Airmen TV-PG 1995 1h 46m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
A semi-fictionalized account of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first all-African-American Air Force squadron during World War II, the film centers on ambitious young pilot Hannibal Lee (Laurence Fishburne). Despite initial reticence by higher ranking white officers, Lee, along with Walter Peoples (Allen Payne), Leroy Cappy (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), and others, are deployed into combat. As the successful missions mount, the Tuskegee Airmen develop a reputation as an able, fearsome group of pilots.
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The Tuskegee Airmen

Critics Reviews

View All (7) Critics Reviews
Walter Goodman New York Times This cliche-bound script is an equal-missed-opportunity employer. Dec 8, 2017 Full Review Variety Staff Variety The script's familiar, since air combat isn't a new genre by a long shot, but the additional mission of the men proving themselves gives telepic its extra dimension. Aug 25, 2008 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Common Sense Media True story of African-Americans in WWII has mature themes. Rated: 3/5 May 5, 2014 Full Review TV Guide A superbly crafted production featuring outstanding aerial sequences. Rated: 3/4 Aug 25, 2008 Full Review Rob Vaux Flipside Movie Emporium Too self-important, too cliched, and too dismissive of the talent at its disposal. Rated: 2/5 Aug 29, 2005 Full Review Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Rated: 3/5 Jul 26, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D Effective but not as much as had it been based on the real people. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Just ok, average, as I finally watched today. Acting was suspect at times and I was not sure what to think of combining some action scenes with actual WW2 footage. Fishburne is typically a lot stronger in roles as a lead. Gooding Jr. was hit and miss. I thought "Shooter McGavin" was strong though as a racist major, (Christopher McDonald). 2.5 of 5 stars. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member I don't think I've been more disappointed in a movie as I have in Tuskegee Airmen. This story, and the men who lived it, deserve so much more than the treatment they got. The movie has all the subtlety of a hot pink Hummer with bright purple rims. While the more intimate scenes with Fishburne, Gooding, and Payne were wonderful and superbly acted, the rest of the acting was so over-the-top, it was sickening. The music was like a sledgehammer trying to jam the intended emotion in your ears on case you have no idea how you're supposed to feel when a black man finally gets his dream flight or when another meets his terrible end. The clichéd radio dialogue accompanying the air battles took me entirely out of any sense of realism. Even worse is the low budget action sequences where they've replaced carefully choreographed dog fights with stock WWII battle footage. Don't these heroes deserve a far better treatment similar to the understated, but incredibly effective, acting and score, not to mention the incredible realism of the battle scenes, of Saving Private Ryan? Oh, and do us all a favor.... Don't try and convince us that a 35 year old Laurence Fishburne is in his early 20's. He just can't pull off a younger man. He looks the same age as the guy playing his father. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review jon c An HBO historical drama that has its roots deep in American history Based on the true accounts of the 332nd American air squadron It's World War II and the Air Force is in desperate need of pilots for combat A few select African American recruits are trained but of course hardly any of the whites want to see them in action The movie has the likes of Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Andre Braugher, Courtney B. Vance, and John Lithgow Lithgow is the racist Senator Conyers along with Christopher McDonald as the cadets' commander Major Joy who want them to fail, both are looking for any excuse to dismiss the recruits whether through science or personal means There's already a war going on so starting one at the air base between the blacks and whites would be counterproductive, Lee in particular doesn't want to give his superiors the satisfaction of washing out and quitting, it shouldn't matter what color you are given that the enemy would still kill you regardless Even if a lot of this is fictionalized it's heart is in the right spot, the airplane scenes are well pulled off, and the acting is pretty solid for a TV movie Are we only to be Americans when it suits us?, it's one thing to feel about our country but how does our country actually feel about us?, a decent nation let's all it's citizens put their lives on the line, is it worth fighting for a country that rewards you but also burns you? Skip that ‘Red Tails' movie if you can and check this out instead as it's a much better-told account of these brave pilots with better character growth as well as much respect for its subject matter Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Wonderful great inspiring movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Excellent Movie showing every detail of the struggles these men faced, loved the cinematography in it, nicely balanced amount of airborne shots. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Tuskegee Airmen

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Cast & Crew

White Squall 57% 65% White Squall Watchlist The War 25% 73% The War Watchlist A Perfect World 78% 84% A Perfect World Watchlist The Man Without a Face 67% 64% The Man Without a Face Watchlist Empire Records 33% 83% Empire Records Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis A semi-fictionalized account of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first all-African-American Air Force squadron during World War II, the film centers on ambitious young pilot Hannibal Lee (Laurence Fishburne). Despite initial reticence by higher ranking white officers, Lee, along with Walter Peoples (Allen Payne), Leroy Cappy (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), and others, are deployed into combat. As the successful missions mount, the Tuskegee Airmen develop a reputation as an able, fearsome group of pilots.
Director
Robert Markowitz
Producer
Bill Carraro, Bill Carraro
Screenwriter
Paris Qualles, Trey Ellis, Ron Hutchinson
Production Co
HBO Pictures, Price Entertainment
Rating
TV-PG (L), PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 46m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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