Season 1 – Small Axe

Audience Reviews

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david f It started out a kind of earnest, self-consciously important film, but I was drawn into the story of racial conflict and the courtroom drama was superbly well-done. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Ethan T Mangrove reads similarly to Bigelow's Detroit in many ways. Both showcase police brutality and racism across a similar time period (1965-1970) in the Western world, and feature courtroom politics. The difference lies in location, characters, and outcome. Mangrove employs enough characterisation and contemporary cultural input to transcend its rather familiar storyline in favour of transmitting an immensely engrossing viewing experience. Every main performance is superb, from Parkes to Wright. The white characters are primarily racist caricatures (although likely accurate to the social landscape of the time), played well enough to be dislikable. The departures from this mould enhance the impact of the resolution, though. The editing and camera work was noticeably brilliant. Some of the transitions brought an air of gusto and artistry without ever bridging the gap to pretentiousness. With a story worth telling, McQueen again cements his status as one of the most talented directors working today. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/28/21 Full Review Audience Member Small axe empezó fuerte y mucho Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Part of 5 movies in the series called Small Axe directed by Steve McQueen. The movie was about the Mangrove Nine trial in London, 9 African-Caribbean who were accused of inciting violence in a protest against police harassment to the community. The Trial of Chicago 7, which was also about a trial, was dynamic and fast-paced. Mangrove, on the other hand, was slower, but spent more time on the characters' speeches and dialogues. The plot was straightforward, so the quality depended entirely on the actors' performances. And I was thoroughly amazed and enjoyed the passionate acting from everyone in the movie. Also notable was the camera work. There were a couple of scenes where after the event ended, the screen lingered on an object or people for a long time to prolong the effect of the events. As for problems, the character Frank Crichlow was supposed to be the main focus. However, the other characters were those that had the moments in the movie, and Frank didn't really get his big moment as a main character. Overall, despite the plot being nothing new, the passionate performance from the solid cast reemphasized the harsh and unjust treatment from the broken system against the black communities. 8.5/10 Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review michael d Awesome performances and an excellent historical account. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Although repetitive in it's long speeches it offers a fresh look at an old subject. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Small Axe — Season 1

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