Directed By Chinonye Chukwu; Written By Michael Reilly, Keith Beaunchamp, & Chinonye Chukwu; Starring Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Kevin Carroll, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, Jayme Lawson, Tosin Cole, Sean Patrick Thomas, John Douglas Thomson, Roger Guenveur Smith, and Whoopi Goldberg.
Till is based on a true story. In 1955, Emmett Till (Jalyn Hall) is murdered in a brutal lynching. Following the horrific incident, his mother, Mamie Till Mobley (Danielle Deadwyler), vows to expose the racism behind the attack while working to have those involved brought to justice.
I previously had no familiarity with the story of Emmett Till’s murder at all. So watching it dramatized in this movie was really something. Director Chinonye Chukwu wisely takes time for the plot to unfold by spending the first half hour or so establishing Emmett and his relationship with his mother, Mamie. When he is eventually killed, it is very impactful. From there, the emotions are very heavy. Although the film does lose a bit of steam in the second half.
A lot of the performances are exceptional. However, the MVP here happens to be the star, Danielle Deadwyler. Her character goes on quite an emotional roller coaster from start to finish, pulling off such phenomenal work. Without giving too much away, there’s this courtroom scene in the third act. During it, Mamie gives her testimony, and that whole part is done in one long continuous shot. Deadwyler really keeps the audience invested.
I’d also like to give a shout out to the editing by Ron Patane, which is paced very well. Not to mention that Abel Korzeniowski’s musical score is perfectly evocative of the mood throughout the whole movie. Overall, Till is definitely not going to be an easy watch. Though with that being said, it’s still an important story that needs to be told. I think this film is worth checking out.
Rating: 4/5
Till is based on a true story. In 1955, Emmett Till (Jalyn Hall) is murdered in a brutal lynching. Following the horrific incident, his mother, Mamie Till Mobley (Danielle Deadwyler), vows to expose the racism behind the attack while working to have those involved brought to justice.
I previously had no familiarity with the story of Emmett Till’s murder at all. So watching it dramatized in this movie was really something. Director Chinonye Chukwu wisely takes time for the plot to unfold by spending the first half hour or so establishing Emmett and his relationship with his mother, Mamie. When he is eventually killed, it is very impactful. From there, the emotions are very heavy. Although the film does lose a bit of steam in the second half.
A lot of the performances are exceptional. However, the MVP here happens to be the star, Danielle Deadwyler. Her character goes on quite an emotional roller coaster from start to finish, pulling off such phenomenal work. Without giving too much away, there’s this courtroom scene in the third act. During it, Mamie gives her testimony, and that whole part is done in one long continuous shot. Deadwyler really keeps the audience invested.
I’d also like to give a shout out to the editing by Ron Patane, which is paced very well. Not to mention that Abel Korzeniowski’s musical score is perfectly evocative of the mood throughout the whole movie. Overall, Till is definitely not going to be an easy watch. Though with that being said, it’s still an important story that needs to be told. I think this film is worth checking out.
Rating: 4/5