Detroit is a movie written by Kathryn Bigelow and based off of, and created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Algiers Motel incident during the Detroit Riots in 1967. The movie has a large cast, and the movie does a great job balancing so many actors, but the big-ticket to get many people through the door is going to be John Boyega of Star Wars fame.

Play Your Way Network Rating: ★★★★★

Detroit, much like Dunkirk a few weeks ago, is a punch in the stomach. While the movie opens to an absolutely stunning mosaic, it quickly turns to a dark direction and never looks back. This movie does an amazing job of making you invested in the characters as the movie goes on. We have Detroit, in shambles, in the middle of a riot, but we spend the majority of the film with a handful of people in an annexed part of a Motel. An interesting thing does take place as we move from the riots to other parts of the movie; you see that for many people life just continues. The riots, while damaging many parts of the city, can’t stop people from going about their daily lives.

This movie isn’t afraid to be political, isn’t afraid to make scenes brutal, and isn’t afraid to show the dark side of being a black American in the late 60’s.

From the first true opening scene of this film to the very end racial tensions are at a major high, and nothing is going to bring them down any time soon. You feel the tension building, and you feel the pressure insde the Algiers. Police officers are truly afraid, but in thier fear, they take the situation and esclate it well past where it need to be. We see that once the situation escalates, there is no turning back, and the police have all the leverage even though the predicament is one they created. This movie isn’t afraid to be political, isn’t afraid to make scenes brutal, and isn’t afraid to show the dark side of being a black American in the late 60’s. And it’s able to accomplish all of this with stunning camera work, and amazing acting. While you may leave Detroit feeling like you need a moment of silent reflection, it is a must watch.