Chi-Raq (B+) Movie Review
Chi-Raq stars Teyonah Parris as Lysistrata, the girlfriend of rapper Chi-Raq, played by Nick Cannon, who lives in South Side Chicago, also known as Chi-Raq. As reckless gang violence brings the death toll higher and higher in South Side Chicago, Lysistrata gets all the women in the area to withhold sex from their men as punishment for gang violence, in which they're involved.
I would call Chi-Raq the most important film of the year. It speaks so clearly and bluntly to its audience with the problems it presents about race relations in America and the gang violence in Chicago. It's also totally relevant to and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The film is flawed, don't get me wrong, but it is important and for that, it must be commended.
Furthermore, the controversy surrounding this film is ridiculous. Amy Ho, emergency physician in the area says that Spike Lee is using these deaths for the "purpose of entertainment." This is the common complaint. Film is allowed to highlight real issues and present them in a dramatic form to make them engaging and compelling and to spark conversation, the exact thing that Spike Lee is doing in Chi-Raq.
Director Spike Lee crafts this fable on the basis of Lysistrata, a Classic Greek comedy that follows a pretty similar plot to Chi-Raq, with the exception of the Peloponnesian War taking the place of gang violence. It's an interesting experiment that mostly works and gives the film its undeniable rhythm and energy. It's also a wildly creative idea that's so outside of the box, it's admirable.
It's the moments when Lee is angriest that the film is most riveting. When Lee tackles his subject with ferocity, the film transcends the adjectives of "admirable" and "entertaining" to masterful filmmaking and instantly compelling. There are a few scenes that stand out particularly. One involves an impassioned sermon that's excellently delivered by John Cusack, condemning gang violence, and it's equally rousing and moving. Lee literally stops his film for a good ten to fifteen minutes to give Cusack and the scene some room to breath. Another involves Lysistrata taking control of the armory of a government building. I won't give away how. Just know that this is a great scene.
Teyonah Parris, who plays Lysistrata, is an incredibly charismatic actress who gives a lot to the role. I would call this a breakout performance, one that should make her a star. She's given the chance to shine in every way and does so. Nick Cannon can act, I guess? Who knew. He's quite good as the leader of one of the gangs feuding for control of South Side Chicago. Angela Bassett gives an emotional performance as well.
In Chi-Raq, there are definitely high points. There are scenes you can point to and say "these are better than the others." But the film is often compelling and never less than entertaining. Still, its tones are all over the place. The film jerks from serious, angry preaching, to satire, to outright comedy. The shift in tones can be jarring, as there never seems to be a good blend of any of these things in one scene. Due to this, the film can come across as messy or scattered.
But even when the filmmaking itself can be tarnished by messiness, the message that the film boasts loudly and clearly is important, not to mention deeply relevant. Chi-Raq is essential viewing for the modern age.
FINAL GRADE: B+
MPAA RATING: R for strong sexual content including dialogue, nudity, language, some violence and drug use
I would call Chi-Raq the most important film of the year. It speaks so clearly and bluntly to its audience with the problems it presents about race relations in America and the gang violence in Chicago. It's also totally relevant to and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The film is flawed, don't get me wrong, but it is important and for that, it must be commended.
Furthermore, the controversy surrounding this film is ridiculous. Amy Ho, emergency physician in the area says that Spike Lee is using these deaths for the "purpose of entertainment." This is the common complaint. Film is allowed to highlight real issues and present them in a dramatic form to make them engaging and compelling and to spark conversation, the exact thing that Spike Lee is doing in Chi-Raq.
Director Spike Lee crafts this fable on the basis of Lysistrata, a Classic Greek comedy that follows a pretty similar plot to Chi-Raq, with the exception of the Peloponnesian War taking the place of gang violence. It's an interesting experiment that mostly works and gives the film its undeniable rhythm and energy. It's also a wildly creative idea that's so outside of the box, it's admirable.
It's the moments when Lee is angriest that the film is most riveting. When Lee tackles his subject with ferocity, the film transcends the adjectives of "admirable" and "entertaining" to masterful filmmaking and instantly compelling. There are a few scenes that stand out particularly. One involves an impassioned sermon that's excellently delivered by John Cusack, condemning gang violence, and it's equally rousing and moving. Lee literally stops his film for a good ten to fifteen minutes to give Cusack and the scene some room to breath. Another involves Lysistrata taking control of the armory of a government building. I won't give away how. Just know that this is a great scene.
Teyonah Parris, who plays Lysistrata, is an incredibly charismatic actress who gives a lot to the role. I would call this a breakout performance, one that should make her a star. She's given the chance to shine in every way and does so. Nick Cannon can act, I guess? Who knew. He's quite good as the leader of one of the gangs feuding for control of South Side Chicago. Angela Bassett gives an emotional performance as well.
In Chi-Raq, there are definitely high points. There are scenes you can point to and say "these are better than the others." But the film is often compelling and never less than entertaining. Still, its tones are all over the place. The film jerks from serious, angry preaching, to satire, to outright comedy. The shift in tones can be jarring, as there never seems to be a good blend of any of these things in one scene. Due to this, the film can come across as messy or scattered.
But even when the filmmaking itself can be tarnished by messiness, the message that the film boasts loudly and clearly is important, not to mention deeply relevant. Chi-Raq is essential viewing for the modern age.
FINAL GRADE: B+
MPAA RATING: R for strong sexual content including dialogue, nudity, language, some violence and drug use