Native Son

A24 | Release Date (Streaming): April 6, 2019

5.5	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Ratings

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The3AcademySinsJun 6, 2019

Native Son is an incredibly well adapted take on Richard Wright's influential novel. The acting from every member of the cast is superb. The Chicago scene is done very faithfully (especially since a lot of principal photography took place inNative Son is an incredibly well adapted take on Richard Wright's influential novel. The acting from every member of the cast is superb. The Chicago scene is done very faithfully (especially since a lot of principal photography took place in Cleveland!) and the script has a very intellectual take on race and politics. This is a very smart, highly skilled movie, and I loved almost every second of it. The first half is a lot stronger than the second half in terms of story, but I was able to follow the actors and the direction through to the finish without any problems. If you love the novel "Native Son" then you will love this movie!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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JLuis_001Apr 23, 2019

I've never read Native Son but I've always wanted to do it, maybe now after I've seen this adaptation I finally do it.

The book was published 80 years ago and for all I've heard about it still quite relevant and although the story of thisI've never read Native Son but I've always wanted to do it, maybe now after I've seen this adaptation I finally do it.

The book was published 80 years ago and for all I've heard about it still quite relevant and although the story of this film is obviously an update of the subject the book relates, I honestly found it a bit empty and even kinda robotic.
I'm not so sure if that's the right word to make clear how I felt the story but I said this because even though the film begins very well and keeps a good style for most of the first part, it comes to a certain point in the second half where it gets lost and also the final part feels a bit shallow. I know it seems to try to give a message but it really doesn't.

It's the HBO quality but it didn't leave me completely satisfied… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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GrantD243May 12, 2019

My first A24 movie of 2019 and I gotta say I came away a little bit disappointed. I thought that the first half of the film was great. Plenty of social commentary, with a narrative that intrigued although at times felt like it was strugglingMy first A24 movie of 2019 and I gotta say I came away a little bit disappointed. I thought that the first half of the film was great. Plenty of social commentary, with a narrative that intrigued although at times felt like it was struggling to find its direction. The "incident" that propels the story to its conclusion in the third act, though, felt like an odd choice by the writer. It wasn't where I saw the main character's journey going, and while I can appreciate subverting expectations I felt like it weakened the film as a whole. I still like it, but I feel like it could have been so much better.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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