Writer/administrators Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz make their soar from brief options into the deep waters of a significant movement image that explores what has and has not modified within the racial divide within the United States. Unfortunately, when the three rivers of drama, horror, and social assertion converge, it creates a whirlpool that finally ends up drowning the novice feature-length writers.

Veronica Henley (Janelle Monáe) is a extremely profitable Black writer, acknowledged as an necessary voice within the motion for equality. Because of this, she garners a whole lot of consideration, not all of which is optimistic. This results in her kidnapping. But somewhat than being held for ransom, she is held captive previously. Veronica should discover a solution to escape this destiny whereas serving to others additionally sentenced to slavery for merely being profitable, outspoken Black individuals.

The theme of those folks being “put in their place” by eradicating them to slavery shouldn’t be misplaced. In truth, it’s over-emphasized, and this impacts the standard of the story. It solutions each cliché, as if checking them off a listing, watering down the message. This, mixed with a disjointedness that makes the movie really feel extra like a sequence of associated shorts strung collectively by a typical topic, makes it troublesome to observe regardless of the necessary narrative.

Despite the high quality high quality of actors in such veterans as Janelle Monáe and Jena Malone, the path turns them into caricatures. Monáe tries onerous to salvage this, which is the one factor that retains the character from shedding the viewers. Her ability makes Veronica the one function that isn’t cartoonish. The brightest efficiency comes from Gabourey Sidibe as Dawn. As normal, she carries a display presence that states, “This is who I am,” in such a fashion that the viewers can by no means inform if she is performing or simply enjoying herself.

The principal saving grace is the cinematography, which is elegant and delightful from the opening second proper up via the bits of motion within the credit. There is phenomenal use of coloration, mild, and shadow, and angles that inform the story higher than the precise story itself. In addition, the background soundtrack speaks loudly to the visuals, setting the temper for every scene.

Antebellum is an formidable movie that tries too onerous to be pleased with itself – very like among the individuals who owned the plantations throughout this era. But additionally just like the mansions related to the identify, there are simply too many rooms right here that aren’t used as they could possibly be, and this shuts the door on what might have been a significant alternative.