ROOTS: PART I REVIEW
Written by: Colin Bruce Munro Wood – 05/31/16 – 6:35PM ET
I have
always appreciated LeVar Burton, and his contribution to children, education,
and society. Never thought he was the
greatest of actors, although, not bad either.
But when holding up his 1977 Kunta
Kinte performance to Malachi Kirby’s heart-pounding, soul-wrenching
performance as the young Kinte, you might think of comparing sunfish to
tuna. Mr. Kirby earned himself, if not
at least an Emmy award nomination in the first episode of the mini-series, “Roots”
on the History Channel, I’d rather an Emmy itself be lain into his precious
hands.
The 2016
edition and remake of the 12 episode “Roots” series of 1977, condensing the
story to a 4-night mini-series performance, goes to extremes to show the greed,
and hate within Africa’s own borders that brought slavery to America, and to
Europe. The performances of every actor
from the first scenes to the vicious ending of episode 1 are dead on
perfect! Tony Curran, whom I’ve never
seen before, to my knowledge anyway, has both caused me to want to kill him as
a character, and to honor him as an actor.
James
Purefoy, who has yet to earn his Oscar as an A-List type performer, takes John
Waller beyond the 1977 acceptable level of television violence, and turns him
into the true barbarian he actually was.
Purefoy, is purely evil, and never fails to nail his characters to the
wall, as an example of purely great acting!
Hakeem
Kae-Kazim, whom I’ve followed since I discovered him on season 7 of “24” as the
bad guy, and in the prequel “Redemption” if November after season 6 (I own all
8 seasons and the prequel), is amazing and evil as always in his opening scenes
in Africa! Mr. Kae-Kazim is Nigerian born, but a British graduate of the esteemed
Bristol Old Vic, and a veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company, along with
many movie credits to his name, as well!
As usual,
Forest Whitaker, as the Fiddler, is fantastic, and I am really enjoying the
characterization he has brought to the role.
Sometimes, admittedly, Forest has bored me in some roles he’s created,
on the other hand, I usually love him in the others. This is one of the loved roles. Forest seems truly connected to the
storyline, and character, and I feel as though, he did more character building
with this role, in order to fit with this incredible cast, whom make every second
of the show seem so real, I had to turn my head several times from the violence.
Speaking of violence,
and going back to the closing scene of episode 1, in which, I thought I was
going to lose my marbles in my lap....
Mr. Kirby puts on a Denzel Washington crushing performance, as he is
whipped into submission of calling himself someone other than his original
birth name. Beaten, almost to death,
skin scourging, blood pouring, kneed falling... over a name. A power trip, brought on my Mr. Waller and
his farm hand and slave beater, and most evil character in the show, played
viciously by Tony Curran.
Tony must
have had to take a huge step back during the filming of this scene, and
searched deep within his creative form to put on such an incredibly stunning,
disgusting, hateful, jaw-dropping performance.
A performance, which as an actor, I can tell you is much harder than the
close-ups that Kirby had to endure, which are not easy mind you, but to do what
Curran did in this scene, is unbelievable.
I know, that I for one, had I done that scene, would have needed a day
to recover emotionally and physically.
Needless to
say, the History Channel’s 2016 rendition of “Roots” is not to be missed. Watch it whenever you can, and see what
really happened if you aren’t familiar with the beginning of slavery in the 1700’s
in America. Revolutionists started
slavery. Not just southerners in general.
Enjoy part
II of “Roots” tonight at 9PM, and a rerun starting at 630PM on The History
Channel.
Wood News
Agency, LLC Binghamton,
NY
#ROOTS #colinbmwood #woodnewsagency1
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave your comments here! We have finally opened up this choice! Thank you!!!