Kings (2018)

Good concept, poorly executed.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Others will tell you the story of the story; I'll just tell you that it had me within 20 minutes - from the love that shines from the very first morning children wake-up scene to the ending face of horror. I had no awareness of what I was watching - no pre conceptions - and yes, there is an element of 'European' to the story line - it doesn't connect all the dots for you, it doesn't try to guide you anywhere for anything - it just presents its' self to you and it is, in my opinion, left to you to make of it what-you-will - super-critically, that might have been done a little better, or smoother, perhaps overall - but it doesn't detract as the topic is fractured to start with. This is one of those films that *actually* causes a response in you - the constant background build-up of children stress and noise makes you realize you're holding your breath waiting for the moment to pass - if you can separate the experience from reality, you're a far more disconnected person than i - and that is part of the realisation that you're watching something interesting. The facet of the riots and the actual footage and trial coverage is well done and balanced - it's always on in the background of peoples rooms - saying the same thing, over and over; but it's not the reason for the film nor the focus; this is not a political shinty-stick norm really, an attempt at morale crusading - it's a slice of life at a particular time, and involving disparate characters that are all in the same chapter of the event - the ending was perfectly timed; where else could it go? Just on, and on, and on? - it has to stop somewhere, just not at the station that says 'Here is a nice and neat all tied-up with string and a bow ribbon ending' I like that, because it's true. Not a studio led must-have happy ending. I was captivated by Halle - Daniel Craig's character barely got away with its' self and could have had a touch more to it which would have helped with understandings and sympathies greatly; but it's OK without - it's the film that is the story here, not the lead characters.The three youngsters were brilliant and will, I am sure, go far, if they haven't already - both new to me - the dissident young lady and Halle's eldest child and self described "friend"; whose future was an under current from the get-go. Watch this with no expectations and judge it accordingly. If you choose to criticise (any) film for what it doesn't do, then you must self-question what it was you thought its objective was. This film is entertainment, and observation, from a certain vantage. It doesn't try to be anything more than it is - and the sum of its parts are worthy of a 7 without question.

1. Miscast, a thin attractive model type figure to represent the Afro-American community. A good looking white male to be her counter. Ends up sexual? 2. Half of movie is historic TV coverage (mostly from air, some ground level) of R. King and early '90s L.A. riots. Like any graphic video w/out research & facts to help interpret/understand it's all in the eye of the beholder. 3. As a civil rights active advocate from decades ago I do not endorse one-sidedness on any side. Film failed to provide any discussion from Asian shop owners POV from that period or from police (black, white, Asian, Hispanic) and their POVs. 4. Film was sensationalism for it's own sake and lacked an intelligent base from which to form the storyline.

Deniz Gamze Ergüven has tried to tackle the issue of racism and the 1992 L.A riots surrounding Rodney King's incident and did not fully succeed which is kind of expected from a director who's not American and turkish and has zero on-scene familiarity with the unhinged racism against African-Americans and that turbulent time. She has tried to somehow outdo Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit but this isn't even near that. Though one can't really ignore the amazing performances by Halle Berry and Daniel Craig, It's not enough to save this garbled drama ! Deniz Gamze Ergüven's intentions are good but perhaps If the film was written by an American writer (Like Detroit that is written by American journalist, Mark Boal and directed by Bigelow), it would've turned "good" as well.However Erguven's Mustang which is turkish drama is a strong one and she should probably stick to depicting her own country's everyday/historical struggles (Turkey) which are not a few!

Cant believe Danial Craig would take part in a movie like this.