Night Catches Us (2010)A really fascinating look at an African-American reality in Philadelphia in 1976. The plot hook is more sensational than the movie itself—a former Black Panther returning home has to adjust to regular life and accusations of tattling. What really grips you, though, is the "regular life" part, because the acting and direction make this all feel honest and revealing. A slice of life done well.If the core of the movie is how Blacks of different attitudes and philosophies learn to get along (and not get along) with each other, there is also the more expected acrimony between the Black community and the mostly White cops patrolling it. It's hard to know how accurate this part is, because here we are shown clichés of some very dumb and mean and hardheaded white cops, and maybe that was the norm. I'd like to think that some other movies have it right when there are those bad eggs on the force, but that many make an effort to get along and be reasonable with the people they are protecting.But maybe one message of the movie taken whole is just how different it was back then, in the shadow of the truly radical and violent 1960s, as the Muslim influence was rising, as power was promising to shift more evenly between groups but was lurching too slowly. Maybe it was just filled with such distrust it led to caricatures for real. There are several segments of archival footage of Panthers and other protesting, and the gritty roughness of those scenes reveals some kind of glossing over of the situation for this fictional version made 35 years later.The leading actor, Anthony Mackie, and leading actress, Kerry Washington, are both likable and excellent. You might say too likable and excellent—there is a modern feel to their demeanors that's hard to put your finger on. But they're both a joy to watch act and interact. The intentions are low key, and the result is easy going despite the tensions around them. It's a love story after all! Writer and director Tanya Hamilton is making her first feature film here, and she makes the most of her modest intentions. As a commentary on race relations it is nearly the opposite of Spike Lee's approaches in their highly produced flair. And whatever the limitations of the film and its script, it has the net gain of a feeling of sincerity. Which goes a long way.

How does a film like this wind up with a little 5.8 rating while glossy pablum like Prometheus gets a 7.8? While 'Night Catches Us' does have a few pacing problems and plays a bit anti-climactic in places, it is a layered emotional drama with excellent performances. I just finished watching the DVD and was amazed it didn't get higher critical response. I was also surprised by some of the deleted scenes and wondered why they had been cut from the film. For example, the confrontation between Marcus and Jimmy, the young wanna-be revolutionary, takes place in the house in the film. But in the deleted scenes, there is a much better and more detailed version of the same exchange where Marcus goes deeper into the history of the Panthers. Maybe continuity made them scrap that version, but it was a stronger scene. Anyway, catch this one on DVD. (Resubmitting this review after deleting it by accident)

I saw one review on this twisted history movie and had to say something. I lived in this era, I saw the Black Panthers kill a lot of people.I lived in Oakland I saw them burning buildings for no reason except they didn't like the school or the people. I saw them beating up teachers who were trying to help them. The only people killed by these so called 'civilians' were other civilians. The hate was incredible, Oakland turned from a thriving metropolis to a town of empty stores, with newspapers flying in the streets. My whole family lived there my Grandparents were born there and my folks, the town was decent it was full of hard working people. Then the haters moved in and started destroying everything. The city did not help they torn down the Victorian homes that were solid and built slums that had rats within 30 days of occupation because the garbage was everywhere. I saw a whole city implode by shooting and gangs the panthers were just one of many; they were just more talked about than the rest. Anyone who thinks the government was wrong helping the Vietnamese people get away from communist aggression didn't hear the cries for help from them when their cities were destroyed and the people killed in the thousands. We lost only because Congress wouldn't let the military do their job and complete their mission. I know many people from south east Asia that would love to go back to their country if they could worship the way they wanted to without being harassed by the communist regime. Communism isn't pretty! people also forget that the era was full of drugs and immorality it wasn't good and didn't do anything to advance civilization in fact I think it went back a few steps! Docudramas are the bargain basement of movies they take 10 percent real history and 90 percent baloney and everyone thinks it really happened that way! Don't waste your time!

NIGHT CATCHES US is a gripping film that reminds us of the importance of the Black Panther Movement. Historical distance and changes in this country may have numbed the memory of a social movement as an important racial equality step and the very words 'Black Panther' are unfortunately tainted with the radical ugly aspects. But Tanya Hamilton has written and directed this compelling movie NIGHT CATCHES US and hopefully the core meaning of the movement will gain respect in the minds of those fortunate to see this brilliant little film. In order to help those who are unfamiliar with this movement a brief history may help appreciate this film. 'The Black Panther Party (originally the Black Panther Party for Self- Defense) was an African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from the mid-1960s into the 1970s. The Black Panther Party achieved national and international impact through their deep involvement in the Black Power movement and in US politics of the 1960s and 70s, as the intense anti-racism of the time is today considered one of the most significant social, political and cultural currents in US history. The group's "provocative rhetoric, militant posture, and cultural and political flourishes permanently altered the contours of American Identity. Founded in Oakland, California, by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton on October 15, 1966, the organization initially set forth a doctrine calling primarily for the protection of African American neighborhoods from police brutality. But the Black Panther Party's objectives and philosophy expanded and evolved rapidly during the party's existence. The organization's leaders passionately espoused socialist and communist (largely Maoist) doctrines, but the Party's black nationalist reputation attracted an ideologically diverse membership. Ideological consensus within the party was difficult to achieve, and some prominent members openly disagreed with the views of the leaders.' The year is 1976 and Marcus Washington (Anthony Mackie, in a brilliant role) returns to Philadelphia after serving a jail term. He is without a job or place to stay and his father has just died, leaving the old family house to his brother who has sold it. Marcus sees his old friend Pattie -now Patricia - Wilson (Kerry Washington, likewise in a moving performance) who had been married to and had a child Iris (Jamara Griffin) by his best friend who was brutally murdered by the police in his own home. Marcus' arrival in the neighborhood (essentially unchanged from the height of the Black Panther days) and branded a 'Snitch' by his old friends: they believe Marcus informed the police of his friend's killing of a police officer and blame his friend's death on him. Patricia is now a lawyer and spends her days defending young black men and her time off supplying food and shelter to the parentless children of the neighborhood. Her nephew Jimmy (Amari Cheatom) has inherited the anger of the past and Patricia must frequently bail him out of jail for arrests for 'verbal abuse' of police officers. Though Patricia has a live-in lawyer boyfriend Carey Ford (Ron Simons) who helps her in her drive to better the lives of the neighborhood, once Patricia and Marcus rekindle their past friendship (and more), Carey moves out and Marcus moves in. Together Marcus and Patricia share the cause of the death of Iris' father with the bright young girl, an incident that draws the three of them closer. But old hates still exist and the bloody aspects of the Panther Movement appear to rekindle because of Marcus' presence. Marcus is approached by a black police captain Wendell Pierce (David Gordon) to infiltrate Marcus major enemy 'Do Right' Miller (Jamie Hector), but Marcus sees through the age old struggle between the neighborhood and the police, remembers the anguish of the past, and refuses to carry out the planting of evidence. After a scene of the Truth in the retelling of the history of Iris' father's murder - Patricia and Marcus finally face the past - and Marcus moves on. To give more details of the story would distract from the power of the message. This is a movie that simply should be seen to put that period of time in perspective. The cast is particularly fine, not only Mackie and Washington, but also the young and very talented Amari Cheatom among others. One wonders why the sound track doesn't reflect the music from that period, instead using contemporary rap music, but that is a very small defect in an otherwise VERY fine film. Grady Harp