This 90th Oscars nominee for Best Documentary Feature was an extremely personal account that became so laden with the filmmaker's angst that it lost it's central thread. Some interesting narrative devices but the major theme should have been protected and the length of the film shortened to 60 minutes or less. I give this a 6 (fair) out of 10, but a full point was added because the brother's story is worthy to be told to an otherwise 5 (meh - laborious meander). [Documentary]
Review by Keith PangilinanBlockedParent2018-03-01T11:01:47Z
I was kinda surprised at the mixed reviews for this Academy Award-nominated film on IMDb.com. But unfortunately I may have to agree with those who weren't impressed w/ "Strong Island" (but not those so discouraged they gave it as few as 3 outta 10 stars). I doubt this film will win the Best Documentary Feature award; the Oscar could go to "Last Men In Aleppo," which's about relief workers in the besieged Syrian city, but I got to see that on Netflix along w/ "Strong Island" & I just prefer the former. Or it could go to "Icarus," a third Netflix film I haven't seen yet or one of the two remaining films not on Netflix but how on earth could I know if I haven't seen 'em? I commend the African-American filmmaker for creating such a powerful story and including some participating family members about racial strife and injustice--the director's brother was killed by a white man but according to a grand jury in Long Island, NY he wasn't charged with a crime. However, the climax of the film seemed to be copied out of a "Law & Order" episode. And seeing how the news has been inundated with stories of racial injustice from Rodney King to Trayvon Martin, it seems to me this story's already been told. In conclusion, "Strong Island" is a decent documentary, certainly good enough to get an Oscar nomination. I don't understand the haters that strongly disapproved this film unless strings were pulled to get this nomination amidst dozens of documentaries from last year that failed to be Oscar-nominated. But I don't think this film will win the Oscar. (I will admit I'd be wrong if it does on 3/4/2018 but not fret over it.)