Detroit is a tough but necessary viewing to ensure we never forget the tragedies such as these.
“From Kathryn Bigalow, the award-winning director of The Hurt Locket and Zero Dark Thirty, comes this gripping film based on a true story of one of the most terrifying secrets in American history.”
Kathryn Bigalow brings to life on screen the tragic events of the Detroit Riots in 1967, specifically the events that take place in the Algiers Motel that claimed the lives of three men and raised questions that have still not been answered to this day.
Detroit is no doubt a polarizing film, especially given the divisiveness of our nation today. The subject matter is definitely engaging, visceral, and very hard to watch at times. This is exacerbated by the unbelievable performances in the film, especially by the antagonists, who effectively create hatred and loathing for such despicable characters. Will Poulter’s performance rates above all, as you have extreme difficulty separating the character from the actor, as your rage at the terrible and inhumane treatment this person of authority is inflicting on other people. The driving factor of the entire film is this ensemble cast, who each in their own way bring this story to life.
Although listed as a true story, there are elements to the film that have been dramatized, some of the names of the people involved changed, and the events that happened inside the motel. It should be noted, however, that this must be said simply because it is on record that it isn’t known what truly took place that night, even after 50 years, but the testimonies of witnesses paint a horrific picture of the brutality that befell these men. Bigalow weaves this dramatization together with real footage of the riots that quite flawlessly creates a real sense of the atmosphere of the period. Although I don’t believe that anything could encapsulate the exact social climate of the time, what the film does extremely effectively is highlight the injustices that went on during the riots, the ugliness of racism, and succeeds in depressing the viewer with a story that doesn’t have a neatly packaged picture perfect ending.
Video
Detroit is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1. The transfer looks very good, with a great balance of color that highlights the muted tones that paint the perfect picture of the era. Much of the film takes place at night, with effective use of shadow and light that definitely help create the overall tone of the film.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This track is as impressive as it is haunting. The majority of the sound is going to be coming through the center channel, with the persistent night-sounds of insects buzzing ever present through the surrounds.
Special Features
There are some great extras on the disc that better highlight the events that took place. On this disc you’re going to see:
- The Truth of Detroit
- The Cast of Detroit
- The Invasion of Detroit
- The Hope of Detroit
- Detroit – Then and Now
- Algee Smith and Larry Reed: “Grow”
Detroit is a tough movie to watch, and it is when the evils of humanity are retold are we reminded of how quickly society can break down. It is a harsh reality that we live in, and films like this are needed to ensure that we never move backwards. Full of powerful performances that will shake you to your core, Detroit is a must see.