Stonewall (2015) (DVD Review)
Directed By: Roland Emmerich
Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Jonny Beauchamp, Joey King
Rated: R/Region: 1/Widescreen/Number of disc: 1
Available From LIONSGATE
The plot revolves around the 1969 Stonewall Riots, the violent clash that kicked off the gay rights movement in New York City. The drama centers on Danny Winters, who flees to New York, leaving behind his sister. He finds his way to the Stonewall Inn, where he meets Trevor before catching the eye of Ed Murphy, manager of the Stonewall. He colludes with corrupt police and exploits homeless youth.
I think Stonewall is a prime example of a movie that knows what and where it needs to go, but it still manages to miss the mark. While trying to recapture a time and a mood, the movie feels like it gives us a group of caricatures instead of normal characters. The history for such a film was there right at the director’s feet, but I don’t think they paid it too much of mind when they went into this and it shows with the end results. Sure, the movie might be a bit of a reminder still of a very different time. I enjoy a good history lesson as much as the next person more times than not. I just wish this was a steak with more steak a less sizzle. There wasn’t much of a flavor to the flick overall and the results are too bland for anyone’s own good. This a very tame version of what happened there by all accounts. We didn’t need that, we needed more of a reality based tone mixed into what we got overall and we just don’t seem to get that for whatever reason.
This one doesn’t hold up on any front. The layout, the structure, the acting, or really any element of the script. This is not going to do anyone any good I’m afraid. There are far better movies out there for the subject and we have even weaker film in nature with much more inspiring performances from the cast all around. Are we dealing with the issue at hand and the history around it or are we just showing a coming of age tale in the heart of things with that as the backdrop? Either/or, it misses the mark for both. Roland Emmerich has directed good movies before, but this isn’t ever going to mistaken for one of them. You can venture into this one if you must, but you aren’t going to see the movie you are expecting I’m afraid. It comes across as a bad high school play rather than a serious history piece.
Extras
– An Inportant Story
– Into the Streets
– Marsha P
– Ray
– Theatrical Trailer
-
Stonewall
( votes)
