Blind Faith (1998 film)

Blind Faith is a 1998 American made-for-television drama film directed by Ernest R. Dickerson. The movie stars Charles S. Dutton, Courtney B. Vance, Kadeem Hardison, Garland Whitt and Lonette McKee. It premiered in January 1998 on Showtime. The film's screenplay was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award, while Dutton received two nominations for awards, and Vance garnered one nomination. Set in the 1950s, during a murder trial, the film deals with themes of racism and homophobia.[1][2]

Blind Faith
DVD cover
Written byFrank Military
Directed byErnest R. Dickerson
Starring
Music byRon Carter
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producers
CinematographyRodney Charters
EditorStephen Lovejoy
Running time122 min
Release
Original networkShowtime
Original releaseJanuary 20, 1998 (1998-01-20)

Plot

Set in 1957, Charlie is 18, and both black and gay. He kills a young white man in a nearby park late at night. The white man, one of seven young white men, had ganged up and murdered his secret boyfriend David Mercer, during a hate crime. Charlie is arrested, and confesses to attempting to rob the white boy, and says his death was accidental. Charlie is purposefully concealing the truth so as not to expose his own homosexuality and shame his father. He is charged and put on trial, where the young white men lie and testify against him. During the trial, the circumstances of how it really happened are never revealed due to Charlie not wanting to displease his homophobic father, who is a police officer. The father is also in line for a promotion to become the first black sergeant, which in his mind, is more important than finding out what really happened to Charlie that night, although he secretly does know. Later, the truth is finally revealed, but it's too late, because Charlie is already sitting on death row waiting for the electric chair, having lost appeal after appeal. In the end, Charlie eventually hangs himself to make his father proud of him for being a man and keeping "the secret".[3]

Cast

Critical reception

Dennis Harvey, film reviewer for Variety wrote that the "screenplay has some stretches of hackneyed dialogue", but "generally has narrative punch and passion to spare". He was generally satisfied with the acting, saying "Vance anchors the action, alternating convincing courtroom savvy with a desperate, bittersweet familial loyalty...and Hardison, Whitt and Karen Glave ably lead the supporting scroll". Harvey also mentions the "racism and homophobia" being played out in the 1950s murder trial, and highlights the brief prelude to the movie where an older Vance (Charlie's lawyer) is seen in 1989 watching in disgust as the white perpetrators in the racially motivated murder of Yusef Hawkins "get wrist-slap punishment".[4]

Janet Maslin wrote in The New York Times that the movie was "directed with conviction and restraint" and Courtney B. Vance's performance was "first-rate". She also suggested that in the end Blind Faith is "a father-son tragedy, with a lesson to be learned".[5] In another review for the Times, Bernard Weinraub called the film a "drama on racism", and "the story, by Frank Military, a former actor, deals not only with racism but also homophobia".[2]

Nominations

References
  1. Bleiler, David (2004). TLA Video & DVD Guide 2005: The Discerning Film Lover's Guide. Macmillan. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-312-31690-7.
  2. Weinraub, Bernard (January 30, 1998). "At The Movies". The New York Times.
  3. Tropiano, Stephen (2002). The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV. New York: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 154. ISBN 1-55783-557-8. LCCN 2002003220. OCLC 606827696.
  4. Harvey, Dennis (January 22, 1998). "Blind Faith". Variety.
  5. Maslin, Janet (February 26, 1999). "Film Review; Tragedy at Home and in the Courtroom for a Black Youth". The New York Times.
  6. Octavius (2012). "Movie Review: Blind Faith". Cypher Avenue.
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