Clearly Antoine Fuqua is not Mel Gibson. And as his filmography amply demonstrates, he is an efficient and solvent filmmaker, fully integrated into what would become Hollywood’s commercial cinema. It’s rare to find a film unworthy of it, as well as to find one that truly stands above the (very) funny. May it survive a memory that more than 20 years later is still marked by what could continue to be his best film. Yes, that.
In short, Fuqua is not Mel Gibson and ‘Towards Freedom’ does not become ‘Apocalypto’ even if it can remind us (among many others) of her, being a kind of black and white cross with ‘Metro‘. If only for the luxurious and elegant demeanor that he shares with the (big) Barry Jenkins series. A series which, like this film, can be said to tell nothing new, what a surprise, as it is inevitable to fall into some of the clichés of stories about slavery.
Like many other productions that have tackled the subject with more or less success. With or without Fuqua’s usual solvency and efficiency, with or without the omnipresent presence of a star (despite some) like Will Smith. To get straight to the point, ‘Towards Freedom’ is above all a film with an aura that works in the way one would expect from a respectable adult studio production packaged for a large well-considered majority.
In other words, a film undoubtedly “well done” and extremely chivalrous, effective and solvent. Raw but gentle, aggressive but conciliatory. As befits what is basically a solidly presented Antoine Fuqua action drama branded with race, conscience and shame, plus of course an “Oscarizable” performance from Will Smith. A production that appears important also because it has no other choice but… at least to appear so.
Because of the story it tells and the budget it has, it can’t afford to fail. Or to offend, and therefore, does not risk doing it. Thus, ‘Hacia la libertad’ is a relatively standard and conventional but at the same time relatively ferocious and energetic luxury production that works, even very well within what we could define a safe environment. Maybe a little bloated, but with an incorruptible and indisputable craft that keeps passions in their place.
And Antoine Fuqua, again, is possible, as director of ‘Training Day’. Yes, that.
By Juan Pairet Iglesias
@wanchopex
