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The Birth of a Nation

The Birth of a Nation

Drama · 2016

Nat Turner, a former slave in America, leads a liberation movement in 1831 to free African-Americans in Virginia that results in a violent retaliation from whites.

Movie details

The Birth of a Nation

“The Untold Story of Nat Turner”

2016 Drama 2h 0m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.6 / 10

Community rating

Nat Turner, a former slave in America, leads a liberation movement in 1831 to free African-Americans in Virginia that results in a violent retaliation from whites.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Birth of a Nation?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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After a brief flash-forward to Frank Sinatra as an old man, saying "I miss my guys," the movie's main narrative begins during high points in the solo careers of the Rat Pack: Dean Martin has become a big success despite the breakup of his partnership with Jerry Lewis; Sinatra's career is at its peak; Sammy Davis, Jr., is making a comeback after a near fatal car crash, and standup comic Joey Bishop is gaining exposure as an opening act for the other three. The Pack becomes complete when Sinatra reconciles with actor Peter Lawford, who has been ostracized since being seen out publicly with Sinatra's ex-wife, Ava Gardner.

Lincoln

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Nate Parker

Written by

Jean McGianni Celestin · Nate Parker

Nate Parker

Nate Parker

Nat Turner

Armie Hammer

Armie Hammer

Samuel Turner

Aja Naomi King

Aja Naomi King

Cherry

Jackie Earle Haley

Jackie Earle Haley

Raymond Cobb

Penelope Ann Miller

Penelope Ann Miller

Elizabeth Turner

Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Union

Esther

Mark Boone Junior

Mark Boone Junior

Reverend Zalthall

Court is in session

Put The Birth of a Nation on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.