As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen more than my fair share of narratives that promise to blend genres seamlessly – think Resident Evil meets The Sopranos or Final Fantasy meets Game of Thrones. However, few have managed to do it as awkwardly as Lee Daniels with his latest offering, The Deliverance.
Lee Daniels’ movie, titled “The Deliverance“, blends two distinct elements: a heartfelt family drama centered around a matriarch (Andra Day) dealing with family duties, alcoholism, and a strained relationship with her mother (Glenn Close), and an exploration into the supernatural realm by the director himself. Known for films like “Precious” and “The Butler“, Daniels delves into themes of hauntings in this movie, drawing parallels between these eerie occurrences and lessons about faith. The storylines can run parallel or intertwine smoothly, as suggested by the film’s structure, but unfortunately, the narrative is somewhat disjointed, failing to create a consistently cohesive whole.
Daniels’ film revolves around Ebony Day, a single mom facing financial struggles, government scrutiny, and supposed malevolent forces, drawing parallels with LaToya Ammons’ experiences. The story unfolds in Pittsburgh in 2011, as Ebony and her son Andre (Anthony B. Jenkins) are settling into their new home. Andre, a child who feels most at ease with his imaginary friends, has just completed an elaborate mural on the wall of the shared bedroom he occupies with his siblings.
While they’re getting things ready, Ebony’s mom Alberta (Close) heads off to church with the older kids Shante (Demi Singleton) and Nate (Caleb McLaughlin). As the story unfolds, we see the strains within the family beginning to surface. Alberta, a new convert to Christianity, starts criticizing Ebony’s methods of bringing up the children, as she herself is a former alcoholic. On the other hand, the kids are feeling the weight of their continuous financial struggles and nomadic way of life. The absence of their father, who’s currently serving in the military, is a constant presence at mealtimes.
In the screenplay by David Coggeshall and Elijah Bynum, as portrayed by Daniels, the story of The Deliverance starts without any eerie or haunting elements initially. Instead, it paints a vivid picture of this family’s life to engage viewers emotionally. Ebony battles her anger issues, Alberta battles cancer through regular chemotherapy treatments, Nate faces bullying in the community, Andre finds comfort in solitude, and Shante waits for their father’s return home.
The direction here is confident and the scenes are anchored by intimate shots (the DP is Eli Arenson) of each family member. Most of the detailing happens within Ebony and Alberta’s relationship. Here, Daniels explores, again in broad but not insufficient strokes, the pressures and tensions between a biracial daughter and her white mother. In the margins of this family’s life stands Cynthia (Mo’Nique marking a return to working with Daniels), a case worker from the Child Protective Services tasked with investigating whether Ebony abuses her kids.
In “The Deliverance,” Andra Day portrays her character, Ebony, not as a sensationalized transgressor but as someone whose actions stem from generations of trauma. Prior to embracing Jesus, Alberta, played by Andra Day in the film, had also mistreated Ebony. This time, instead of softening Ebony’s harsh characteristics with overly dramatic physicality, Day delves into her ruggedness, uncovering tender nuances within Ebony’s prickly demeanor. Day convincingly fulfills her character’s role as matriarch, providing a strong foundation for the other actors to build their performances upon. Unlike other parts of “The Deliverance,” there is a sense of unity in this portrayal.
In the story, mysterious occurrences cause tension in both Ebony’s household and Daniels’ movie production. A common pattern of ghostly activities starts: doors creaking, unusual footsteps, a deceased crow found. Andre converses with someone called Tre, who encourages him to perform harmful acts. However, Daniels faces challenges with the pacing as he assumes too much patience from viewers for suspenseful build-up. Ultimately, demons take control of Ebony’s children, leaving her in a state of panic and need for aid. She finds solace in Reverend Bernice James, played by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, who makes a strong impression despite having limited screen time.
When the negative influence dominates the narrative, “The Deliverance” seems to lose its initial impact. The effort to blend domestic drama with horror falls short, as Daniels overly relies on low-quality visual representations of the contentious ghosts and Ebony’s connection. His ambition to derive profound meaning from the mother’s journey and guide viewers towards a specific conclusion unintentionally pushes “The Deliverance” into overly sentimental and unsatisfying cartoonish realms.
Read More
- BODEN PREDICTION. BODEN cryptocurrency
- GHST PREDICTION. GHST cryptocurrency
- BETA PREDICTION. BETA cryptocurrency
- STRD PREDICTION. STRD cryptocurrency
- Mango Markets Exploiter Found Guilty Of Fraud And Manipulation
- GBP EUR PREDICTION
- MATIC PREDICTION. MATIC cryptocurrency
- LOOKS PREDICTION. LOOKS cryptocurrency
- BRN/USD
- TNSR PREDICTION. TNSR cryptocurrency
2024-08-16 05:24