As a squadron of red-tailed fighter jets streak across the WWII aerial battlefield, both white American pilots and the enemy “Pretty Boy” with his German squadron are surprised to find that the relentless fliers are African American fighter pilots from the Tuskegee training program.
Known for his beloved Star Wars saga, executive producer George Lucas teamed up with director Anthony Hemingway after nearly 22-year of preparation to deliver a film that is enjoyable, intense at fairly expected moments, and most importantly, based on true events.
Released Jan. 20, “Red Tails” revisits a prejudicial period in American history. Despite the skill of the Tuskegee pilots and high American morale during 1944, continuing racial discrimination kept white superior officers firm in their belief that color makes the weaker pilot. On this basis, the African American Tuskegee Airmen were kept from taking on aerial combat against the German Luftwaffe.
“Red Tails” follows the wartime journey and individual struggles of four inseparable airmen, “Easy” (Nate Parker), “Lightning” (David Oyelowo), “Junior” (Tristan Wilds), and “Joker” (Elijah Kelley).
While some of the dialogue and acting was weak towards the beginning of the film, Hollywood veterans Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard helped steer the film back on course in terms of delivery.
Though the patriotism and wartime morale in “Red Tails” was infectious, the film seemed somewhat lighthearted for what is considered a “war film.” Then again, perhaps any added “sequences of war violence” is what would make a difference between its current PG-13 rating and an R rating.
Despite the few predictable moments in the film, “Red Tails” left me on the edge of my seat on numerous occasions, most notably during the aerial combat scenes when it was not clear which of the Red Tails would make it safely back on base.
If you’re looking for a “Saving Private Ryan” sort of movie, “Red Tails” is probably not going to pique your interest. However, if you seek a lighter flick with a compelling storyline about overcoming odds, you may want to see what George Lucas’s post-Star Wars and Indiana Jones creation brings to the screen.
