Red Tails (2012)
Certified: PG
Duration: 121 minutes
Directed by: Anthony Hemingway
Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr, Terrence Howard, David Oyelowo, Nate Parker, Tristan Wilds, Ne-Yo, Elijah Kelley, Daniela Ruah
KRS release
Red Tails tells the true story of a group of African-American pilots of the US Air Force, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, in World War II.
The group is led by Major Emanuel Stance (Cuba Gooding Jr) and is stationed in Italy.
Colonel A. J. Bullard (Terrence Howard) tries to convince the powers that be at the Pentagon that these fighters should be given better aircraft and be moved to the frontline of war.
Meanwhile, Joe “Lightning” Little (David Oyelowo) wants to show he is the best fighter pilot and thus takes a lot of risks.
This worries his best friend Marty “Easy” Julian (Nate Parker) who is also the squadron’s captain.
Lightning’s efforts end up not only risking his own life but also that of his mates. He also starts a relationship with an Italian woman named Sofia (Daniela Ruah).
Meanwhile, mechanic Antwan “Coffee” Colman (Andre Royo) has problems with the aircraft the pilots are given, while the captain tries to deal with his alcohol problems.
It’s a pity such a story received such a clunky treatment; it certainly deserved better.
The film flies whenever the camera follows the pilots to the skies: dogfights and aerial battles involving the likes of Warhawks, Mustangs, Messerschmitt 109s and Messerschmitt 262s will have aviation enthusiasts rubbing their hands with glee. The essential problem here is producer George Lucas, whom I admire a lot for the Star Wars franchise but who has always suffered a lot when it comes to characterisation.
True, it is Anthony Hemingway who is directing but Mr Lucas’s stamp is all over the picture. This is very evident as we see the pilots not being let in the officers’ club, piloting old aeroplanes, insulted etc yet there is no real emotional resonance.
The dialogue is stuck in the 1940s and 1950s school of Saturday matinee war movies with the German pilots uttering lines that are hilarious and ridiculous. In fact, the dialogue reminded me of the 1960s sitcom Hogan’s Heroes. It’s as if such films like Saving Private Ryan, Enemy at the Gates and TV series like Band of Brothers never happened.
Another thing I noticed was that every time a B24 Flying Fortress appears on screen, the film focuses on its machinegun turret swivelling around exactly as if it were R2-D2’s ead! The film also cannot help but introduce an inconceivable love story subplot between an Italian girl (who knows no English) and one of the pilots (who knows no Italian) but who both know the language of love.
This love story element rings false all the way through.
The film also adds an escape from a German concentration camp into the proceedings, in the style of The Great Escape, that adds to the film’s floundering approach.
I could not help but cringe every time Terrence Howard opened his mouth to deliver a supposedly inspiring speech at the drop of a hat!
The cast which seem to be a likable sort never go beyond the gee-whiz dialogue they are saddled with, which is a pity as one look at this squadron’s history shows what rich material has been squandered.
The result is great aviation sequences; as for the rest, it’s just a foray into cheesy film-making.