Displaying items by tag: Wayne Knight

BLINDSPOTTING

US, 2018, 95 minutes, Colour.

Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar, Ethan Embry, Tisha Campbell, Wayne Knight.

Directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada.

Blindspotting was created by the two stars, Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal. They worked together in a number of projects, especially short films, music videos. Diggs himself had significant roles in Hamilton. The director is Carlos Lopez Estrada, also noted for music videos.

This film is a variation of the Boyz in the Hood kind of neighbourhood film, focusing on African-Americans, poor situations and lack of opportunities, relationship with white people, racism, the police, crime and arrests. However, the setting is Oakland in the 2010s, comparisons with New York stories, contrasts.

The film creates the atmosphere of Oakland, the inner city, the streets, clubs, the accommodation for those on probation, homes, but also on Oakland society because of the work of the two central characters as removal of this, a variety of locations for their work.

There is also a love for rap throughout the film, various occasions for rap performances – but, especially for Diggs in a confronting finale with a police officer, a tour de force rap presentation.

The title is explained later in the film, a focus on one of those drawings where the observer sees one image and, with suggestion or otherwise, a different image within the same frame (black vase  with two white profiles). The observer sees one or the other, the other blindspotted. And this is the case with observing the central characters of this film. Looking at the good or the bad and the of the blindspotted

To be Diggs is sympathetic as Coll in, released from prison, involved in a vicious fight with his friend of Miles outside a club. And witnessed by his girlfriend works at reception in the same removalist company as the two men. The film fast forwards to the last three days of his probation, his living in the halfway house and the demands made of coming in at 11 PM, of doing cleaning chores, the hostile attitude of the manager.

By day, he and his friend, Miles, are well occupied with their jobs – as well as conversations at reception.

Collin and Miles have been friends since childhood, one black, one white. Myles has married an African-American wife and they have a daughter. Miles’s erratic in his attitudes and behaviour, always taking tough attitudes, bursting out, teasing Collin. There are domestic scenes with his ever-patient wife, the little daughter trying to be tough, enjoying games with Collin.

In the latter part of the film, the fight that got Collin into trouble is visualised, a strongly vicious fight, Collin out of control, Miles more than vicious. Last night of his probation, Collin goes to Miles’ house, finds the little girl playing with the gun Miles has bought, desperate feelings to recover the gun. They go to a party, Miles picking a fight, again a vicious outburst.

But the final confrontation sequences are with the policeman. Early in the film, Collin was stopped in his removalist truck at a red light, suddenly sees a young African-American man who runs, a police officer emerging, shooting the man four times – and the news on television of this episode recurring through the film. At a removalist job, Collin finds that his wife has walked out on the policeman who is still in the house, their eyeing each other off, Collin and every rage coming to the surface, in a dramatic rap, the policeman terrified – but Collin, threatening with Miles gun, says he is not a killer and leaves.

The film was so successful that the makers decided to develop the story into a television series which ran to 16 episodes.

12 MIGHTY ORPHANS

US, 2021, 118 minutes, Colour.

Luke Wilson, Martin Sheen, Wayne Knight, Vanessa Shaw, Jake Austin Walker, Scott haze, Jacob Lofland, Robert Duvall, treat Williams, Larry Pyne.

Directed by Ty Roberts.

This is a film very much in the traditional American spirit, of country and patriotism, love of sport, especially football, appreciation of the underdogs.

It is based on a true story – however, quite a number of the facts and timelines have been altered for the drama.

In the aftermath of World War I (with a number of flashbacks of war action for the central character, Rusty Russell wounded, especially in his eyes but recovering), the film focuses on the Depression and its effect during the 1930s. In particular, it focuses on institutions for orphans, often looked down on in American society as second-class citizens.

Rusty Russell, already a top football coach, takes on the job at the Masonic institution for orphans in Fort Worth, Texas, travelling with his wife and family, his wife a successful English literature teacher. They are played by Luke Wilson and Vinessa Shaw.

The film shows the harsh life of the Institute, especially with one of the staff played by Wayne Knight, in charge of the printing business, exploiting the orphans, physical brutality towards them, and later revealed as embezzling money and colluding with the coach of an opposing team, a vengeful attitude towards Russell.

However, the focus of the film is on the orphans themselves, age 17, rough and ready, one with a particular chip on his shoulder and anger, gradually the group moulding into a team, getting gear from charities, working together with the coach who is inventive in his creation of play, becoming successful, opposed by powers that be with petty regulations and interpretation, the media intervening as well as to and ultimate success. However, with a sober realism, they lose the final championship match.

A number of veteran actors in supporting roles including Martin Sheen, at age 80, as the doctor assistant coach, a glimpse of Robert Duvall at age 90, and Treat Williams and Larry Pine as Roosevelt.

There is a fine tribute to the Russell’s as well as to each of the mighty orphans in the final credits, photos and an admirable list of achievements by each of them.

1. Based on a true story? The alteration of facts and timelines? A tribute to Rusty Russell? His wife? Their work with the orphans, football and tactics, love of literature? The final tribute with the details of what happened to Russell and his wife, the 12 orphans themselves, achievement?
2. A film of the American spirit, American football, sport, fans, even President Roosevelt, the Depression, the 1930s, poverty, lack of opportunity, the low status of orphans?
3. The use of black-and-white photography, for World War I sequences, for the depression, the insertions? The atmosphere of the 1930s, Texas, the family travelling by car, the depressed communities, going to Fort Worth, the Masonic institution? The task of coaching the orphans? Of teaching them? The musical score?
4. Russell and his story, the flashbacks to his experience in the trenches, the death of his brother, his blinding, his recovery? The recurring memories? His using his experiences to encourage the orphans? Married to Juanita, giving up a significant post, wanting to help the orphans? His daughters? His appearance and manner, glasses, difficulties with his eyesight? His explanation of his own background as an orphan?
5. The Institute, the head, his concern about maintaining the workings, Frank Wynn, the printing, his bullying, hitting the students, his sneering attitudes, the rules, embezzling the money, his link with the rival coach, providing the birth certificate, his mistake, the confrontation with Russell, the hearings, his arrest?
6. The orphans, their age, status, back stories, the mother abandoning Wheatie, Hardy, the death of his father, covered in blood, his resentments and anger? The lack of education? Interactions amongst themselves?
7. The football theme: the opening, dressing room, the clashes amongst themselves? The rest of the story going back to arrive at this match?
8. The boys themselves, their personalities, interactions? Hardy and his resentments, blood, shower, Snoggs trying to help? Continued manifestations of anger? The football field, rough, no shoes? The gradual building up of gear, shoes, pads, jerseys? Football issues? Scenes of training, boys’ reactions? Angers amongst themselves?
9. The range of football matches, football scenes, the tactics, Russell’s daughter and her idea, the creative play, Russell changing play styles? The tough matches, the opponents, the referees?
10. Doc Hall, age, no salary, his drinking, seeing the boys, a father figure, treating Hardy? Supporting Russell, recommending him? Assistant at the training, intervening in the crises, confronting authorities? At the games? His having to give up the drink?
11. Juanita, supportive of her husband? The rough housing, settling in, her classes, enthusiasm, the boys and their learning?
12. The rivalries, the hearings, Roy Kidd and the writing of the manual, his wanting to exclude the Mites, Doc Hall and the text? The hearings for their expulsion, his brother-in-law as the smug coach? The intervention of Amon Carter, his newspapers, watching the matches, his bets, links with the journalist, the reporting? The intervention of Roosevelt and the reversal of the decision?
13. The hostile coach, setting up the big player to eliminate rivals? The hospitalisation of Fairbanks? Hardy, playing, his success, tactics? Eventually supporting the war cry?
14. The failure to win, Hardy blaming himself, yet public support, fans, letters, demonstrations?
15. The spirit of the Mites, the coach, love for football?
16. The impressive tribute to the end and the careers of Russell and his wife and the orphans themselves, achievements?