Harriet (2019)

The story of the abolitionist and activist Harriet Tubman (Cynthia Erivo) from her escape from slavery in Maryland to freedom in Philadelphia and becoming part of the underground railroad where she rescued more than 70 slaves. Directed by Kasi Lemmons (EVE'S BAYOU), this conventional but earnest biographical portrait never rises above the strait jacketed genre of biopics. As cinema, it's pretty rote but a strong performance by Cynthia Erivo carries it. For those of us who discovered Erivo in 2018's BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE and WIDOWS and predicted big things for her, HARRIET validates her promise though I don't think HARRIET is anywhere as good as those two films. As with most movie bios, the use of dramatic license to perk up the narrative lessens one's commitment to the film. Tubman had such a fascinating life that did we really need fictional characters like Marie Buchanan (Janelle Monae) or Joe Alwyn as Tubman's former owner who spends years tracking her down (their final confrontation in the woods is pure fiction) to name just two examples. That aside, it remains a compelling movie but not as good as it should have been. See it for Erivo. There's a nice score by that musical wizard Terence Blanchard. With Leslie Odom Jr., Jennifer Nettles, Vondie Curtis Hall and Vanessa Bell Calloway.