CBS deserves praise and scorn for bringing The Red Line to TV. I was shocked to see CBS, who for years was the network for middle aged/working/middle class white guys, put a show on the schedule that addressed racial profiling, police misconduct, and gay marriage and relationships. For that CBS should be commended. On the other hand, CBS scheduled the show against the final season of Game of Thrones, including the finale tonight, and stuffed 8 episodes into 4 weeks. It left the impression that they were scheduling it at a time when few people would watch it and they could get it on and off the schedule as quickly as possible. That said, the participation of Kevin Hooks and Ava DuVernay in the project immediately peaked my interest. Several reviewers were critical of political agenda the show pushed. Much of the storyline captured the realities of being black in America regardless of education, occupation, income, and place of residence. The connection between the police,prosecutors and corrupt city officials plays out everyday in America. I was afraid that the officer who shot the doctor in the back after the convenience store robbery would be indicted by the grand jury. While this would have been an outcome I and others may have desired, it is not the reality in most of these cases. Police in these situations, much like the character in the show, are fired or quit the force. Like in the show, a settlement from the city is the closest thing to "justice" the families get for losing a loved one. The acting was spot on. One of my biggest issues was that Tia's husband was a little too "chill". Wife running for office, her child that she put up for adoption coming back into her life, the child's father returning, I would have expected more stress between them. However, I did like the fact that he was a strong black man who had his wife's back. With so many reboots and copycat programs on TV today, it was refreshing to see something on network TV that was bold, edgy, and took chances.
Reviews
2 Reviews
The Vernon Johns Story
(1994 TV Movie)
Great film and superior acting by John Earl Jones and a great supporting cast
30 January 2005
This is must see for those who are unfamiliar with heroes of the Civil Rights Movement prior to Brown v. the Board of Education and Martin Luther King, Jr. James Earl Jones powerfully portrays a man with all of the courage of Martin Luther King, Jr., but with a more blunt and direct approach. The film masterfully shows how a leader like Dr. King and those who worked with him would have not been as effective had it not been for leaders like Dr. Johns, who were willing to "push the envelope". I teach Social Studies at Southern Nash High School in Bailey, North Carolina and I use this film regularly in class and get the best response to it of any of the films I show. In a film career that has featured numerous brilliant performances by Mr. Jones, I believe that this is his best work. The supporting cast of veteran actors Mary Alice, the late Joe Seneca, and a newcomer at the time, Nicole Leach, is top notch and they play effectively off of Jones.
Tell Your Friends