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Cast & Crew
Marcus
Patricia
"DoRight" Miller
David Gordon
Iris
Jimmy
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Critic Reviews for Night Catches Us
All Critics (57) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (11)
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The result is a personal work of art rather than a docudrama, and it was a stirring début for Hamilton ...
October 9, 2017 | Full Review… -
Night Catches Us shouldn't be confused for something as blanket as "that black panther movie" or even a political movie, but more like a story about what it really takes to move on when you're so stuck on here.
September 9, 2017 | Rating: A | Full Review… -
For those people who are looking for a revealing glimpse into that social/political/cultural movement, this poorly conceived ode to the Panthers is not illuminating.
November 8, 2016 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review… -
Despite some on-the-nose dialogue and a needless revelatory flourish toward the end, Hamilton gets at the strangeness of lived American history, in which violent ruptures leave behind poorly understood scars.
July 1, 2013 | Full Review… -
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February 14, 2012 | Rating: B+ | Full Review… -
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September 7, 2011 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Night Catches Us
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Dec 05, 2010It is Philadelphia in 1976. Marcus(Anthony Mackie), a former Black Panther, returns home for the first time in four years for his father's funeral. His brother Bostic(Tariq Trotter) has been left the family home and has already found a buyer while agreeing to let his brother stay for a week to repair the damage done by the contractors. Marcus may not have that much time considering that DoRight(Jamie Hector) considers him a snitch. But Patty(Kerry Washington), an old friend and community lawyer, is happy to see him, while she has to bail out her cousin Jimmy(Amari Cheatom) from jail. "Night Catches Us" is a modest little drama, that while not striking out any new territory, still manages to tell an engaging story with the help of a good cast. Of special note, is how history repeats itself because of how it has been distorted in the first place. Marcus returns to a neighborhood that has hardly changed from the one he recalls where the police unceremoniously harass blacks, no matter the reason. That's why the Black Panthers came to prominence in the first place, as a self-defense and community organization meant to convey a force of strength, not violence, against oppressors.Walter M Super Reviewer
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Nov 29, 2010Set in Philadelphia in 1976, this is a nicely low-key drama about a former Black Panther named Marcus who returns to his old neighborhood after years of absence to attend his father's funeral. His return is not looked upon fondly, primarily because it is widely believed he sold out a former comrade in arms, leading to pretty much everyone in the neighborhood hating him. Instead of leaving after the funeral, Marcus tries to reconcile the past, primarily by reconnecting with the only person who treats him warmly- he widow of the man he is suspected of snitching on. The film is, more than anything, a human drama about life choices and looking at the impact of the Black Power movement in broad strokes. When I first heard about this movie, I was under the impression that it was focused on the Movement and the Panthers, and that's what got me interested. That it is instead a more reflective look at that era is somewhat disappointing, but still interesting. Considering that there's really not a lot of cinema concerning Black Power, I guess this will do for the time being. As a debut feature, this is rather competent. I think more justice could have been done to the subject, especially since this film skirts around the issues broadly, but it does have ambitions and isn't completely hollow, so that's good. It's not the acting showcase it could have been either, but the performances are still pretty decent, even if the base material is just a variation on stuff that we've seen many times before. It's well shot, and gives a good glimpse into 70s Philly, so I think that those who dig movies that portray specific places at specific times will probably be happy here. As a nice treat, we also get a decent score from alternative hip-hop giants The Roots. The film is flawed and not what it should be (in my mind), but it is entertaining, decently made, and does provide some substance to chew on, so give it a watch.Chris W Super Reviewer
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Sep 01, 2010A great debut. One of the best films of the year. Anthony Mackie and Kerry Washington both deliver great performances, and the film has a great soundtrack by the Roots, aswell as a supporting performance by Tariq Trotter himself. Jamie Hector and Wendell Pierce of "The Wire" make up the rest of the supporting cast, and the rest are all newcomers.Kyle S Super Reviewer
Night Catches Us Quotes
Marcus: | Look I'll only be here for a week. Then I'll be gone. |
Marcus: | Look, I'll only be here for a week. Then I'll be gone. |
Patricia: | That's not who we were. That's not what we did. |
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