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Season 4 – Small Axe

Play trailer Poster for Season 4 – Small Axe Dec 2020 Drama Other Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 48 Reviews 51% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Based on the real-life experiences of London's West Indian community between 1969 and 1982.
Small Axe — Season 4

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Sheyi Cole shines in Alex Wheatle, a harrowing biopic that barely scratches the surface of a complex life, but does so with empathy and finesse.

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Critics Reviews

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K. Austin Collins Rolling Stone 12/15/2020
3.5/5
It is not the most exceptional film in this altogether exceptional series. But it is just as indispensable as everything else here. Go to Full Review
Claudia Puig FilmWeek (LAist) 12/12/2020
Sheyi Cole is excellent; he has a haunted quality that works well. Go to Full Review
Angie Han FilmWeek (LAist) 12/12/2020
I wonder if it may have benefitted from being longer or a lot shorter. That said, Sheyi Cole is just incredible in this... He has such an aching vulnerability, you want to reach out and give him a hug. Go to Full Review
Chris Robe PopMatters 06/05/2023
Throughout Small Axe, reggae music represents the central popular cultural form that speaks to the lived realities of Black communities living in London: their oppression, resistance, and desires. Go to Full Review
Brett Doze InSession Film 05/02/2023
The film really emphasizes the importance of Black spaces. Go to Full Review
Alessandra Rangel InSession Film 03/20/2023
B+
With Alex Wheatle, Steve McQueen continues to prove that his Small Axe anthology is ground-breaking. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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david f @dfulmer 01/02/2022 This biopic in the Small Axe collection shows the youth of a YA author, suffering through the system and getting a little joy where he can, from music and community. See more 06/24/2021 Debe haber una buena razón por la que Alex Wheatle sea tan odiada y si la hay y es que realmente no hay empatía en lo que sucede y aparte de eso tampoco genera lo que se podía sentir en Lovers rock, así que es mas bien olvidable See more 03/02/2021 By far the weakest of the series. It makes the same mistake all the others in the series do. Scenes just linger on to long, I'm assuming, for artistic and dramatic eeffect. It does the opposite when it then proceeds to last 3x's longer than its welcome. See more 02/17/2021 It's pretty damned impressive what Steve McQueen and Alastair Siddons can do in just about an hour of film time. You get more growth from characters, more insight to the human experience (esp. suffering oppression, paranoia, fear but also great pure joy), and more stigmatizing action that the vast majority of films twice as long or longer. Alex Wheatle has been the least impressive of the Small Axe works so far, but then again, that's in comparison to three powerful, highly affecting movies with stunning performances and a constant sense of authenticity. That authenticity is here as well, but the story is smaller, more centered on the lead figure of Alex. Sheyi Cole is stellar as Alex; conveying hopelessness, rage, desperation and a reasoning calm with equal skill. Also very good is Jonathan Jules. 3.2 stars See more 01/17/2021 This was easily my least favorite of the Small Axe films so far, but as I generally don't love biopics, I am not surprised by this. McQueen still makes the visual appeal high but unfortunately for me the content rarely had me fully engaged. I had never heard of Alex Wheatle before though and I will never complain about learning something new. See more Dave C @RT09838700 01/13/2021 It's not the shining star in the sky of Small Axe, but it's still good. McQueen's character development is always on point, as is his ability to build a relationship with the audience. The build up through our getting to know about Alex is solid, but there does seem to be a disjointed period when the story tracks in-and-around the Brixton riots, during which different key points seem to vie for the spotlight. It somehow left everything feeling disconnected, which is a shame. This chapter could really have done with more content to truly elevate it and strengthen the core theme See more Read all reviews
Small Axe — Season 4

My Rating

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Dec 11, 2020 Details
Life After Life 100% 84% Life After Life Watchlist Years and Years 89% 88% Years and Years Watchlist TRAILER for Years and Years The Spy 86% 85% The Spy Watchlist TRAILER for The Spy Somewhere Boy 94% 100% Somewhere Boy Watchlist A Very Royal Scandal 80% 72% A Very Royal Scandal Watchlist TRAILER for A Very Royal Scandal Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Season Info

Director
Steve McQueen
Executive Producer
Alastair Siddons, Courttia Newland, Steve McQueen
Screenwriter
Steve McQueen, Alastair Siddons
Network
MULTI
Genre
Drama, Other
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Dec 11, 2020