Photo Credit: Apple TV+
Here's What Critics Are Saying About New Will Smith Film 'Emancipation'
The embargo for new Will Smith film Emancipation has lifted. Some critics are calling Smith's portrayal of Peter as his best role to date.
One week ahead of its Apple TV+ debut and critics seem to be split on Will Smith's latest film, Emancipation. The Antoine Fuqua-directed slavery epic held its premiere at Los Angeles' Regency Village Theatre. Attending with Smith was his family, including wife Jada Pinkett Smith and children, Trey, Jaden and Willow. The film is Smith's latest release since King Richard, which the 54-year-old won the Academy Award for Best Actor earlier this year.
Emancipation also marks Smith's anticipated comeback since the now-infamous Oscars slap, when he struck comedian Chris Rock for joking about Jada Pinkett-Smith's shaved head. Smith has since spoken about the incident in an apology video and numerous interviews. In a recent Entertainment Weekly article, Smith expressed that the "only discomfort my heart has around" continued backlash from the incident "is that so many people have done spectacular work on" his new film.
"I definitely lose a couple winks of sleep every night thinking that I could have potentially penalized my team," Smith added. "But I'm going to do everything I can to make sure everyone gets seen in the light that they deserve."
\u201cWill Smith attends the premiere of #Emancipation with Jada Pinkett Smith and children Trey, Jaden and Willow. https://t.co/XkCbOl0zKI\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1669867317
\u201cApple Original Films\u2019 #Emancipation Los Angeles Premiere \u2013 Arrivals Photo Gallery https://t.co/pWw4MdAQbF\n\n\ud83d\udcf8 Getty\u201d— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline Hollywood) 1669910756
\u201cWill Smith on the conversation he hoped #Emancipation could start: \u201cTo have a movie like this, in this time, for me, and even this time in my life, is you know poetic perfection\u201d\u201d— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline Hollywood) 1669867712
In Emancipation, Smith portrays Peter, based on the image and story of "Whipped Peter," an escaped slave who joined the Union Army after fleeing from his Louisiana plantation. Some critics were sold on Emancipation, including Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian, who said the film “works very efficiently as a thriller."
Collider's Ross Bonaime also praised Smith's performance. “For an actor that has been so reliant on his charisma in many of his roles, Emancipation requires Smith to be silent and still, full of anger that is ready to burst, but with a faith that helps move him away from this righteous rage," he wrote.
As the film currently holds a 61% on Rotten Tomatoes, other critics shared their grievances. Giving the film a two out of five, Kevin Maher of The Times (UK) said "Emancipation should have been Son of Saul with shoot-outs, or Schindler’s List with a kick-ass finale. Instead, alas, it’s little more than the The Equalizer in chains."
Emancipation premieres Friday, December 9 on Apple TV+. Read more reviews below.
\u201cWill Smith\u2019s performance as Peter is more impressive than his Richard Williams in \u201cKing Richard\u201d \u2014 and I thought he was fantastic in \u201cKing Richard.\u201d\n https://t.co/sXwZb6eWVo via @Variety #Emancipation\u201d— Clayton Davis (@Clayton Davis) 1669872135
\u201cEMANCIPATION: Wow, what a movie. Powerful, breathtaking, gripping, rousing & life-affirming. It\u2019s ANTOINE FUQUA\u2019S Schindler\u2019s List & Saving Private Ryan. Best Pic & Director noms for sure. And WILL SMITH gives a grueling, tour-de-force, Oscar-worthy performance. #EMANCIPATION\u201d— Scott Mantz (@Scott Mantz) 1669876297
\u201c#Emancipation is an absolute tour de force of a movie.\n\n#WillSmith delivers the greatest performance of his career as Peter, a slave whose picture became the face of slavery and its brutality worldwide.\n\n#AntoineFuqua directs this fever dream of a freedom narrative with such\u2026\u201d— John Rocha aka The Outlaw Nation (@John Rocha aka The Outlaw Nation) 1669911016
\u201c#Emancipation is haunting. It is a stunning achievement from Antoine Fuqua, superbly written. Will Smith is magnificent, with sweeping performances from Ben Foster and Charmaine Bingwa. Bob Richardson's cinematography is a poetic experience @AppleTV\u201d— Jazz Tangcay (@Jazz Tangcay) 1669901439
\u201call top notch.\n\n@willsmith \u2018s immersion and dedication here will astound you and move you. He has ascended to the next level as an actor.\n\n@Emancipation deserves OSCAR noms for Best Picture, Director, Score, Editing, Cinematography and, yes, BEST ACTOR.\n\nGo see it, my friends.\u201d— John Rocha aka The Outlaw Nation (@John Rocha aka The Outlaw Nation) 1669911016
\u201cI take my hat off to the executives from Apple who stood behind Will and such a powerful film. Emancipation isn't just a film about a slave, it's about the strength and determination of a slave to be freed. I wish all of the industry slaves would wake up and free themselves.\u201d— Jason Lee (@Jason Lee) 1669913824
\u201cEmancipation puts you through the paces, largely to give you a taste of what Peter went through. Some pacing issues/script quibbles aside, it\u2019s as engaging and upsetting as expected. Will Smith is effective and intense, while Ben Foster is icy evil.\n\n#Emancipation @Emancipation\u201d— Joey Magidson (@Joey Magidson) 1669836827
