“The First Step” follows Van Jones — social entrepreneur, justice and environmental activist, and one of CNN’s legion of political commentators — as he presses those in Washington, D.C. to pass a watershed justice reform bill in 2018 called the First Step Act. Premiering at the Tribeca Festival, the Brandon Kramer’s documentary has something of a protagonist problem. It’s a snag similar to the mix of feelings Jones stirs in his allies and foes. While there’s much to admire here, there are stylistic choices that vex. “The First Step” stumbles as it tries to balance its interest in Jones with the significance of the bill.
The title echoes Jones’ argument that someone in Washington has to make that initial move in order to forge bipartisan successes, particularly at a time when the nation’s body politic has an ever-widening gash. In order to push through the bill, Jones...
The title echoes Jones’ argument that someone in Washington has to make that initial move in order to forge bipartisan successes, particularly at a time when the nation’s body politic has an ever-widening gash. In order to push through the bill, Jones...
- 6/14/2021
- by Lisa Kennedy
- Variety Film + TV
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