"Shazam" is a live action short film from 2017 that runs for slightly under six minutes and was written and directed by Royston Innes. Now I don't really know why this ons is relatively high on the imdb Starmeter. It is not that either of the two actors is famous, same for the director and also not about the film's quality. So i guess the only reason is the title that some mistook it for the big superhero blackbuster that came out not that long ago. Anyway, back to this one here. The boy has only starred in two films, this is one of them. The actor who plays his dad has been in a lot more, also next to some pretty famous actors, but he is also not on a level where you would recognize him. Honestly given the really Hollywood-friendly subject (racism) I am a bit surprised this film is not more famous, but yeah Ithink it is good this way because in my opinion it sends out a completely wrong message. I want to talk about two quotes/references in particular. First would be the idea during the dad's introduction explanation on the subject that people are looking at the two in a weird way. It is implied, not directly stated, that their color is the reason. This has nothing to do with reality. People in cities, towns mostly too, do not look disgusted or whatever at Black people anymore in the year 2019. Equality is happening. It is incorrect statements like these that still creates rift when it comes to equality. Huge thumbs-down. Unless maybe they are living in some gillbilly 100-people village in the middle of nowhere in Texas, but their location sure does not look that way. Now the second reference that I did not like one bit was actually the film's key plot, i.e. the father telling his son in a playful way that he should put his hands up in the air whenever he is having a conversation with a cop. To be safe. Yes it did happen that cops fire shots at Black citizens. But it also happened that they fire shots at White citizens (may I capitalize that?). Some drugged, others not. It is still really disrespectful towards the police to imply stuff like that. But not at little kids come on! And as a side-note I want to say that honestly while some think that this man is a good father for preparing his boy so easily, I must say that at times he seemed downright insane and crazy the way he talked to his son and what he said. Like call an authority kind-of-crazy. Bizarre stuff here. I don't think though the film was poorly-acted. The father was decent and the moments he is hitting wrong marks I am sure that was rathed fueled by Innes than really messed up by Watson. I will not mention the young actor's name. Unpronouncable stuff, really. But just check the imdb page for it if you want. Or just close it as fast as possible. This movie is a mess in terms of the screenplay and the message it sends out to people. Highly not recommended.
0 out of 4 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
