Kathryn Bigelow’s DETROIT is going to be historic

Courtney Howard // Film Critic

People being targeted because of the color of their skin is sadly a tale just as relevant as it was back in the Summer of 1967 (as it also was decades before). Director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal, who both brought wartime intensity to our front doorsteps with THE HURT LOCKER and ZERO DARK THIRTY, have reunited to tell the story behind one of the darkest, most brutal and emotionally taut moments during the civil unrest of ’67 in DETROIT.

The riot showcased in the sure-to-be-stirring film begun as a violent public disorder. According to Wikipedia, “Police confrontations with patrons and observers on the street evolved into one of the deadliest and most destructive riots in the history of the United States, lasting five days and surpassing the violence and property destruction of Detroit’s 1943 race riot.”

The taut drama stars John Boyega, Will Poulter (as the obvious villain of this trailer), Algee Smith, Jacob Latimore, Jason Mitchell, Hannah Murray, Kaitlyn Dever and Jack Reynor. John Krasinski and Anthony Mackie also make appearances.

I’m curious to see if Boal and Bigelow stick with real life people involved in this incident, or if they pull a STONEWALL and re-write history. We’ll see in a few months, but regardless, I think this is going to be a gigantic hit for Annapurna – and another win for the “Women in Film” movement.

DETROIT opens on August 4.