Apple TV’s Emancipation has faced an uphill climb for most of 2022. The question is: can Will Smith (Independence Day) and Apple overcome it?
First, there was the slap heard ’round the world. You know, the one that got Will Smith banned from the awards for ten years and made us forget he used to be the guy in Hollywood with a level head. Then the flood of bad reviews. Emancipation is sitting at a lowly 50 percent with critics on Rotten Tomatoes (although we believe the audience score for Emancipation will fare better with a score of 79, who knows?).
Are the critics just pushing back on Will Smith, or is Emancipation really bad?
If you haven’t seen the trailer, here it is…you decide.
Emancipation by Apple TV.
The critics have given Emancipation the worst kind of review: a B-movie with delusions. Oof. And now, producer Joey McFarland is catching heat for bringing a picture of the man the story is based on to the premiere.
“I wholeheartedly apologize to everyone I have offended by bringing a photograph of Peter to the ‘Emancipation’ premiere,” McFarland wrote on a social media post. “My intent was to honor this remarkable man and to remind the general public that his image not only brought about change in 1863 but still resonates and promotes change today.”
McFarland continues, “Throughout the research and development of ‘Emancipation,’ I discovered photographs of overlooked and historically important individuals whose stories also needed to be told. One photograph, of Martin Delaney, is on loan to the National Portrait Gallery and currently on exhibit. My plan was always to donate the photographs to the appropriate institution, in consultation with the community, and I believe there is no better time to begin that process than now.”
Whatever the cause for the collective pushback on Emancipation, it’s a shame because the film has so much potential and an incredible story to tell. But we can’t help but think Smith’s actions last Spring were still a trigger for some critics.
Emancipation, the true story
Emancipation is based on the true story of an enslaved American named Gordon (nicknamed “Whipped Peter”) and his escape from slavery and service in the Union Army.
In 1863, Gordon escaped a plantation owned by the Lyon family in Louisiana after suffering nearly fatal wounds and pulling a gun on the plantation overseer. During his escape, Gordon traveled over 40 miles to reach Union soldiers through swamps and woodland. Gordon traveled with onions in his pocket to throw off his scent to bloodhounds and rubbed his skin with them regularly.
After reaching the Union army in Baton Rouge, Gordon remarked to the doctor:
“Ten days from to-day I left the plantation. Overseer Artayou Carrier whipped me. I was two months in bed sore from the whipping. My master come after I was whipped; he discharged the overseer. My master was not present. I don’t remember the whipping. I was two months in bed sore from the whipping and my sense began to come—I was sort of crazy. I tried to shoot everybody. They said so, I did not know. I did not know that I had attempted to shoot everyone; they told me so.”
During the examination, the doctor believed Gordon might be violent after observing extensive scarring on his back and clear signs of trauma. However, Gordon was calm and kind.
“I burned up all my clothes; but I don’t recall that. I never was this way (crazy) before. I don’t know what make me come that way (crazy). My master come after I was whipped; saw me in bed; he discharged the overseer. They told me I attempted to shoot my wife the first one; I did not shoot any one; I did not harm any one. My master’s Capt. John Lyon, cotton planter, on Atchafalya, near Washington, Louisiana. Whipped two months before Christmas.”
Gordon went on to serve in the Union Army and was captured and left for dead by Confederate forces, only to survive again.
The photo of his back and scarring left by the overseer circulated in US media at the time as an example of the barbarity African Americans experienced at the hands of Confederate plantation owners.
Will Smith believes viewers will penalize Emancipation for “the slap”
Whether or not audiences will penalize Will Smith for “the slap” remains to be seen, but the critics appear keen a bashing the Apple TV exclusive. Here’s how Nick Schager (The Daily Beast) summed it up:
“A two-dimensional slavery epic that fits the description “awards bait” to a tee.”
Oof, “awards bait.” Very subtle, Nick.
Deadline Hollywood Daily went further with its criticism, writing, “The story of Whipped Peter and the impact he had on the culture of war and American slavery live on to this day, but there has to be another way to tell these stories.”
Smh…