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“Red Tails,” an action drama film set in World War II, was released on Friday and follows the true story of the Tuskegee Airmen, a division of the U.S. Air Army Corps comprised entirely of African American pilots. These men were the first African Americans to serve as pilots in a U.S. Military battalion.
Also notable is that “Red Tails” marks George Lucas’ first release outside of the Star Wars or Indiana Jones franchises since 1994’s “Radioland Murders.”
Lucas reaches, and succeeds, with a film over 20 years in the making. Striking a fair balance between interesting exposition and high-intensity airborne dogfight scenes, Lucas tells a gripping and patriotic story.
Starting out slow, much like the pilots’ careers, these scenes begin with the central cast opposing a single train. After the battalion receives orders from their Col. A.J. Bullard (Terrence Howard), they engage in a successful firefight with the German Luftwaffe. After their success, the pilots are awarded new planes and a new mission: to protect heavy bombers.
Painting the tails of their new planes red to make them more noticeable, the Tuskegee Airmen follow their new orders and quickly become known throughout the airborne forces as the best protective battalion. Visual effects culminate in a crescendo of gunfire as the group takes on German jet fighter planes in the climax of the film.
The skill with which the Red Tails execute their missions breeds respect between the African American and white fighting forces, the latter of which previously reflected the pre-Civil Rights Movement prejudiced mentality.
Though it touches on the internal racial strife present in the United States during that era, “Red Tails” is not necessarily a film about racial struggle. Rather, because the tale is told from the perspective of the Tuskegee Airmen, the audience feels the weight of the bigotry, but it is overshadowed by the Airmen’s sense of purpose and desire to serve their country.
Character development for the main cast is thorough, focusing on characters Martin “Easy” Julian (Nate Parker) and Joe “Lightning” Little (David Oyelowo). Easy, the captain of the central characters, provides a somber sense of the impact war has on people through his alcoholic nature and the heavy responsibility he bears as leader.
Oyelowo’s Lightning, however, is the standout performance. His character presents himself as a particularly adept, if overconfident, pilot that is desperate to join in the fighting and represent African Americans in the fight against Hitler’s fascist regime.
Despite the well-developed characterization, “Red Tails” truly shines when the pilots enter combat. Using a tremendous symphony of camera angles, this film truly engrosses the viewer into the combat situations.
Worth noting, too, is the film’s score. With music by Terence Blanchard, the sounds of the film are filled with period swing music and orchestral music that effectively sets the tone for the scene.
Regardless of the difficulties Lucas faced in getting the film produced, “Red Tails” is an action-packed film worth the 20-year wait.
