Star Rating:

Red Tails

Director: anthony Hemingway

Actors: Terrence Howard, Bryan Cranston

Release Date: Monday 30th November -0001

Genre(s): Drama

Running time: TBC TBC minutes

A passion project for George Lucas, who stumped up the clams to make the film himself, this is a noble, but sloppy production that while worthwhile in terms of story is far too heavy-handed to connect. Featuring some of the most hilarious "evil Nazi" characters in cinematic history, this is the kind of film your grandfather will love - provided he's not a racist, obviously.

Based on a true story of a group of African American fighter pilots who partook in endless heroics during World War 2, they also had to put up with a shitload of horrible behaviour simply because of the colour of their skin. Cuba Gooding, Jr. is Major Emanuel Stance, and Terrence Howard is Col. A.J. Bullard - two men in charge of the Tuskegee Airmen. Partaking in dangerous missions, the group must deal with the obvious bureaucracy of the time, as well as heightened tensions and in-fighting between the squadron.

Director Hemingway has directed some sterling television is his time, but he's hamstrung here by a script that only really offers speeches, and not rounded characters giving speeches. Writing has never been Lucas' strong point; and while he's not credited with the script here, his hallmarks are all over it. Still, Hemingway does manage a couple of nifty sequences and he's shown in his previous work that he can actually direct actors - when the material is there. Gooding Jr. and Howard are the ostensible leads, but really their just names for the poster. Both recognisable, but hardly star names (anymore), they're strong actors who have made bad choices in their careers.

If you could pick one word to describe Red Tails it would be corny. It is very, very corny. And while you get the point, it's hammered home with the subtlety of a brick to the balls.