Glory

Where do I begin? Let me start with the only problems I had with the film. I watched a few historical accuracy analyses, and the only major issue I had was the payment sequence. However I felt this was a decently done change to the actual event, I understand you can't have 100% accuracy. But in all, I think this will go down as my personal favorite Civil War-era film. I've seen Lincoln, but I was young and felt the pace was a bit too methodical for me. However watching this after my Dad's recommendation, I'm glad I finally found what I was looking for in a war film. I rarely admit if I cry during a film because it's only happened less than 5 times. But this film is added to that list. I think for me, and my dad being a black West Point grad, a lot of the film resonated with me on a personal level. I cannot explain why, but when the Regiment was presented to the other citizens in the Union, I cried. It was one of those moments where I finally understood why my dad served the way he did, and why he was so proud about it when raising my sister and me. This film came out a few years after my dad graduated, so I bet that probably is a main factor why Glory is one of his all-time favorites too. In War films I don't like it being explained who is the "Good" side or the "Bad" side, I'd rather it just tell me the accounts of what happened. This does that of course as I mentioned before taking a few dramatic liberties, but I think it's to enhance the subtleties of the story. This is a sensitive period for me as I've grown up, I don't enjoy slave movies at all because I hate the dramatization of such a demeaning time in history for African-Americans. This doesn't dramatize slavery to me, instead, the film uses the institution as a means to seek refuge and find camaraderie. For example, Silas Trip, to me, represents the individuals within the regiment that are still blinded by the institution and dehumanizing effects of slavery. The hatred he felt can be so destructive it ultimately detracts from the cause they are fighting for. That is real and it is a still prevalent issue in the black community in my experience. Morgan Freeman represents everything right that these men were fighting for, it wasn't sheer ignorance. He saw the destruction of the war, and he still was steadfast in his commitment to serving. Thomas also represents the man who needed to be grounded. I found his story compelling because he was yearning for that belonging within his community, and that's a universal struggle. Not just a black one.  I also felt that the film did a good job of showing the duality of the Union. Yes, there were abolitionists, like Shaw, whose sole purpose they felt was to be a leader of men, and shape the new America. But there were also people uneasy and even just totally against the movement made by the 54th Massachusetts. I enjoyed how they displayed that in a somewhat realistic way albeit dramatic. I felt engaged with this group of men and truly wanted to expand more on each of their stories. One of the rare times I would've been fine with a 3-hour runtime. But to me, almost all of the sequences in the film feel equally necessary and thought out. Im not sure if I have many issues besides the dramatic liberties, but that happens in films. It's not a documentary it's a Historical Epic and I inherently enjoy these. The Character arcs I felt for each character, especially Cary Elwes' "Major Cabot Forbes," were earned and well done. I maybe would have preferred a bit more time to flesh out characters like Col. Montgomery and Jupiter Sharts, but people like Jupiter's arc were complete with earlier portions of the film. So I have no real issue with that. I'd recommend this film to anyone who wants a good story within a historical film. I was engaged almost 95% of the film, and it's pretty evenly paced with a great final act.