Based on the true story of the events that led to the death of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., an elderly African American veteran with bipolar disorder, who was killed during a conflict with police officers who were dispatched to check on him.... (Full plot summary below)
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Based on the true story of the events that led to the death of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., an elderly African American veteran with bipolar disorder, who was killed during a conflict with police officers who were dispatched to check on him.
Leave your thoughts about The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain.
| Film ThreatBobby LePireThe Killing Of Kenneth Chamberlain is a well-executed if a bit stagey, dramatic thriller that illustrates exactly why “defund the police” isn’t just a rallying cry but an important call to action. The actors are stunning in their raw performances, and the story will leave audiences infuriated. And that is precisely the point. |
| Austin ChronicleJosh KupeckiThe phrase “searing indictment” is an overused idiom in the critic’s toolbox, but in this instance, it couldn’t be more appropriate. |
| Movie NationRoger MooreWriter-director David Midell cast this well, turned in a script with a bitter, metallic aftertase and never wastes a second of screen time, giving us two points of view — outside and inside that door — letting us stay one step ahead of this slow tumble off a cliff. |
| RogerEbert.comBrian TallericoIt’s a stunning showcase for the great character actor Frankie Faison, who conveys Chamberlain’s confusion and terror with palpable empathy and honesty. |
| The Film StageJared MobarakFaison’s performance in the role is not one to be forgotten either. He’s playing a man with obvious psychological trauma, but never in a cartoonish way. There’s a brilliant authenticity to how he shifts his vocals depending on who he is talking to too. |
| User ReviewBrent_MarchantWhen overzealous, racist White Plains cops conduct a wellness check request that was accidentally sent by an aging, mentally ill, African-American former marine, events quickly escalate, turning an allegedly beneficial visit into an out-of-control incident that defies its supposedly inherent intent. Director David Midell's fact-based second feature outing is, admittedly, an extremely difficult and infuriating watch, a damning indictment of uncalled-for, wholly insensitive, abusive police practices, the kind that makes one wonder who's protecting whom (if protection itself is indeed actually involved). The up-close, claustrophobic feel generated by the film's superb cinematography and award-nominated editing effectively draws viewers into the midst of this deeply unsettling story, making audience members squirm in discomfort, especially when one realizes it's true. This is also made possible by the excellent performances of the fine ensemble cast, most notably Independent Spirit Award nominee Frankie Faison as the beleaguered protagonist and Enrico Natale as a police officer attempting to keep the situation from spiraling into an unmanageable frenzy. Clearly, this is not easy viewing, but it's certainly vital watching, the kind of movie that should raise awareness -- and justified anger. |
| User ReviewJLuis_001It provokes a reaction, that's unquestionable, but as a film it stretches something that doesn't offer many strengths except Frankie Faison's excellent performance. Still, this film is a lesson about each and every thing that went wrong in this case, including police brutality, that continues to fuel such cases in our daily lives. |
