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Created Jan 23, 2012 10:10PM PST • Edited Feb 02, 2021 05:53PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   The Greatest Generation embodied countless examples of valor, both personal and patriotic. The Tuskegee Airmen – as great a group of military pilots as this country ever fielded – delivered more than their fair share of each, making their story among the most significant from WWII.

   Red Tails burnishes this monumental tale into vivid hagiography, an earnestly good movie but hardly a transcendent one. Earnestness isn’t seen as important these days, making Red Tails a 1940s stranger in a 21st century strange land. One imagines that the Tuskegee Airmen would be disappointed in their grandchildren’s America. The Greatest Generation didn’t do irony.

   Red Tails is a must-see for WWII buffs, war movie fans in general, and for those interested in African-American’s rise to their proper place amongst America’s elite. Those demanding irony should steer clear.

4. Acting

   OK 2.5

   Fighter Jocks -

   • ‘Easy’ – The Captain of the squadron whose burdens feed self-pity. Solidly played by Nate Parker.
   • ‘Lightning’ – Easy’s hotshot best friend who personally takes down a large chunk of Hitler’s hardware while also taking a lovely Italian fiance. David Oyelowo ably fills the role. That a Brit plays a quintessential Yank is one of many Euro ingredients in this God Bless America production.
   • ‘Smoky’ – A country bumpkin who gets off the best line in the movie, plays decent acoustic Blues and is a convincing Ace. Ne-Yo from Arkansas deserves more roles after his Smoky.
   • ‘Junior’ – Originally Junior, becomes Ray Gun. Deserves it. Tristan Wilds also deserves more roles after his Ray Gun.
   • ‘Joker’ – Every squad’s gotta have a Joker, played by Elijah Kelley.
   • ‘Deke’ – We first meet him in the chapel, talking up Black Jesus. Deke’s a classic Right Stuff name, seeing as how another Deke become an astronaut. Marcus T. Paulk plays this Deke.
   • Maurice Wilson didn’t even get a nickname. Jip. Michael B. Jordan – last seen quarterbacking Coach Tim Taylor’s East Dillon Panthers – plays him.
   • ‘Coffee’ kept ’em flying as head of the groundcrew. Andre Royo plays him.

   Officers -

   • Cuba Gooding Jr.‘s squad commandeer isn’t on screen much and doesn’t do much when he is. He does deliver a buck-up line to his demoralized charges that is a show stopper.
   • Terence Howard’s upright Colonel is sufficient for the few iconic scenes he has.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars OK 2.5

7. Female Costars OK 2.5

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    John Wayne would recognize this film. Lil Wayne won’t.

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play OK 2.5

    Great story clumsily told. Perhaps the story is too heavy, too laden with heroism to tell any other way. Still, hot and cold running bravado without a trace of irony seems so odd these days.

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals Really Great 4.5

    Outstanding aerial action. Dogfighting and strafing extraordinaire! The P-51 Mustangs, tails painted red, are a special treat.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.1

17. Sex Titillating 1.7

18. Violence Brutal 2.6

19. Rudeness Salty 2.1

21. Reality

    Glib 1.6

    Inspired by real events provides the jumping off point for LucasFilm to employ 25 stuntmen, 25 pilots and hundreds of visual FX techs and artists. The results are spectacular.

    Unfortunately it’s easy to believe that a white colonel would declare that Black Americans lack the makeup to fight. That said, no one could have expected the Tuskegee Airmen to turn into the Michael Jordans of aerial combat, which they did. However, the notion that they couldn’t fight pegs the self-defeat meter!

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.8

23. Biological Glib 1.5

24. Physical Glib 1.4