Dean Norris and Kerry Washington in The Six Triple Eight – Image: Netflix
Based on the article “Fighting a Two-Front War” by Kevin Hymel of World War II History magazine, six triple eight Presents the heroic true story of the 6888th Battalion that provided hope – and millions of pieces of pending mail – to American soldiers and families at the height of the war.
Written, directed and produced by Tyler Perry (A Jazzman’s Blues, A Fall from Grace), the story focuses on the only all-black, all-woman who served in Europe during World War II as they undertake the enormous task of sorting out Was doing. and delivering a multi-year backlog of mail after it was halted due to supply chain shortages in the early 1940s. Facing discrimination and a desire by military higher-ups to see them fail, the unit – led by Major Charity Adams (Primetime Emmy winner Kerry Washington) – sets out to reunite families and give their fellow soldiers the connections they need. Determined to provide them with the support they desperately need during the long and arduous journey abroad. war.
Along with Kerry Washington, the film stars several notable stars, including Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (dead man Walking, Thelma and Louise), TV and film icon Oprah Winfrey (purple color, law & Order The legend Sam Waterston, and breaking bad The extraordinary Dean Norris.
While these stars will capture the audience’s attention, the focus of the story focuses directly on the women of the six Triple Eights; Most notably, Private Lena Derricott as portrayed by Ebony Obsidian (Sistas, if beale street could talk,
As a World War II story about a battalion that never sees combat, it’s writer/director Tyler Perry’s job to take us into the battle within the battle; Fighting for relevance, respect and basic human decency from your fellow officers and soldiers; The fight within myself to not get sucked into the fights of racist men and women and to remain calm in the face of wild displays of ignorance.
With Lena, Perry also gets a chance to show the often suppressed raw emotion of a man who has been personally affected by the war; A man devastated by loss and inspired to make his tragedy meaningful. Lena puts her face on stacks and stacks of packages and letters that never reached families who needed to know if their loved one was going to make it or possibly read the last words of someone they loved so much. Considered dear.
The Six Triple Eight’s best moments are not in exploring sorting systems or making it through basic training, but in the boiling of personal conflicts and emotions that always remain close to the surface but rarely break through in a military environment. -Especially one that actively tries to cut off the legs of black women in the 1940s.
Six triple eight. Kerry Washington as Captain Charity Adams in Six Triple Eight. Ten million. Courtesy of Bob Mahoney/Perry Vale Films 2/Netflix
As a director and writer, this film is a step up for Perry from his previous Netflix Original period drama, A Jazzman’s Blues, as he’s finally turning a less soapy, over-dramatic approach into something more measured. ; A mission critical story with most of the essential rallying points and a dose of elevated drama.
While the film could have used a little more visual flair, musical cues, and a tighter editing, Perry succeeded in producing a compelling personal narrative that transcended the limitations of a less than cinematic story on paper. The build-up to the “O Captain, my Captain” moment following the standoff between Washington’s Major Adams and Dean Norris’ General Holt is the best this film could hope for; A recognition of devotion and sacrifice after a risky move that could have ended everything.
For all its trope-filled biopic trappings and more improbable scenes, particularly those surrounding the White House, The Six Triple Eight offers a watchable version of a story that most people would assume should remain a history magazine article. Will think about. Perry provides enough personal connection, era-specific context and historical significance to justify the leap to the screen. Washington, Obsidian, and Just Enough Shanice Shantae give life and compassion to these real-life characters who were undervalued given their role in history.
Six triple eight. Kerry Washington as Major Charity Adams in The Six Triple Eight. Ten million. Courtesy of Bob Mahoney/Perry Vale Films 2/Netflix
Watch six triple eight if you liked
- hidden data
- devotion
- A Jazzman Blues
- Shirley
- GI Jane
MVP of six triple eight
Kerry Washington and Ebony Obsidian
“855 women join battle to fix three-year backlog of undelivered mail.”
Reading that plot line more sarcastically would sound like Allen Iverson in the early 2000s:
We’re talking about sorting mail? Two hours. You want me to spend two hours talking with you about mail?
But writer/director Tyler Perry knew he needed to explore what made Mel more than Mel, why it was so hard to be a woman in the military in the 1940s, and why a black woman’s experience was so difficult. what makes. They also needed two strong black women to be the face of it all.
With Washington, she gets an experienced actress who can play confrontational and emotional characters even in her sleep. Major Adams must be strong, thick-skinned, and compassionate in a time where most of his peers do not have the time or respect for his existence.
With Obsidian, she gets a classic beauty and a gentle soul that can sell the sadness of lost love and the strength to overcome it. When his crew discovers his true story and discovers his last written words, it gives meaning to the entire project and breathes life into the entire film.
The balance between these performances gives the best version of a complex story that can be delivered to the average person, especially in the modern technological age.
A story worthy of telling with solid performances from Washington and Obsidian. Quality streaming TV isn’t quite a lift from the movie effort, but it’s still a worthwhile venture by Perry.
