REVIEW: Peter Nichols | B+
Jeremy Allen Rodriguez as Miller Harvey in The Example (2016)
Introduction
The Example focuses on two men and a dreadful fear. One man, Miller Harvey is an Officer of the Law, and Carver Jefferson an educated business owner. The two men have a family in common but a difference; Miller is White, Carver is a African American. Each have a son about the same age, and this similarity is the basis of their fear.
Review
The Example highlights the dramatic incident that puts both men in a shocking realisation of the choice to act out of their fear. The time is June 1943, during the Beaumont race riots in Texas. The officer determines to protect his family by serving his city and the Business man must leave Beaumont at the wrong time to save his family. The Example opens on the scene of Carver’s home and business engulfed by an inferno. What follows is a curfew that places Beaumont under martial law. Miller and another police officer collide with Carver and his family at a night road block.
Wyatt Cagle does well to lay a great back story of a tension filled city in the opening scene. The story progresses into Carvers decision to leave town during curfew, while his action is in itself, not an issue, the timing will give rise to a gun and fist conflict at a roadblock. Harvey and his colleague are enforce the law on this night with a bias . The built up tensions in the city from the riots explode at this road block and into a collision of words, a fist fight and a gun that misfires.
And the hot summer night forces the men to evaluate the consequences of their decisions and as Wyatt put it questions their morals authority, loyalty and manhood. Thanks to Gordon S. Williams for a great script. This tension is heightened by Joel Love‘s score which plays perfectly to move the story chronologically, The beauty of the story fully holds firm on this tense-hot night, with the remarkably beautiful cinematography of Donald Kilgore. Such beauty under a lean budget, to make a heavily stylized film is commendable.
Although a few blips were rather obvious in the performances, Wyatt, his cast and crew should hold their heads up high. The 20 minute short can deliver a much remarkable impact if cut further down to 15 minutes. A few medium shots work better as closes ups, for instance the shot when Carver points the gun at the officer. The Example is a tension-filled drama, with the quality of a dramatic feature. We loved the timing in the movie.
Conclusion
The Example deserves to be made into a full movie, the size of Selma. It is a story that deserves more light, and this education will carry into the psyche of the country. It provokes us to question our morals, loyalty and humanity.
Final Grade B+
