Luce (I) (2019) User Reviews

Big build up for little pay off

[trailer_trashed89 · 7/10 · 30 October 2019]

The trailer for this film is what sold it for me. It appeared to me to be a psychological thriller set in an American high school, centred around the relationship between a Black student and his teacher. And I wasn't exactly wrong...but I wasn't exactly right either.

So Luce is a young Black student, praised by all his teachers and in line to be class valedictorian. But one of his teachers is worried that he is involved in some illegal activity and gets his parents involved. As the web of lies gets more tangled and the tension rises, we start to find that we don't know who to believe.

So lets start by talking about the spectacular performances of all the actors. There are some really seasoned actors and actresses in this film, and they of course give the kind of performances tat you would expect of some of these household names. However, what Is amazing is that the breakout performances by virtually unknown actors are just as good. Kelvin Harrison Jr.'s performance as Luce was truly spectacular and it is his amazing portrayal of the character is what makes the whole thing work. The whole reveal at the end would never work if his performance wasn't as excellent as it was.

Now we need to talk about the ending. But to that we need to look at the pacing of the whole film. So it is a very VERY slow build, as all psychological thrillers are. And you can feel the film building towards a huge climax...and was is the most disappointing thing is that I don't feel like that amazing climax ever really arrives. It was quite unclear at the end what the scheme actually was or what the motivations were, and for me, that is the most important thing in a psychological thriller. Instead I felt unsatisfied. Not a good feeling for the end of a thriller.

Not the best thriller I have seen so far this year and not one that I will remember in a few weeks from now. Enjoyable to watch once, but not one I will be returning too.

Nothing Is As It Seems

[Astaroth22 · 7/10 · 22 August 2020]

First of all, the acting was phenomenal. It's worth watching just for the performances alone. Next, the script isn't as bad as some are making it out to be. Unfortunately, in today's climate, there are those who have political views who actually search for or invent reasons to be upset. You'll know the ones who possess that affliction because it will be reflected in their reviews.

This movie is written so that the viewer can identify with every character in some way. There's something to feel for, like, and dislike as well.

Theres also a lot going on...

The sexual assault and manipulation. The Principal with blinders on, who is also potentially prepared to sweep it under the rug and more worried about a male future than that of a female victim.

The teacher with her own personal problems dishing out "tough love." Sometimes well intentioned and sometimes not. In the end she is clearly outmatched, not only by an unlikely villain, but also by her peers as well.

The adopted mother who is so invested in her son that she is willing to ignore the deviance and deception thats happening in real time right in front of her. Eventually, she's willing to become that way herself and not without obvious consequences as the whole situation threatens to slowly ruin her marriage.

Luce is a brilliant yet damaged young man. He's hurt, angry, and suffers from a sense of guilt due to his success story and why it appeals to others. Additionally, because of his charm and charisma, everyone sees what they want to see and ignores or covers for him. The combination of all these things proving it will not end well.

Very disappointing ending

[babicazza · 7/10 · 23 July 2020]

This film had me gripped, I loved it at first, saw a lot of potential in it! But i was left with so many unanswered question's, plot holes and motives. This would be a good film for a first episode to a series! But not as a film. The plot build up is extremely slow yet the ending is no different. Not worthy of the word 'film' but a good plot and amazing acting! Too many unanswered questions though.

Complex story, makes you think, is Luce really that good or really that bad?

[TxMike · 27 December 2019]

My wife and I watched this movie at home on DVD from our public library.

The core of the story is about a high school boy who had been rescued at age 7 from an African country at war, adopted, named Luce (light) and raised by a well-off white family in Virginia. The racial undertones are important as an element of all the stories within this almost 2-hour movie.

New Orleans native Kelvin Harrison Jr. is featured as Luce Edgar, he must carry the movie and he does it well. Luce has grown up to be a pleasant, polite, bright, trustworthy young man who excels both in the classroom and on the track. He also has become a gifted public speaker. As we meet him he seems like the perfect young man and a model of what can happen to someone rescued from a very bad situation.

But is Luce as 'perfect' as he seems? One female teacher, who also is black, begins to have doubts as Luce writes a paper advocating violence as a change mechanism. Is he just writing in character of the French author he cites, or is he writing his own deep beliefs? And what about the things she finds in his school locker? Was she violating his privacy without sufficient cause?

Teacher, Principal, and the parents get involved. Mom gets on the side of her son, the dad confronts Luce with a "I think that is a BS answer." A few other things happen, we the audience begin to take sides. The vandalism of the teacher's house at night, the fire in her classroom, could Luce be responsible for those because he blames her for taking away the only thing his friend DeShaun had, an athletic scholarship? Or is he being falsely accused by the teacher?

The director says, in his commentary remarks, that much of it is purposely left ambiguous, the audience is supposed to decide how perfect or how flawed Luce is supposed to be. It ends without definite conclusions, without tying up all the loose ends. Many viewers will not like this but to me it is a really well told fictional story, it makes you think, it is far from a cookie-cutter story. I think Luce falls somewhere in the middle of the extremes, as most of us do.

Some stunning acting turns ensure Luce is a gripping watch

[eddie_baggins · 6/10 · 30 March 2020]

Adapting his own play of the same name, playwright/screenwriter J.C Lee teams up with director Julius Onah to deliver a talk driven and character lead thriller that will most certainly get you talking afterwards but despite its weighty themes and controversial plot points, Luce may leave many cold come its closing credits as we are left too ponder many unanswered questions, that in some instances remain frustratingly unresolved.

Collating a well-rounded cast that includes the always good Naomi Watts, Tim Roth and Octavia Spencer and featuring a star-making turn from It Comes at Night actor Kelvin Harrison Jr as the titular Luce Edgar, Onah's film is the very definition of a slow burning affair as we are thrust into a seemingly small-scale school drama that slowly but surely moves towards a much larger issue in the lives of those it's affecting.

The less known about Luce's plot developments the better but suffice to know that from Spencer's teacher Harriet Wilson concerned meeting with Luce's adopted mother Amy after she discovers a potentially dangerous item in Luce's locker following an alarm raising report his handed in to her, the film takes us on a ride that tackles issues of race, identity and stereotyping as we begin to understand more about each of the characters within Luce's world and what is motivating them to make life-changing decisions in light of alleged issues.

Front and centre to all of this is Luce, a character that is incredibly hard to pin down, drifting from likeable star student to possible deviously motivated trouble maker and Harrison Jr wondrously plays with our emotions and feelings here as he brings this on paper perfect adoptive son to life.

Watching Harrison Jr play off against Watts and Roth is a joy to behold, while his interactions with Spencer's nosey but well-meaning teacher is a huge reason why Luce is such a gripping film for a majority of its dialogue heavy runtime and for the most part Onah and his cast keep us on edge throughout as we try and predict just what will come out and who will play their true cards first.

Unfortunately for the film, come the endgame you can't help but feel as though a little too much has been left only half-explored, there's a lot of themes, issues and ideas at play here and for a film that borders on a near two hour runtime, Onah and Lee had enough time to explore these to a more satisfactory level and the unsure nature of exactly who comes out of this film as the good and the bad makes us feel short-changed as bystanders, making the journey of Luce far more entertaining that its destination.

Final Say -

A uniquely constructed family/high school drama that explores more than its fair share of weighty themes, Luceis a tightly wound thriller with some great performances and ideas but not the final execution to make it the killer offering it could've been.

3 bags of fireworks out of 5

Unnecessarily convoluted and underwhelming half-baked misfire

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 6/10 · 28 October 2019]

Outstanding score - it goes to show you how easily it can make or break a film. Casting and performances were great. Cinematography and directing were decent, but the writing/screenplay was unnecessarily convoluted and underwhelming in trying to create mystery and suspense, but instead presented a half-baked misfire of a plot. The slow pacing and choppy plot made the 109 min run-time feel like 3 hours. Luce missed a huge opportunity to be something great had it had more substance than filler. It's a very generous 6/10 from me.

Is Kelvin Harrison Jr. an actor or is he manipulating me into thinking he's one...? *Mind Blown*

[TheCasualReviewer · 7/10 · 8 December 2019]

The collective performance of this ensemble is something else.

SYNOPSIS: Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) is your ideal son/student/role model. Star of the track team and the student you expect to make the commencement speech for his college graduation. However, with a tension forming between Luce and his teacher Ms. Wilson (Octavia Spencer) things begin to get stranger as you're forced to question whether Luce's intentions are pure or cynical.

DIRECTION: Julius Onah captures an atmosphere that just about suffocates you with suspicion and tension. Onah really makes you feel a few of his scenes due to angles and positions that manipulates your thoughts the same way Harrison Jr. does with his performance. Not the most unique direction, but good enough to elevate the film.

WRITING: What's so hard about reviewing this film is I can't tell what it was that really affected me whether it was the Directing, Writing, Acting or all of the above. This film itself is a manipulation. I think a large part of this is due to the writing. It's so precise and at times maybe too precise where it can be unbelievable at times.

ACTING: Kelvin Harrison Jr.. I could leave this at that, which is crazy because the rest of the ensemble was SO good. What the fluff is going on with these performances not getting any Oscar buzz? Just because you expect damn near perfect performances from a Naomi Watts and Tim Roth means they don't deserve to be talked about? Honestly, I'll chalk this up to poor marketing. This might be the least marketed film of the year with star power like that. I only knew of this film due to one trailer I saw from a film way back. Anyway, if I had my choice of Kelvin "The Ultimate Manipulator" Harrison Jr. being nominated for Best Actor, he would be right behind Adam Driver. Some short, but affective performances from Andrea Bang and Holy shift it's Astro from the US edition of The X Factor.

CONCLUSION: This is a really well made film from Julius Onah and incredible performances from the entire ensemble. Wasn't enough to get 4/5 stars just because it didn't reach a level I really saw this film having the potential to reach. If you're looking for strong acting and tense dialogue this is a perfect fit for you.

A slightly repetitive, but nonetheless fascinating societal drama that rewards concentration

[Bertaut · 7/10 · 20 November 2019]

In Trump's America, such as it is, issues such as race, gender, and class have become more incendiary topics than they've been in years. It's a house divided against itself, and it's the setting for Luce, a film which examines a myriad of these issues. Adapted from the play of the same name by J.C. Lee, Luce was written for the screen by Lee and Julius Onah, and directed by Onah. Tackling all manner of hot-button issues, including race, class, gender, power, privilege, #MeToo, academic achievement, stereotypes, liberal elitism, even revolutionary rhetoric and the importance of language in encoding societal/political power structures, it also works as a thriller about a young man who may, or may not, be a dangerous sociopath posing as the embodiment of the American Dream. Without question it asks a lot of the audience, meaning some simply won't want to put in the effort. It's by no means perfect - it's too long, lapses into repetition, and it spreads itself too thin thematically - but, by and large, this is strong work, with plenty to say to those willing to listen.

In Arlington, VA, 17-year-old Luce Edgar (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) is the adopted son of Peter (Tim Roth) and Amy (Naomi Watts). Born in Eritrea, Luce spent the first seven years of his life as a child soldier. However, with the love of his adopted parents and a lot of therapy, he has grown into an exceptional young man; all-star athlete, captain of the debating team, all-round honour student. However, when his history teacher Harriet Wilson (Octavia Spencer), who has a reputation for being harder on black students, gives an assignment to write from the perspective of a revolutionary, Luce chooses Frantz Fanon, the Pan-Africanist writer who argued that colonialism could only be defeated by violence. Disturbed by Luce's apparent endorsement of Fanon's theories, Wilson searches his locker without his permission (something she has also done to other students), finding powerful fireworks, and so sets out to convince the Edgars that their son may be dangerous. Luce, however, has no intention of letting her do so.

In a film which takes in countless themes, one of the most prevalent is race, especially the notion of differences in black identity - both Wilson and Luce are black, but Luce is also an immigrant with a vastly different frame of socio-political reference. Sure, he has experienced great hardships, but since arriving in the US, he's been relatively sheltered (to quote Onah, "Luce's proximity to whiteness affords him certain privileges that other black characters don't enjoy"). Wilson, for her part, is a child of the 60s, with direct experience of the Civil Rights Movement. However, perhaps because of this, she subscribes to respectability politics, seeing all black people as sharing a common bond. This is one of the things against which Luce pushes back most strongly - he disagrees that there's such a thing as a monolithic black identity, refusing to conform to Wilson's conception of what a successful black student should be. To conform to preconceived and idealised notions would be to define himself on other peoples' terms, in a manner not entirely dissimilar from the very inequalities against which the Civil Rights Movement was a reaction.

And, of course, it's important not to forget that amidst all the ideological differences between Luce and Wilson, their initial conflict is a more tangible one - after writing a paper about violence, he's profiled in a way that a white student would not be. The fact that Wilson herself is black is irrelevant to this - she reads what he says about violence and she assumes he shares Fanon's sentiments, and hence could very well be dangerous. In this way, the film deconstructs the concept of the "model immigrant" - the immigrant who must prove their harmlessness and demonstrate their potential to contribute before they can be accepted by society at large. But is such a requirement of assimilation just another form of racial profiling?

One of the things the film does especially well is toy with audience expectations. Wilson, like much of society, seems to think of Luce in binary terms - he's either a bastion of what's possible in the land of dreams or he's violent and dangerous. Cinema audiences too are conditioned to think in such binaries - we want ambiguous characters such as Luce to ultimately be revealed as one thing or the other. However, Onah knows that people will scan the text to find clues to confirm this notion or that notion, and he delights in complicating that process at every turn - when a grinning Luce mentions fireworks to Wilson, is he threatening her or is it an innocent reference to the Fourth of July; when an amiable Luce meets Wilson and her drug-addict sister Rosemary (a stunning performance by Marsha Stephanie Blake) in a supermarket, is it a coincidence or did he follow them?

I'd be remiss here if I didn't talk a little about the acting, which is universally exceptional. Just when you think you've got Luce figured out, Harrison gives a sly glance, a slight smile, a shift in body language, which completely dismantles your theory. In a part that's very, very wordy, some of Harrison's best acting concerns Luce's subtle non-verbal traits. Spencer is equally good in the role of Wilson, whom she plays as far more on the surface than Harrison's Luce. However, so too does she exhibit a degree of ambivalence - we're often not sure if she's acting out of genuine concern for the school or is instead being vindictive towards a student whose thinking she has been unable to bend to her own.

In terms of problems, the audience has to do a lot of the leg work, and it's something which will be immediately distasteful to some, especially those who demand rigid binaries and clear explanations from their narratives. Personally, I loved the inherent ambiguity, but I understand that some won't. The same is true of many of the themes, which tend to be raised in something of a phenomenological vacuum, exiting almost as hypotheticals rather than prescribed answers, and again asking the audience to connect some of the dots. More of a problem for me was that the film ran a good 20 minutes longer than necessary, with much of the dramatic tension slackening in the last act. It's also prone to repetition - seen most clearly in Peter and Amy's constant back and forths and the dialogue scenes between Luce and Wilson. The film also features a few too many issues, several of which are taken virtually nowhere. A subplot involving a possible sexual assault at a party, for example, pays lip-service to many of the tenets of #MeToo but does very little beyond that.

Nevertheless, I was impressed with Luce. What it says about the US's (in)ability to engage in meaningful dialogue regarding important socio-political topics isn't flattering, but it is compelling. Essentially a film about pressure, as exerted by parents, by schools, by teachers, by friends, by society, by oneself, it's at least partly an exposé on the bitter divisions inherent in Trump's America. It does spread itself a little thin and the ambiguity won't be to everyone's taste, but this is brave filmmaking with a lot on its mind.

There was material to make it a great thriller.

[deloudelouvain · 7/10 · 19 November 2019]

Luce is categorized in the drama genre and I guess that's correct even though there is an element of mystery and suspense. It's a slow build-up leaving the audience guessing who's telling the truth, trying to figure out what's really going on. Ultimately it could have been a good psychological thriller if that path would have been eplored. The beginning is a bit slow and the end is a bit disappointing as there was every chance to have a great ending scene. The cast is good, all actors did what they were supposed to do. Luce is a good movie but it could have been great.

The point being?

[dmitriihuang · 3/10 · 3 November 2019]

How is it the teacher is the only person that picks up the fact that Luce is a head to toe sociopath and does something about it? There are simply too many plot holes or loose ends here.

Acting is nonetheless quite decent. Kudos to Octavia. It is definitely worth a watch even though just for how these characters have been convincingly portrayed in an unconvincing story.

Is it Luce? Or is it Lucifer?

[lavatch · 9/10 · 26 November 2019]

In the debates that take place within Luce, an ethical dilemma is raised about the treatment of minors by figures in authority. Is it proper for a teacher to search a student's locker, then accuse him of stashing illegal fireworks when the locker is being shared with others? Is it proper for a parent to snoop on a minor to the degree that she is following the youngster in his various movements and looking through a window like a peeping tom?

In the portrayal of the complex character named Luce (meaning "light"), a young boy was adopted from war-torn Eritrea and raised by loving parents in America. The child is taken through years of therapy and comes out a brilliant student, who is also a skilled debater. As we follow the action, it is unclear if Luce is a bringer of light to Northern Virginia High School? Or, is he like Lucifer as a bringer of light that results in original sin? Luce is a fascinating, charismatic figure. But, to some, he also may seem a little scary.

The major debates that unfold are between Luce and his history teacher, Ms. Wilson. It becomes clear that the instructor has an agenda when it comes playing favorites with her students. Luce is troubled that his friend DeShaun has been kicked off of the track team and has lost a scholarship, due to the actions of the "stern" Ms. Wilson. Luce vows to set things right. Will he be the avenging angel who saves the dignity of his friend? Or, will he be the fallen angel who has defied the ethical standards of a beloved mentor?

The focus of the filmmakers is on the traditional way of using our enormous freedoms to work the system for social, economic, or personal advancement. In this regard, Luce is a hustler who has brilliantly used his intellect and his charisma to achieve his ends. Luce has curried favor with the school principal, Dan Towson, thereby having at his command a powerful ally at the most crucial moment in his high school career.

An intriguing question to raise after viewing the film is as follows: Does Luce actually do anything wrong in the film? The most serious allegation against him is that he assaulted Stephanie. But the closing scene that shows the couple together in a shack in the forest demonstrates that, at the behest of Luce, Stephanie made up a fictional story that she told to Ms. Wilson. There is no eyewitness to suggest that Luce set fire to Ms. Wilson's office or that he defaced the door of her home with graffiti. He may not have been entirely honest with his parents. But, from Luce's point of view, he was on a mission for a friend and would stop at nothing to fulfill a promise.

In the closing moments of the film, Luce's adoptive mother Amy assures her son that his future is entirely in his hands. But, wise beyond his years, Luce has already understood that concept for a long, long time.

Involving at first then a let down

[phd_travel · 6/10 · 17 November 2019]

At first the movie is involving with the tense play of race and stereotypes. An adopted boy from Africa is a brilliant student. But his African American teacher suspects something isn't right about him. The actresses Naomi Watts and Octavia Spencer are so likeable that you feel for each side.

It's hard to discuss the movie without referring to the ending. It doesn't feel right that Luce would resort to such a psychopathic scheme because of what happened to his friend. So the big reason for the character's actions is insufficient.

GOOD ACTING, INTERESTING BUT ULTIMATELY A MASSIVE LET DOWN.

[robjoldman · 2/10 · 9 May 2020]

Held me long enough to stay until the end, and just massively let down once I got there. Some good themes and ideas the non existent pay off and all the non answers left me feeling underwhelmed and a little annoyed. I found myself constantly waiting for answers to find out the film for the most part just wants you to come up with your own answers and fill in the blanks of which there are a LOT. I'm glad I did not pay to get see luce I most definitely would have wanted my money back. Some really good performances but that was the only reason this didnt get a one star.

Well-meaning, but, ulitmately frustrating

[gortx · 4 August 2019]

LUCE may have it's heart in the right place, but, it so bumbles the execution that it comes off like the worst kind of cinema provocation.

Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr) is a high school senior who was a refugee from a war torn African country and has been adopted and brought up by upper middle class white parents Peter and Amy (Tim Roth and Naomi Watts). By all appearances, Luce is a model student (he's even referred to, sneeringly, as another "Obama" by one of the other black students). Scholarships, speech engagements and accolades flow his way. That is, until he rubs one of his teachers, Ms. Wilson (Octavia Spencer), the wrong way. Before you know it, all kinds of hints and outright accusations of everything from harassment, to violence to sexual assault are being bandied about.

Co-Writer (with J.C. Lee) and Director Julius Onah broach some interesting themes about what it's like to be a minority with high expectations. Unfortunately, it's handled in such an awkward ham-fisted manner that whatever point the movie is trying to make gets buried in the worst level of 'woke' theatrics. It's the kind of movie that teases the viewer with hints, clues and scenes cut off just before a crucial story point is delivered. It's supposed to lure the viewer in and make it more suspenseful, but, the tact gets tiresome quickly. Worse, the deception creates a feeling it's all artificial. A ruse to keep the viewer interested, without having the dramatic goods to make it pay off with anything meaningful.

The performances are fine, with Harrison delivering even while he's ultimately let down by the material. Spencer is a solid actress but her poorly written character takes the brunt of the poorly constructed screenplay (a subplot about her troubled sister is particularly odious). The dialogue (when it's allowed to fully play out) has some snap and vigor and Onah's staging shows promise. It's unfortunate that LUCE's filmmakers felt that by keeping the viewer in the dark for as long as possible, that it was the route to greater significance or to shining a light on the issues it raises. It isn't.

COMMENTARY ON FOREIGN ADOPTION, RACIAL ISSUES, TEEN PRESSURE

[srobertson-75103 · 7/10 · 7 February 2020]

I liked the movie - but was kind of confused about exactly the point. This would be a good movie for an English Class to dissect the different themes going on. I would say it hits upon the pressure parents and teachers put on teen role models (especially African American role models). Everyone wanted this kid to succeed so badly that it led to many instances of lying and deceit on the part of students, teachers, parents and administration. It also is a commentary on issues around foreign adoption and the difficulties both the parents and kids can go through. It touches on school politics and how things can get swept under the rug when people or their actions don't fit into the image they are trying to project. I wish the movie would have just touched on one of these issues and stuck with it...I was kind of bouncing around trying to figure out the main point. As I said earlier...this would be a great case study for an English or Theater class.

Fine film with strong performances

[Alexander_Blanchett · 7/10 · 28 January 2020]

It was a good film with a nice Story and some complex characters. The film mainly convinces with its great acting. First of all Kelvin Harrison Jr. who also had a great Performance this year in "Waves" . Here he Plays a totally different character, actually quite the opposite and once again he is terrific. Definitely an Actor that will have a bright future if he Plays the game correctly. I am absolutely Looking Forward to his next Performances. Another strong Performance came from Octavia Spencer, although she overacted it a Little bit in her final Scene. Still nicely nuanced for the rest of the film. Naomi Watts is solid, most of her Performance works through her expressions. Tim Roth is a bit in the shadow of the three, but his character is also the most poorly written. What he does with it is noteworthy. He breaks it out but still suffers from its weak base. The score is intersting and Fitting the atmosphere. The screenplay was solid and so was the direction. Sometimes it dragged a bit, especially in the mid section. But what I liked is that the ending is Kind of ambitious - the audience can make their own decision and conclusion.

Complicated. Who Will You Believe?

[itsbobr · 7/10 · 29 November 2019]

At 7 years of age, Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr) came from worn torn Eritrea and a white couple, Pete Edgar (Tim Roth) and wife Amy (Naomi Watts) adopted him. Luce has exceeded all expectations Scholastically and Athletically in his High School. All is good until his teacher Harriet Wilson (Octavia Spenser) reads a report Luce did that seemed, to her, that he is advocating violence against the powers that run everything. Since that reading, she also invaded his locker and found illegal fireworks. She tells Amy and gives her the bag of fireworks and Amy hides them in her house.

This is a complicated story and we don't know who to believe about anything. We see deception, lies, and Ms Wilson outing a student DeShaun (Astro) in line for a basketball scholarship when she found drugs in his locker and he was expelled.

At some point Pete and Amy bicker about believing in their son. Luce tells them he shares a locker with others and the fireworks are not his. Amy believes him, Pete does not.

So, as we go along, we will see that there are many things that we are not sure of. Who helped pass around Stephanie (Andrea Bang) at a Christmas party onto laps so the boys could have their fun with her? Was Luce involved? Stephanie tells Amy no, but she tells Harriet Wilson, yes. Who wrote in red paint on Harriet's windows that Harriet Wilson is a bitch? Was it Luce? He claims he was somewhere else during that night.

Notable: Marsha Stephanie Blake as Rose, Harriet's sister who has a condition Harriet cannot cope with, but we don't see any resolution; Norbert Leo Butz as principal Dan Towson, who wants to believe Harriet Wilson, but...............

Now here's the thing: Harriet Wilson believes she is not fooled by Luce. Is she right? Stay tuned as Amy has it all figured out. Will you?

When stories come about like this and you don't know who or what to believe, you become quite engaged to find out the truth. Will you? (7/10)

Violence: No. Sex: Yes. Nudity: yes. Humor: No. Language: Yes. Rating: B

What the What!

[mpar-52182 · 6/10 · 16 September 2021]

I was with "Luce" all the way until the end. After all the twists and turns, the ending was a complete let down. I still do not know what was the point of this film. If it wasn't for the actors, I would have rated this a 1.

Luce stands for...

[mmuggi · 8/10 · 24 October 2020]

First of all, I would like to express my respect to the actors who are in this film. All the big roles (maybe except the inspector) play great. There are so many games, so many doubts and layers to peel off this film that it's almost hard to keep up, but at the same time so easy - almost all the way. For there is a plot point that becomes extremely important in the film, but where reality is never told completely at the bottom. Just as the film language around racism and stereotypes sometimes touches on the melodramatic, possibly due to the fact that the film is based on the screenwriter's own stage play. The ending is also a bit unrelenting unfortunately, and it gets a little too long and lingering. All in all, a solid psychological thriller, with tension and good performances, which, however, could well have been a little shorter and more pronounced.

LUCE: MODEL CITIZEN OR A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR?

[babyjaguar · 7/10 · 14 August 2019]

This film based on a play by Asian American writer, J.C. Lee explores the notion of what is true? Luce, the main character played cleverly by Kev lin Harrison, it'sworthy of recognition and praise and supported by the established talents of Octavia Spencer and Naomi Watts. Washington's superb but uncanny cinematic presence, can get underneath one's skin.

Luce, an immigrant high schooler who's an accomplished academic student that serves as a role model not just to an immigrant but to African-American males as implied by the film's narrative. This film has brought forth controversy and stereotypes about the myth of being a perfect immigrant searching the American Dream.

This film is directed by Nigeria-born filmmaker, Julius Onah (known for Sci-fi genre). The film really tries to think outside of the box, which probably "why" many reviews don't know how to react. It about racism? Between polarization of White and Black America? Or is it the stress of being a teenager in Middle America? Or could this be "really" about what mainstream media wants the masses to think in the idea of model citizenship?

Don't waste your time

[stevensond-37168 · 3/10 · 1 November 2019]

This movie is a waste of time and money. The trailer portrays it as a "thriller" but the bottom line is it never goes anywhere. Slow moving, not a thriller and leaves you wondering what the point of the movie is. They try to use music as some sort of scary effect when there is no scene to match it. So disappointing

Straight-A student takes down his teacher in engrossing tale of moral ambiguity and the racial divide

[Turfseer · 8/10 · 30 August 2019]

Finally a film examining the racial divide in this country chooses not to fall for easy answers. Director Julius Onah collaborated with JC Lee on the screenplay based on Lee's play. The title character, brilliantly played by Kelvin Harrison Jr., is a high school student initially adopted as a troubled child soldier from Eritrea by white parents, Amy and Peter, played with great intensity by Naomi Watts and Tim Roth.

Luce, an A-student and track star, is seen at the beginning of the film, rehearsing a speech he's about to make before the student body. He reminds one of a young Obama and is even told that by fellow students (pejoratively as it turns out). Luce comes into conflict with his history teacher, Harriet Wilson, played by Octavia Spencer, in the surprisingly welcome role as the heavy (in contrast to many earlier films where she's played overly sympathetic characters).

Harriet, a conservative African-American woman has already gotten DeShaun, the star football player, kicked off the team with no chance of receiving a college scholarship, after she rummages through his locker and finds marijuana there. Harriet, a stickler for the rules, has a reputation as a hard ass and Luce apparently resents her lack of flexibility.

When Luce writes a paper assigned by Harriet in the voice of Frantz Fanon, a French-African nationalist who advocated violence to oppose colonial stewardship, alarm bells go off in Ms. Wilson's head. Her best student may be embracing the radical posture of the more militant African-American students at the school and she doesn't want to see Luce ruin his career. To add insult to injury, she also finds a cache of illegal fireworks in his locker.

Wilson's decision to go through Luce's locker is actually debated in class between the two in a hypothetical discussion involving legal decisions. While it appears Wilson is able to legally justify going through the locker, it's clear Luce will have none of her argument. The rummaging through the locker is probably the weakest plot link in the film. While justification is somehow provided during this classroom debate between the principals, in reality a teacher would never have been allowed to get away with going through a student's locker like that without permission-especially in a school with a liberal, progressive principal like Mr. Towson (played by Norbert Leo Butz).

Wilson brings all this to Luce's mom Amy, who fears the underlying psychopathology of his younger years may be re-emerging. Is he sociopath or merely the victim of a teacher who has a vendetta against him? And could Ms. Wilson's "vendetta" actually be based on holding Luce to a higher standard (in Luce's eyes, the black student is expected to be "perfect"). Wilson, in contrast, acknowledges how racism can easily bring African-Americans down and that's why even a small slip-up can ruin any chances to succeed in a society run by whites.

Luce (the film) morphs into a psychological thriller as we're eager to know whether Luce is honest or not. Soon it becomes apparent, that Luce, as a school leader, cannot allow the slight to DeShaun to go unanswered. The earlier reference to Frantz Fanon becomes completely a propos-Fanon, known for his axiom of "the oppressed becoming the oppressor," now completely applies to the manipulative Luce. Through a series of brilliant schemes (including conscripting his girlfriend to lie to Ms. Wilson that she was gang raped by some students at a drunken party), he manages to get the 15 year teaching veteran fired.

Wilson, however, remains somewhat sympathetic. In a subplot, she cares for a drug-addicted woman with mental health issues whom she has taken in as a ward. The woman ends up appearing at the high school, has a meltdown (ripping off all her clothes to boot) and ends up tasered by cops who arrive there after 911 is called.

The film's scenarists do what good screenwriters should do-introduce moral ambiguity into a story where one strains to figure out who is the correct protagonist and antagonist. What's more I think the protagonist is not as sympathetic as one would like and the antagonist has troubling sympathetic qualities.

May I venture to suggest that Ms. Wilson is the protagonist but deeply flawed? She holds high school students to the standard of adults which has very unfortunate consequences, especially for that one student expecting a college scholarship. On the other hand, Luce is clearly the antagonist, in that he is willing to lie and manipulate others in order to take down a 15 year veteran teacher, who admirably has been caring for a drug-addicted woman off the streets. But still, can't Luce's behavior be excused due to his extremely difficult childhood? What's more, it appears at film's end that he is remorseful regarding his behavior and is on the road to positive change.

The parents here are complicated characters too. Naomi Watts displays a gamut of emotions as she's on a veritable roller-coaster, not knowing whether she should be supportive or critical of her son. But Tim Roth who plays the father, will have none of Luce's manipulation. He never really wanted to raise a troubled child in the first place, and now feels that his negative expectations have been confirmed.

In this era where some filmmakers choose to depict African-Americans as perennial victims, Luce is a refreshing change. Indeed, the axiom of "the oppressed becoming the oppressor," suggests that those who have been victims of racism, would sometimes prefer to embrace the "sweet taste" of revenge as opposed to taking the "high road" (or as Spike Lee put it: "Do the right thing"). But on the other hand, in this film (as in life in general), things are not always "black and white" nor is right always completely right and wrong always completely wrong.

Thought Provoking Drama Which Can Be Frustrating At Times

[larrys3 · 7/10 · 7 November 2019]

Strong cast in this thought provoking, layered, and complicated drama. But one will needs patience , as the film very slowly unfolds its story. Some issues in the movie remained unresolved which can be frustrating and the dialogue, at times, feels like it's from the stage (which it is: from the play of J.C. Lee). However overall, the air of tension and suspense throughout kept me engaged as to how this was going to turn out, and combined with the solid acting made it worth a watch.

Wait for it, wiat for it, wait for it.....What? What a stupid ending!

[tokentools · 1/10 · 29 July 2021]

Started off ok, built a great plot, excellent acting, good character development. You keep guessing who the psycho is and then the movie ends. This made me feel like I invested 2 hours of my life in a PONZI scheme that collapsed at the end with no return.

Feeling dissapointed.

Too Cryptic For Its Own Good

[CinemaClown · 20 January 2020]

A confusing, conflicting & cryptic thriller that plays with our perceptions to challenge our preconceptions, Luce clearly intends on starting a conversation but it also does the bare minimum to make it happen as the film expects the audience to figure out the mystery yet doesn't provide a starting point to get them going.

Co-written & directed by Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox), the film is certainly an improvement over his previous dud and is captivating in its narration that tackles parent anxieties, assumption, suspicion, biases & guilt, but much of what it wants to say is lost in translation, and the ambivalent ending doesn't help the cause either.

There are a lot of things that are left unresolved by the end, and even the cast does too well to not let anything slip away. Kelvin Harrison Jr. chips in with a multifaceted input that keeps us guessing at all times. Both Naomi Watts & Tim Roth do good as his concerned parents. Andrea Bang easily steals her scenes, and Octavia Spencer is brilliant as usual.

Overall, Luce is a deliberately complex yet sufficiently engaging drama that asks a lot of questions but refuses to answer any of them. What keeps the interest alive is our very own curiosity to discern the truth, and the anticlimactic end leaves behind an underwhelming aftertaste. Still, for its strong performances & thought-provoking treatment, Luce is worth a shot.