Alice

First off, I genuinely love Keke Palmer, Johnny Lee Miller and Common.

With the expectations high I have to say that I may have set myself up for something a little grander BUT that certainly did not take away from what was a very enjoyable film.

There are parallels to The Village (2004) and Antebellum (2020) but they are mostly on the surface. I did guess 'The Village' bit very early on, but I believe that we were meant to, as there was a very obvious hint within the first 15 mins.

Where I think the story suffered a bit was how quickly it wrapped up as there clearly would be a lot for Alice to unpack when she becomes fully aware of her circumstances. Coming in at just over 90mins., I would've dedicated another 30 mins to this easily to flesh out the ending better.

The other reviews that seem to think that the influence of popular (and historical) African-American culture wouldn't have informed the protagonist are reaching. While a bit rushed, Alice indeed becomes informed from a pretty good balance of history and pop culture. And why wouldn't she model herself after the female icons of the time?

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so I wouldn't discount the parallels too much from The Village, as indeed the movie takes that root from an actual recent historical event.

A few points shaved for the rushing to conclusion, and for a little unbalanced screen time for the antagonists to add some more weight.

The down-voting is an issue for me and those who follow my reviews are keenly aware of this. But, while I wouldn't upvote in response, the honest rating for Alice is 6.7/10 but the score and soundtrack will subsidize that back to a 7/10.

Honestly I have to say I'm shocked by how atrociously low this movie is being rated. The acting in the movie was really good and the story was very interesting. Truly don't see why this is being rated so poorly.

Keke her performance was phenomenal in this!

Definitely recommend watching it.

And for all the people reviewing this writing annoying things like "based on a true story where??" Maybe you should google things more before you post? A simple search would have led you to multiple articles on this. I'll help you out! Google: "What story is Alice 2022 based on?"

Google Mae Louise Walls Miller perhaps?

Anyway. Again: great movie, great acting, great story. Nothing else.

When I saw the movie poster, then went to see the flick, the first act of the movie did not match what the poster was telling me this was going to be. Then at some point the transaction between what this movie is and what the movie poster told me it is happens and I'm blown away.

If you've seen the village the first half of the movie is the village, but that second half, that's a Blaxploitation film! One of the best I've ever seen.

It starts out with something that seems farfetched (or a truth I don't wish to believe), then it gives a very real metaphor about revolution.

I want to point out that the movie itself states its inspired by something that actually happen, which only adds fuel to the fire.

I thought KeKe Plamer was enjoyable as Alice, but Rapper/Actor Common looked like he was made for his role as Frank.

I thought the format perfectly Mimicked a movie made in 1973 without pretending it was a movie made in 1973.

Really enjoyed myself here!

Alice begins telling the story of how some slave owners were still stuck in their slavery mindset and they used fear of change to justify keeping their slaves from being free. Their anger of losing humans as property like cattle to mentally handicap other humans and believe they are entitled to determining another man's freedom and worth because of a brainwashed systemic racism society. They didn't want slaves to be educated beyond the Bible and only by their interpretation of that belief. We spent too much time in that setting for me. I'm sure it's to make a imprint affect on the audience. When Alice becomes free it's not when she escapes physically but mentally. Overall the acting and storyline created an entertaining watch. Was it a 'must watch'? No. What happened in this film is factual and documented more than 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, there were black people in the Deep South who had no idea they were free. These people were forced to work, violently tortured, and raped. Our history is their history and they rather criminalize 'woke' in meaning questioning them, being aware, being observant and not being ok with the force fed whitewashed accounts that only serves their purpose.

Elements of the film's background are loosely based on the narrative of Mae Louise Walls Miller, who escaped from slavery in 1963.

Nearly five years after the Waterford meeting, however, Mae Louise Walls Miller of Mississippi told Harrell that she didn't get her freedom until 1963. Miller told her about how she and her mother were raped and beaten when they went to the main house to work.

Since that time, Harrell has continued her research and documenting their story.

Over time, she said the "modern day slaves" did leave Waterford Plantation as their offspring were able to attend college or buy a home. While many of their parents, by then in their 70s and in poor health, knew they were free but still stayed where they were or went to another plantation. But she added they encouraged their children "to move ahead and take their liberties or freedom."