“Nobody in this film gets away scot-free,” says Nick Robinson about “Native Son,” HBO‘s modern update of Richard Wright‘s classic but controversial 1940 novel about Big (Ashton Sanders), a young black man in Chicago and the tragic turn his life takes after he’s hired by a wealthy white family. “Everyone is kind of a victim and a villain, and they’re all complicit in what happens,” Robinson adds. Those are the “conversations that should be happening” when people see the film. Watch our exclusive video interview with Robinson and his co-star Margaret Qualley above.
Qualley plays Mary, the liberal daughter of wealthy Henry Dalton (Bill Camp), and Robinson plays her activist boyfriend Jan. They’re the kinds of “woke” characters who discuss social justice but clearly haven’t checked their own privilege, and they don’t seem to be aware of the compromising positions they put Big in.
Qualley plays Mary, the liberal daughter of wealthy Henry Dalton (Bill Camp), and Robinson plays her activist boyfriend Jan. They’re the kinds of “woke” characters who discuss social justice but clearly haven’t checked their own privilege, and they don’t seem to be aware of the compromising positions they put Big in.
- 4/4/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Revamping Richard Wright’s 1940 seminal novel via a modern adaptation by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, first-time feature director Rashid Johnson has made a thunderous impression with “Native Son,” which had its world premiere Thursday at the Sundance Film Festival.
A gut-punch of a debut that examines race relations in America with unabashed force, Johnson’s present-day interpretation proves, disgracefully, how pertinent Wright’s text remains.
Still set in Chicago and subdivided into “Fate,” “Fear,” and “Flight” segments (as in the source material but in rearranged order), the thought-provoking film is steered by Bigger “Big” Thomas, a non-conformist African American youth garbed in a customized leather jacket and sporting green hair.
Also Read: Ashton Sanders' 'Native Son' Acquired by HBO Films
Lyrical voice-over quickly provides access to his sharp-edge observations on the external entities that constantly challenge his self-awareness. Parks and Johnson repeatedly confront him with fellow African...
A gut-punch of a debut that examines race relations in America with unabashed force, Johnson’s present-day interpretation proves, disgracefully, how pertinent Wright’s text remains.
Still set in Chicago and subdivided into “Fate,” “Fear,” and “Flight” segments (as in the source material but in rearranged order), the thought-provoking film is steered by Bigger “Big” Thomas, a non-conformist African American youth garbed in a customized leather jacket and sporting green hair.
Also Read: Ashton Sanders' 'Native Son' Acquired by HBO Films
Lyrical voice-over quickly provides access to his sharp-edge observations on the external entities that constantly challenge his self-awareness. Parks and Johnson repeatedly confront him with fellow African...
- 1/25/2019
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
Big (Ashton Sanders), the central character of Rashid Johnson’s “Native Son,” is a twitchy existential brooder in his early 20s who styles himself like a thrift-shop literary gangsta. Tall and glowering, with a rail-thin frame, he wears high-water pants and white socks, black nail polish and an array of death rings, tortoise-shell glasses that lend him a touch of Malcolm, a shiny leather jacket with the words “Or am I freaking out” spray-painted on the back like graffiti, and — to top it all off — short hair dyed very bright green. No question about it: This kid has a lot of look.
If it’s hard to say precisely how the pieces of his image fit together, the confusion is intentional. He’s having a little trouble with that one himself. Big is short for “Bigger” — and yes, despite the inner-city punk trappings, he’s still very much a version of Bigger Thomas,...
If it’s hard to say precisely how the pieces of his image fit together, the confusion is intentional. He’s having a little trouble with that one himself. Big is short for “Bigger” — and yes, despite the inner-city punk trappings, he’s still very much a version of Bigger Thomas,...
- 1/25/2019
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Ahead of its Sundance premiere, “Native Son” has found a new home: Rashid Johnson’s directorial debut has been acquired by HBO Films from A24. Johnson, a renowned visual artist, is making the jump to filmmaking with the assistance of screenwriter Suzan-Lori Parks, whose 2001 play “Topdog/Underdog” won the Pulitzer Prize for drama. The film marks the first adaptation of Richard Wright’s seminal 1940 novel.
Here’s the synopsis, courtesy of Sundance: “Bigger ‘Big’ Thomas, a young African American man, lives with his mother and siblings in Chicago. Half-heartedly involved with a girlfriend, he sports green hair and a punk jacket, smokes weed, and carries a pistol — but rebuffs his buddy’s ‘easy-money’ scheme to knock off a corner store. Full of self-determination, Big accepts a job as the chauffeur for wealthy businessman Will Dalton’s family. Moving into their mansion, he begins driving Dalton’s vehemently progressive daughter, Mary.
Here’s the synopsis, courtesy of Sundance: “Bigger ‘Big’ Thomas, a young African American man, lives with his mother and siblings in Chicago. Half-heartedly involved with a girlfriend, he sports green hair and a punk jacket, smokes weed, and carries a pistol — but rebuffs his buddy’s ‘easy-money’ scheme to knock off a corner store. Full of self-determination, Big accepts a job as the chauffeur for wealthy businessman Will Dalton’s family. Moving into their mansion, he begins driving Dalton’s vehemently progressive daughter, Mary.
- 1/24/2019
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Simon Brew Mar 2, 2018
Ever fancied joining in the fun of Go 8-Bit? Well, before and after the episode each week, you now sort-of-can...
During March and April, Steve McNeil (Team captain on Dara O Briain's Go 8-Bit) will be hosting a series of live online shows, directly before and after Go 8-Bit premieres and repeats on Dave each week.
In WiFi Wars, viewers will get to play all the games against each other using the show's Guinness World Record-breaking tech.
In The Video Game Game Show Show, the guests will compete on retro games, but the audience will also be involved by voting on who they think will win, playing games (like in WiFi Wars) and they'll get to take part in bonus quiz rounds too.
Steve, who obviously sprung to fame writing for us, told us that "we're really excited to be doing these online shows, as we're able...
Ever fancied joining in the fun of Go 8-Bit? Well, before and after the episode each week, you now sort-of-can...
During March and April, Steve McNeil (Team captain on Dara O Briain's Go 8-Bit) will be hosting a series of live online shows, directly before and after Go 8-Bit premieres and repeats on Dave each week.
In WiFi Wars, viewers will get to play all the games against each other using the show's Guinness World Record-breaking tech.
In The Video Game Game Show Show, the guests will compete on retro games, but the audience will also be involved by voting on who they think will win, playing games (like in WiFi Wars) and they'll get to take part in bonus quiz rounds too.
Steve, who obviously sprung to fame writing for us, told us that "we're really excited to be doing these online shows, as we're able...
- 3/2/2018
- Den of Geek
The BAFTA Rocliffe Comedy Writing Competition has found its winners who will showcase their work for U.S. TV experts in New York in October. A UK-wide competition to find the nation's most promising comedy writers, it's headed to the New York Television Festival for the 5th time under the banner BAFTA Rocliffe New Comedy Showcase. Samuel Jefferson, Tom Moran, and writing pair Henry Dalton & Paul Cope will see an extract from their scripts performed live and will receive…...
- 8/12/2015
- Deadline TV
The BAFTA Rocliffe Comedy Writing Competition has found its winners who will showcase their work for U.S. TV experts in New York in October. A UK-wide competition to find the nation's most promising comedy writers, it's headed to the New York Television Festival for the 5th time under the banner BAFTA Rocliffe New Comedy Showcase. Samuel Jefferson, Tom Moran, and writing pair Henry Dalton & Paul Cope will see an extract from their scripts performed live and will receive…...
- 8/12/2015
- Deadline
The following contains spoilers for Monday night’s season premiere of Hart of Dixie.
Hart of Dixie‘s Season 4 premiere sneak peek on Monday night brought a handsome new addition to Bluebell, but it’s one that’s still on the way that shocked Zoe.
After hooking up with Wade — though failing to win back his heart, sadly — the doc discovered she was pregnant.
Meanwhile, Lemon returned from her singles cruise with a saintly doctor of her own — but their romance is all a ruse.
Below, executive producer Leila Gerstein previews how Zoe and Wade will deal with their bun in the oven.
Hart of Dixie‘s Season 4 premiere sneak peek on Monday night brought a handsome new addition to Bluebell, but it’s one that’s still on the way that shocked Zoe.
After hooking up with Wade — though failing to win back his heart, sadly — the doc discovered she was pregnant.
Meanwhile, Lemon returned from her singles cruise with a saintly doctor of her own — but their romance is all a ruse.
Below, executive producer Leila Gerstein previews how Zoe and Wade will deal with their bun in the oven.
- 12/16/2014
- TVLine.com
Get ready for the Great Farewell to Bluebell Party of 2015!
No, that doesn’t necessarily mean Hart of Dixie‘s 10-episode fourth season will be its last — The CW has yet to declare a verdict on that front — but regardless of what happens, the town denizens will be getting a proper goodbye. And yet, there’s still hope for more stories.
Creator Leila Gerstein tells TVLine that she plans to give all the characters “a happy, celebratory conclusion” at the end of the upcoming run, “while still leaving some doors open for the future.”
However, “I do feel like 76 episodes...
No, that doesn’t necessarily mean Hart of Dixie‘s 10-episode fourth season will be its last — The CW has yet to declare a verdict on that front — but regardless of what happens, the town denizens will be getting a proper goodbye. And yet, there’s still hope for more stories.
Creator Leila Gerstein tells TVLine that she plans to give all the characters “a happy, celebratory conclusion” at the end of the upcoming run, “while still leaving some doors open for the future.”
However, “I do feel like 76 episodes...
- 12/12/2014
- TVLine.com
According to a recent report from TV Line, the Hart Of Dixie season 4 peeps have decided to bring on very rich, charming, new doctor to stir things up, and he'll be portrayed by actor, Anthony Dale (left) of Hawaii Five-0 fame. This new doctor's name is going to be Henry Dalton, and he'll be a recurring fixture, so we'll see him, often, here and there. He's described as being an incredibly charming doctor, who is being dubbed (at least by the show’s writers) “a walking Superman.” "He's one of the richest, most connected men in the South. Sweet, friendly, and kind. He impresses with his lovely self-deprecating sense of humor and his moving tales of his work volunteering with Doctors Without Borders. He’s the man that women want, and that men want to be. He’s practically perfect." So, wow. I guess you can't go wrong with all that,...
- 7/3/2014
- by Andre
- OnTheFlix
As previously reported, TV Line delivered their latest spoiler chat session, and dished out new "Hart of Dixie" season 4 spoiler scoopage. It turns out that we'll see a new doctor arrive on the scene that's supposed to be rich,handsome, in his late 30s to early 40s, and more. In their spoilert chat reveal, they explained: "When the show returns at midseason, expect to meet Dr. Henry Dalton, a gent in his late 30s/early 40s who is not only handsome and charming but also one of the richest, most connected men in the South. Dalton is described as “the man that women want and men want to be… a walking Superman.” (Mr. Welling is 37, just sayin’!)" Stay tuned.
- 6/7/2014
- by Chris
- OnTheFlix
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