UPDATED: The review embargo has lifted and, just like we predicted a week ago, the performance is being praised much more than the movie itself.
“Till” currently has a 66 on Metacritic (based on 9 reviews) and 100% on Rotten Tomatoes (based on 7 reviews). THR, IndieWire and The Guardian are all mixed on the film, but have glowing praise for Deadwyler.
EARLIER: The social media embargo has lifted on Chinonye Chukwu’s “Till.” Like all other critics, I’m not allowed to publish a review until tonight at 9pm.
The reactions on Twitter were as expected: movie is by-the-books, but, wowee, Danielle Deadwyler stuns in the lead performance. She elevates the film’s quality.
The problem is the screenplay. The positives are Chukwu’s delicately artful direction and, of course, Deadwyler. You’d be a fool not to, at the very least, consider her for an Oscar nomination in the Lead Actress category.
Right now, it’s gotta be Blanchett , Robbie, Deadwyler, Williams, and Yeoh. Colman is #6.
Matt Neglia: I cannot sing the praises of Danielle Deadwyler enough. What she does here in giving a pained performance with strength & nuance is extraordinary & will be studied for years. Her final courtroom scene literally gave me chills. She’s my pick to win the Oscar for Best Actress.
Clayton Davis (Variety): Just to be clear, any potential Oscar best actress lineup that does NOT include Danielle Deadwyler for #Till, is INCORRECT and should be immediately thrown in the TRASH. This woman is a star. Through and through. Also, give Chinonye Chukwu the money to make whatever she wants.
Joey Magidson (Awards Radar): Till is a fairly standard historical biopic, but Danielle Deadwyler is excellent. Especially during a third act trial sequence, the film works best as a showcase for her.
David Canfield (Vanity Fair): Danielle Deadwyler is truly *incredible* here, w/ several scenes that took my breath away. She anchors Chukwu's artful, sensitive & nuanced vision. The one performance this season I haven't been able to shake—that raw, and that good.
Anne Thompson (IndieWire): Director Chinonye Chukwu (Clemency) knows how to pull great performances from actors. With NYFF premiere Till (10/14 UAR) Danielle Deadwyler (Station Eleven) delivers as the grieving mother of lynched 14-year-old Emmett Till. But Chukwu milks the drama with heavy-handed closeups.
Will Mavity (Next Best Picture): Danielle Deadwyler is such a stunner in Till. She takes that character on such a gigantic emotional journey from timidity, then to devastation, and then righteous, courageous anger. The kind of performance you can’t look away from and keep thinking about for weeks