Film Review: Netflix’s “All Day and a Night”

One of Netflix newest originals All Day and a Night is the second feature film directed by Joe Robert Cole, the co-writer of Black Panther (2018). While the screenplay is solid, the film itself lacks an artistic vision and isn’t able to use it’s high-tier cast.

As soft-spoken Jahkor Abraham Lincoln (Ashton Sanders) struggles to keep his dream of rapping alive amidst a gang war in Oakland, his ill-fated life and real-world responsibilities drive him further and further across the line of right and wrong with tragic consequences. Landing in prison beside his father, J.D. (Jeffrey Wright) whom he never wanted to be like, Jahkor embarks on an unlikely journey of self-discovery, exploring the events that unite them, in hopes of helping his newborn son break a cycle that feels unavoidable. (Netflix)

The cast is the movie’s biggest plus-point, be it a Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) or a Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen), everyone convinces in his role. However, Ashton Sanders (Moonlight) is the true star of the movie. He convinces throughout with a strong performance and proves once again that he has the potential to become one of the greats in Hollywood.

The story is told in three parts that merge seamlessly into each other. Jahkor’s childhood, which is marked by his drug-addicted father, who convinced him that violence is the only way to survive. But he also discovers his passion for rap. His time as a young adult is the biggest part of the plot and is marked by rap and violence, but also his relationship with Shantaye (Shakira Ja’nai Paye) and his friendship with TQ (Isaiah John) and Lamarck (Christopher Meyer). In prison he has to deal with his past, which seems to catch up with him every time.

The story feels really long, even if the runtime is “only” 121 minutes (including credits). It feels like it has nothing to tell. The opening is the deed the whole movie is based on, the deed that puts Jahkor in Prison. Then the film tells in retrospect how it came about, constantly jumping back and forth between the three times. We get to know a bunch of characters, whose relationships with Jahkor are supposed to carry the whole movie. Yet, these relationships are predictable, surprisingly incosistent and simply uninteresting. The movie doesn’t manage to make you take an interest in these relationships and that’s it’s biggest problem. You simply do not care.

The technical aspects of the movie are solid throughout. The camera work is very average, there are simply standard angles and shots. With the exception of one long-take, which reminds one strongly of the legendary long-take from Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. Jahkor, Shantaye and TQ meet at a party and walk through all parts of the building, out onto the street, where they go to an illegal “car race”, including a party. The take finally ends after two cars are making donuts (drifting in circles), in the middle of an intersection. This is also one of two well executed and edited scenes in the whole movie. Otherwise the camera is simply to uninteresting to keep the viewer glued on to the screen, when there isn’t an interesting scene happening. The light oftentimes uses neon colours, which gives some scenes a special look. The score and soundtrack convince with fitting rap-beats and songs.

Overall the movie lacks at it’s artistic vision. It has nothing that set’s it apart from other films of the same genre. It feels incredibly tough, doesn’t show anything surprising and doesn’t really finish any side-plot it started. It’s simply said boring. This, combined with a rather boring, average camera work, makes it only worth seeing for fans of the genre.

2,5/5

All Day and a Night is available on Netflix.

Have you seen All Day and a Night? If so, did you like it? Are you planning to watch it. Let’s discuss everything in the comments down below.