There is a wealth of chameleon-like modes within Chiwetel Ejiofor — actor. director — who even in a dormant state engages the viewer. The man who plays along with White and Beauty, the Golden Globe winner, the star of several high profile projects like Apollo 18 and even the upcoming Venom: The Last Dance seems, however, forewords with purpose: “Let me remind you. You are a human being, not a monster. There’s hope. But do we just burrow deeper into simply pretending to be normal?” Ejiofor also impresses us once more, this time in a very different context in his second directing endeavor – Rob Peace, this time he is the director. Here he also plays and co-stynewrites the film (with Jeff Hobbs) in which he manages to balance a relevant and interesting true story against excessive politics. The film is inspired by the biography of Robert Peace, The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace. It is an engrossing but tragedy-filled brightly Moving drama encompassing a young talented mathemetician (Rob Peace Kelly Jay Will) who dazefully abandons his education and a sure successful livelihood to bail out his jailed Dad (Chiwetel Ejiofor).
His journey though was cut short after he was shot dead aged thirty as a professional trigger-man. But unlike most films with provocative plots, this drama is well both soft and quite deep. It is easy to see how one could have honed and cut down on about fifteen minutes of running time to enhance the impact of the film but the performances were spot on guided by the clarion direction of Chiwetel Ejiofor which is quite rare in many films today.
It is possible that you may remember the first film directed by the Oscar nominee, which in fact is also about a young boy who faces obstacles. In addition, Ejiofor takes part as one of the authors in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind released in 2019 where we met a 13 year old boy from Malawi who fights against drought in his village by constructing a windmill. In this case, Rob Peace is the main focus of the theme and the narration serves as a road map for the readership.
The action starts in 1987 and it takes place in Orange, New Jersey. Young Rob (Jelani Dacres) is living with his mother Jackie (Mary J. Black of Mud Bound) as his father and mother have been separated, yet very strong affection to his dad ‘Skeet’ does get lost. Several of these scenes in the opening demonstrate so well Rob’s deep attachment towards both his father and his neighborhood, which are two critical factors in his choices in the future. The film at some point starts to pick up when his father is charged with killing two people. Jackie has aspirations for her son and will make sure that he has a fighting chance at a good tomorrow.
Rob is not a pitiful creature as the narrative seeks to make us believe regardless of the fact that this is what is portrayed. Transitions have never been geometric. Having uncovered Ray’s devotion to medical practice, we then search for strands of decent character within him. All too often, a Trevante Rhodes (and his convincing such roles as a soldier-in-‘the-woods’) is completely accepted but unchallenged, especially in seeking potential for vulnerability underneath the exterior. Even as she defines her character, Stewart displays the fearlessness in herself that is required of such a freedom-craving patriot. Idealistic in this sense as Rob seems, he also can and does possess a dark side that at times claims and plunges him into manic depression. There, in the shadow of human nature, his ‘fitness’ hypothesis can be fully realized. Like many newcomers today, the actor is builders from the vacuum from which came.
Now, Ejiofor knows how to capture these unique pivots nicely say Rob the Yale molecular biology wiz and then Rob the kid who sells drugs. Next up is Mary J. Blige who, as usual, impresses. The singer-actor gets into the skins of mother Jackie and her feelings attitudes angry and loving to her child and winning in her performance. The script may not have given her enough space or opportunity to shine, but she hits puts even controls her scenes sometimes. It is almost natural to think that the audience would have an idea about Jackie considering the accurate portrayal of single mothers in real life. Which makes Blige’s performance even more amazing.
Additional filming of other costars beyond Gbenga Akinnagbe, Michael Kelly, Mare Winningham, Camila Cabello playing the role of Rob’s girlfriend, are adequate to provide the creative meat needed in any spot turn. The other movies, while more and more fast pace and no filler mood in the third act, do feel time stretched in. So, for those members, who are eager for the show to get over within 90 minutes, will have to hold on for an additional 30 minutes. It is not that such an ending is negative. The conclusion, however, raises the question of whether the director cut could have been more economical. Once more though, the pacing in the editing is superb. Masahiro Hirakubo has been the editor of Chiwetel Ejiofor movies since 1996 including the ever popular ‘Trainspotting’ and is skilful in applying effects like slo-mo as well as editing different scenes and timelines that are unrelated.
Rob Peace is somewhat similar in that regard to Howl to the Chiwetel Ejiofor who seems to have a knack for there being great storytelling around the character. Yes, true, not so long ago fans enjoyed all the fun over Egiofor playing the nasty Orwell Taylor, one of the villains in the coming 3rd part of Are there any heroes left: Venom, Marvels cinematic universe. Not bad at all too – however a military billeted is credited for a brief scene with Eddie and Venom. While all that’s fun, it’s nice to witness both, more of the clever don’t 4r cross with pretty starz lady as he does in so somber picture as Rob Peace and too more of directing.
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