THE JOURNEY OF AUGUST KING
A film review by Michael John Legeros
Copyright 1996 Michael John Legeros
(Miramax)
Directed by John Duigan
Written by John Ehle, based on his novel
Cast Jason Patric, Thandie Newton, Larry Drake, Sam
Waterston, Sarah Jayne Wylde
MPAA Rating "R" (presumably for a graphic execution)
Running Time 92 minutes
Reviewed at The Colony, Raleigh, NC (1JUN96)
==
The mountains of North Carolina are the setting for this agreeable period drama (1815) about a lonely, widowed farmer (Jason Patric) who befriends a runaway slave (Thandie Newton) on his three-day trek back from trading. He's a quiet, gentle man who consents to conceal the girl in his horse-drawn cart, along with the geese, pig, and cow that he's carrying. Her owner (a squinty Larry Drake) is also on the trail, as are numerous other people, which makes the journey all the more dangerous. (And dangerously graphic! Cover your eyes after a male slave is captured. The fate that befalls him involves one of the most violent acts that I've seen in some time!) Rather engrossing for both the excellent period detail and the breathtaking scenery, THE JOURNEY OF AUGUST KING doesn't muster much in the way of dramatic weight. Missing is a sense of August King The Person. We're shown what he *does*, but not who he *is*. Thus, whatever metaphorical "journey" he undergoes can only be inferred. And that's no good. Nice use of the accompanying animals, tho. They are a small supporting cast unto themselves. Filmed entirely in North Carolina.
Grade: B-
--
Mike Legeros - Raleigh, NC
legeros@nando.net (h) - legeros@unx.sas.com (w)
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