Movie Review: Red Tails

Black soldiers were never expected to succeed in World War II.

In 20^th century America, black men were deemed cowardly, inferior to their white counterparts and unfit for battle. The Tuskegee Airmen far exceeded expectations and proved they were men of courage and integrity, willing to risk their lives for their country.

Despite their bravery, they faced two battles—one against the German army they were fighting and the other against the racism they faced in the U.S. armed forces.

Audiences can now see the story of these courageous men played out on the big screen thanks to director George Lucas, best known for his epic films like Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

Lucas recently appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to discuss the film, which he has worked on for the past 23 years, collecting information from the original Tuskegee Airmen.

"Most people don't know who they are," he said.

Lucas said he had a difficult time finding backing for the film, as movie production companies just weren't convinced there was a market for an all black cast. Still, Lucas knew this story was important to tell, especially for young black men.

"…I wanted to make it inspirational for teenage boys. I wanted to show that they have heroes, that they're real American heroes, they're patriots that helped make the country what it is today, and it's not ‘Glory' where you have a lot of white officers running these guys into cannon fire. They were real heroes," Lucas said.

The standout performances of the film Red Tails came from actors David Oyelowo and Nate Parker, whose characters Joe "Lightening" Little and Marty "Easy" Julian argue yet support each other throughout the duration of the film.

In addition to showcasing the advanced flying skills and battle strategy of the Tuskegee Airmen, the film also displays the close relationships between black soldiers, a relationship made all the more closer due to the struggles they endured together.

Also worth mentioning are the performances given by the film's younger actors Tristan Wilds and Marcus T. Paulk, who most would remember from his television performance as Brandy's younger brother Miles on Moesha. Wilds' character Ray "Junior" Gannon hails from Howard University and is determined to garner the respect of the older soldiers. Paulk's character David "Deacon" Watkins finds strength in his religious beliefs and encourages his comrades in combat.

This isn't the first time the story of the Tuskegee Airmen has been recognized in film. In 1995, "The Tuskegee Airmen" aired on television starring Laurence Fishburne and Cuba Gooding Jr.

While the film Red Tails may have featured your standard cliché war movie dialogue, the central message was clear—America would not be where it is today without the contributions of black soldiers.