- Director : Denzel Washington
- Actors : Michael Jordan, Chanté Adams, Jalon Christian, Robert Wisdom, Tamara Tunie
- Producers : Michael Jordan, Jason Blumenthal, Todd Black, Steve Tisch, Denzel Washington
- Studio : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- MPAA rating : PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
- Media Format : Blu-ray, Digital_copy
- Dubbed: : Portuguese, French, Spanish
- Subtitles: : Korean, Thai, English, Portuguese, French, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish
- Country of Origin : USA
- Run time : 2 hours and 11 minutes
- Release date : March 8, 2022
- Number of discs : 1
When it comes to filmmaking, good intentions are
rarely enough, and A Journal for Jordan is a spectacular example of
that. Based on Dana Canedy’s memoir A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love
and Honor, the film follows the former New York Times journalist’s romance with
1st Sergeant Charles Monroe King. While the true story is showed respect in the
efforts to adapt it into a movie, this often comes at the expense of good
filmmaking.
Chanté Adams
stars as Canedy in the non-chronological depiction of her romance with King
(Michael B. Jordan). Despite their differences, Canedy and King begin a relationship
after meeting at her parent’s house. Rather than give us extraneous details,
the films remains zeroed in on the romance, often at the expense of any other
story elements. Despite the narrative addressing the events of 9/11 and the war
in Iraq, they are merely included to add context to the dynamic between the
pair. King’s war efforts aren’t depicted in any way that doesn’t impact Canedy,
which can feel off-putting. I’m sure the relationship was Canedy’s main
priority in the storytelling, but that doesn’t mean it is the most interesting
aspect of King’s story.
The retelling of the relationship
between the journalist and soldier is respectful to the point of being uninspired.
The screenplay by Virgil Williams sanitizes the story to portray King as
something of a saint, but that doesn’t make for an engaging or interesting
film. While the family members of the departed may praise this portrayal, those
who didn’t know the deceased are more likely to be disappointed by the lack of
depth in the material.
Most who decide to watch this film
are likely doing so because of the director and star. That would be a mistake.
None of the content in A Journal for Jordan comes close to other films directed
by Denzel Washington. This doesn’t feel like a movie made by anyone with
credits outside of the Lifetime Channel. And although Jordan is serviceable in
the supporting lead role, even he seems to be uninspired by much of the
dialogue given to him. Most of the performance feels subdued, to the point of
feeling flat.
The Blu-ray release includes a
handful of special features reinforcing what was most important to the
filmmakers. There is a making-of featurette, a feature about the journal, and
one about Charles and Dana. It is clear that there was more emphasis put on the
respectful depiction of the real people the movie is based on than what would
make a good film. Unfortunately, it isn’t just the narrative that is short of
spectacular. The high definition presentation makes the film’s budget apparent
as well, with shortcomings in the cinematography exposed. The special features
also include deleted scenes and a gag reel.
Entertainment Value:
4/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 4/10
Historical
Significance: 2/10
Special Features: 6/10
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