Freedom's Path

... cowardice comes in many forms, including a failure to use your privilege to help those who need it when you know wrong is being done.

Freedom's Path is a solid debut from writer/director Brett Smith.

In spite of its lengthy runtime, Freedom’s Path delivers a harrowing story about standing up for whats right and never take one step back. About choosing compassion over violence and the importance of bonding, even under the most grueling circumstances.

From the villain to the strained efforts at Terrence Malick-style lyricism, the film is earnest but sentimentally simplistic and plodding. It is, however, useful as a cinematic YA novel, taking a palatably approach to an ugly chapter in our history.

A lyrical film set during the Civil War about the unlikely friendship between a white Union soldier and a member of the Underground Railroad.

Freedom’s Path puts everything on the screen and hardly loses a beat.

Freedom's Path treads into melodrama as characters stay rigidly defined to support the narrative's agenda. That said, its powerful themes and unvarnished truth lessens the flaws for a worthwhile viewing experience.

Not without flaws, but its earnestness, better than average execution and excellent lead performances make it more effective than you might expect, even if the message it delivers is hardly a new one.

Freedom’s Path is a relentlessly, oppressively well-intentioned movie that struggles mightily to live up to the importance of its subject matter.

Freedom's Path is a U.S. Civil War drama that's fairly good, but not excellent. Some aspects of the movie are predictable and cringeworthy. However, the co-lead performances by RJ Cyler and Gerran Howell are admirable and are worth watching.