With a superbly loose steeliness, Washington brings David to life as a man who doesn't see how complex and conflicted he actually is. He sanctimoniously thinks he works as hard as he does for his wife and son, but he's actually both dismissing and domineering them. And Hadera and Joseph make it clear that they know it. And the surrounding cast is excellent, adding passion to each scene. Wright and Rocky are standouts, with unusually nuanced characters.

In between superbly staged offbeat action sequences, which are full of distractions like a Puerto Rican street party and a Yankees game, deeper ideas continue to gurgle. And later scenes push the moral questions even further. At times, David seems more concerned about what the public will think than what's the right thing to do. He's keenly aware that the music industry is shifting around him, and he also notices both racial and ethnic tensions everywhere he goes. Where this leads is very pointed, but it's important and stunningly well played.

themes, language, violence

5.Sep.25

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