Review: TUSCALOOSA Starring Natalia Dyer and Devon Bostick

Tuscaloosa stars Natalia Dyer (Stranger Things), Devon Bostick (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Tate Donovan (The O.C., Argo), and Merchant Davis (The Day Shall Come). The film was written and directed by Philip Harder in his directorial debut, and is based on the novel by Glasgow Phillips.

The film follows Billy Mitchell (Bostick), young and on the precipice of a potentially prosperous life, who has found love with a girl named Virginia (Dyer). But things are complicated from the start, as Virginia is a residential patient at Billy’s father’s psychiatric facility. All of this is up against the racial tension of the early 70s south. So while Billy’s torn feelings between the girl he loves and his father’s ideas for his future, he is also coming to terms with his father’s membership in Tuscaloosa’s town powers, versus his childhood best friend, and his involvement in a radical racial movement that pushes them further apart than ever.

This movie did a good job of painting a picture of the early 70s south. It also portrayed the racial tension, as well as the uphill battle women were still facing in the fight for equal rights during this time. The acting was good. I just felt a disconnect in some parts of the story. There were scenes in which the relationship between the main character and his best friend didn’t make sense, as his friend was unnecessarily hostile toward him. I get that he had plenty of reason to be mad at the state of things in the world, but he took it out on his friend, and it didn’t do a good job of giving us a why.

It also felt to drag a bit a little over halfway through. Maybe it just needed a little bit more of an edit in this spot to keep me captivated. It told a story, and I liked the characters, but just felt a bit of a disconnect.

Tuscaloosa hits theaters tomorrow. You can also catch it on VOD and On Demand.