Movie Review

Harriet is not the great honor that Harriet Tubman deserves

Stories centered on historical African American figures have been few and far between in the history of cinema. Even when they are told, they tend to come well past the time when comparable white figures are celebrated in film form. Harriet Tubman, one of the most famous conductors on the Underground Railroad, is finally getting her tribute with Harriet.

Directed and co-written by Kasi Lemmons, the film introduces us to Araminta Ross (Cynthia Erivo), who chafes under her owners, who she believes had promised her and her family their freedom. After living her entire life as a slave in Dorchester County, Maryland, she becomes determined to escape to the North.

With the help of a few well-connected people, she makes it to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and changes her name to Harriet Tubman. However, she soon becomes discouraged by what she perceives as a lack of urgency in rescuing other slaves by the local abolitionist society led by William Still (Leslie Odom Jr.). Taking matters into her own hands, she returns to the South many times to rescue hundreds of slaves, in the process gaining the nickname of “Moses” because of her preternatural ability to evade capture.

Lemmons and co-writer Gregory Allen Howard take great pains to honor the life and achievements of Tubman, but it seems they may have tried a bit too hard to be reverent. Instead of a straight-up drama, the film is treated as a type of adventure, with danger around every turn. There’s no denying the inherent riskiness of Tubman’s endeavors, but the manner in which they are shown actually diminishes what she was able to do.

Instead of narrowing the focus and showing intimate details of how the Underground Railroad worked or the specifics what Tubman did, the filmmakers give both the broad strokes treatment. Consequently, you never get a true sense of the threat she and the other slaves faced. One of her owners, Gideon (Joe Alwyn), is portrayed as an ever-present boogeyman, and other moments that would otherwise be tense turn into movie clichés with lines that elicit eye rolls.

Unparalleled bravery was a major reason why Tubman was able to accomplish everything she did, but in the filmmakers give equal or more credit for her escape and subsequent rescues to literal visions she would have of the future. While Tubman had a head injury that resulted in her having visions that she considered to be signs from God, the method in which the film shows the visions is somewhat hokey. A story such as Tubman’s needs no extraneous embellishment; it is inherently interesting and dramatic.

None of this is the fault of Erivo, who gives an earnest and compelling performance. Erivo, who won a Tony Award for her role in the stage version of The Color Purple, has quickly established herself as an actor to watch on the big screen. Strong supporting roles by Janelle Monae, Odom Jr., Clarke Peters, and Vondie Curtis-Hall prop up an otherwise lackluster script.

A momentous figure like Harriet Tubman deserves to be honored in every way possible, including on the $20 bill. Unfortunately, Harriet is just a so-so celebration of her life, delving too much into storytelling tricks instead of letting Tubman’s story lead the way.

Cynthia Erivo in Harriet.

Cynthia Erivo in Harriet

Photo by Glen Wilson / Focus Features

Cynthia Erivo in Harriet.

Weekend Event Planner

These are the 12 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Snowday Dallas

Photo courtesy of Snowday Dallas

Snowday Dallas opens at Galleria Dallas on November 14.

Another weekend in November brings yet more holiday events, with the start of two more long-term celebrations. Other choices in and around Dallas include a comedy festival, a celebration of a renowned musical duo, a symphony concert, a former SNL cast member, a dance production, a local theater production, an opera concert, a rock concert, a Sesame Street show, and a celebration of life for a local theater icon.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. For more options, check out our calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.

Snowday Dallas

Photo courtesy of Snowday Dallas

Snowday Dallas, along with with Santaland, opens at Galleria Dallas on November 13.

Thursday, November 12

Plano Comedy Festival
The Plano Comedy Festival is the largest comedy festival in North Texas. From rising stars to national touring headliners, this multi-day celebration showcases a diverse range of comedic talent. Headliners will include Eric Eaton, Ainsley Bailey, Jason Salmon, and Dana Gould. The festival takes place through Sunday at Mic Drop Comedy in Plano and Backdoor Comedy Club in Richardson.

The Carpenters Songbook: A Live Celebration
The Carpenters Songbook: A Live Celebration brings the brother-sister duo’s music back to the stage. With a full band and heartfelt storytelling, the concert captures the warmth, emotion, and musical brilliance of The Carpenters. It features all of their favorites, including “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Close to You,” and “Rainy Days and Mondays.” The concert takes place at Majestic Theatre.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Ravel & Gershwin"
"Ravel & Gershwin," conducted by Stéphane Denève and featuring pianist Cédric Tiberghien, will include Roussel's Suite No. 2 from Bacchus et Ariane, Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D Major, Milhaud's La Création du monde, and Gershwin's An American in Paris. The concert will be performed on Thursday and Friday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Dallas Comedy Club presents Michael Longfellow
Michael Longfellow was a cast member on Saturday Night Live for three seasons from 2022-2025. Prior to SNL, he was one of eight comedians chosen for the inaugural Netflix Introducing… showcase at the Netflix is a Joke Festival in 2022, and made his late-night debut on Conan in 2018. He'll perform five times through Saturday at Dallas Comedy Club.

Friday, November 13

Gaylord Texan presents Ice! featuring Harry Potter
Ice! featuring Harry Potter will greet visitors with a towering ice sculpture of Hedwig, Harry’s beloved owl, before sending them through 10 rooms filled with photo-worthy moments and iconic scenes inspired by the films. Themed rooms will include Hogsmeade Station, the Forbidden Forest, The Three Broomsticks, The Great Hall, and Hogwarts Castle. In the castle room, visitors can race down six two-story ice slides that lead toward the Quidditch Pitch, where the room will burst into light and color in celebration of each Hogwarts house. The holiday event takes place through January 3 at Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine.

Galleria Dallas presents Snowday and Santaland
Snowday takes guests on an explorable adventure through imaginative rooms and hundreds of surprises. Created to be a fully immersive journey, it features unique photo opportunities, including six extra-special photo moments with integrated cameras and lighting. Next to Snowday is Santaland, where visitors can sit back, relax, and enjoy a simulated train ride to the North Pole. They then take an enchanted path through a magical moonlit forest filled with starry lights, polar bears, and photo ops leading to Santa's majestic chalet, where Santa Claus is waiting. Santaland will be open through December 24, while Snowday will be open through January 3 at Galleria Dallas.

Bruce Wood Dance presents Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Bruce Wood Dance will open their 17th season with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a whimsical, heartwarming, visually captivating triple-bill. It features the Dallas premiere of Joy Bollinger’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the celebrated Schmetterling from founder Bruce Wood, and a world premiere from the award-winning Chicago innovator, Noelle Kayser. There will be three performances through Sunday at Moody Performance Hall.

Art Centre Theatre presents Right Before I Go
Stan Zimmerman’s suicide awareness play, Right Before I Go., highlights the raw struggles of people in all walks of life that have died by suicide. The play uses real suicide notes of celebrities, veterans, bullied teens, those identifying as LGBTQ+, and people who have experienced a range of mental health calamities, as well as those who have survived attempts. The one-hour show is followed by a talkback with a local mental health professional. The production runs through November 22 at Art Centre Theatre in Plano.

Saturday, November 14

Opera Arlington presents Recuerdos
Opera Arlington will present Recuerdos (Remembrances). Featuring an ensemble of emerging artists from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Recuerdos will take audiences on a musical journey through the traditions of Mexico, Spain, and beyond. The program will feature art songs, opera arias, selections from zarzuela, and traditional music celebrating the richness of Hispanic song and heritage while bringing generations together through the shared experience of live performance. The event takes place at Farr Best Theater in Mansfield.

Daughtry in concert
Twenty years ago, Chris Daughtry became a well-known singer after placing fourth on the fifth season of American Idol. Later that year, he released his debut album with the band Daughtry, a self-titled release that will be celebrated as part of their 20 Years Unplugged Tour. The band went on to release six albums in their career, most recently Dearly Beloved in 2021. They recently released a greatest hits album, There and Back Again. They'll play at Majestic Theatre.

Sunday, November 15

Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Got the Moves
Elmo’s Got the Moves invites children and their families to sing, dance, and move along with their favorite friends from Sesame Street in a heartwarming, interactive celebration. The production features Elmo and his Sesame Street friends as they move and groove to fan-favorite songs, including "Sunny Days," "Elmo’s Got the Moves," and "Letter of the Day." Families will discover fun and playful ways to move, from yoga and jumping rope to cartwheeling and silly dance moves. The event takes place at Majestic Theatre.

Matthew Posey Celebration of Life
The local theater community lost an important member when Ochre House Theatre founder Matthew Posey died in early October. The actor/writer, who had small parts in films including No Country for Old Men and The Magnificent Seven, among others, will be celebrated at Gilley's Dallas. On Monday, Texas Theatre will host a screening of Posey’s last film, El Tonto por Cristo, with proceeds going to Ochre House Theater.

comedy music symphony holidays festivals kids families dance theater opera event-planner

Loading...