Synopsis
An escaped slave travels north and has chance encounters with Frederick Douglass and John Brown. Based on the life story of Shields Green.
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Cast
- Dayo OkeniyiShields Green
- Bruce DernLevi Coffin
- James CromwellJohn Brown
- Kat GrahamDelores
- Ben RobsonLuke McCabe
- Naturi NaughtonSarah Green
- Paul ScheerDuvane Henderson
- Keean JohnsonRufus Kelly
- M.C. GaineyRandolph Stevens
- Mykelti WilliamsonTruesdale
Recommendations
- 60
Variety
A striking discovery, Dayo Okeniyi will be unfamiliar to most in the lead role. He played a small part as District 11 tribute Thresh in “The Hunger Games,” and appears opposite Jennifer Lopez in “Shades of Blue,” but Emperor is effectively his breakout, which makes him feel as much a revelation to audiences as Green’s story will be. - 50
The New York Times
Okeniyi has a strong presence that conveys a genuine moral authority. - 30
The Hollywood Reporter
Emperor has difficulty mustering a seriousness to match its subject. - 25
RogerEbert.com
Emperor is lousy in the same way that many other mediocre slave narratives are: it re-presents a dark period in American history without being inspired or insightful enough to be worth your curiosity or emotional investment.
