10s Movie Review - Brian Banks

Director: Tom Shadyac
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Aldis Hodge, Greg Kinnear, Sherri Shepherd, Morgan Freeman

Description: A football player’s (Aldis Hodge) dream to play in the NFL are halted when he is wrongly convicted and sent to prison. Years later, he fights to clear his name within an unjust system.

 
Review: Brian Banks excels at school in American football and has a prestigious university in prospect. However, his life is turned upside down when he is accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Despite the lack of evidence, Banks is sentenced to imprisonment. Year later, after his release, he tries to resume life and make his dreams come true.
Brian contacts Justin Brooks, the founder of the “California Innocence Project”. A team tries to find justice for those who were wrongfully accused of a crime. At first, Brooks doesn’t really believe they have enough to get Brian’s name cleared from the terrible crime he’s being accused of. But his team wants nothing more than to work on Brian’s case and get his record clear.
“Brian Banks” is based on a true story. It’s small stories like this, that make you believe there are still good people out there. Brian is accused of raping a girl in high school. And because of the system, he was robbed of his youth. No proper interrogations, no evidence, bad advice and promises from his lawyer and a so-called victim with no remorse whatsoever. Because they tell him he should take a deal, he would only have to do time in prison for a few months. Instead he is sentenced with six years, for a crime he didn’t commit.
It's unbelievable that this happened, but luckily for Brian there is Justin Brooks. And the world needs more people like him. Brooks dedicates his life to finding justice for those he didn’t get it. He managed to get this for several people and he never charged anyone anything.
“Brian Banks” is a beautiful story and film, that really grabs you and will stay with you for a while.

Rating: 3,5/ 5