Jackson

Author(s): Evan
Location: N/A

“Jackson”

Directed by Spike Lee
Produced by Mike Ellis, Jon Kilik, and Spike Lee
Screenplay by Spike Lee
Cinematography by John Toll
Music by Craig Armstrong

Principal Cast:

Maria Bello as Linda Dixon
Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Rev. Daniel Gibson
Tamyra Gray as Maddie Washington
Morgan Freeman as Pastor Samuel Mason
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Dr. Bobby Ford
William H. Macy as Governor Don Phillips

Tagline: "In a battle between our freedoms and our values, which will prevail?"

Synopsis: Linda Dixon is the manager of the Jackson Women’s Health Center, the last abortion clinic in the state of Mississippi. When the Association to Promote American Values, an anti-abortion group led by the fiery Rev. Daniel Gibson, arrives in Jackson to close the clinic through picketing around the property, a battle ensues between the clinic and the organization. With only a few nurses, Linda is unable to manage the clinic and at the same time protect her patients from the fierce crowd outside. And so, to help out, hundreds of volunteers from around the nation travel to Jackson to shield local women as they attempt to enter the clinic. To counter them, Gibson issues a fervent call for supporters to assist in the fight against “the most abominable of all sins.” It isn’t long until the entire town becomes embroiled in the conflict.

With hundreds of people around the clinic, some calling for its demise and others aiding in its continuance, tensions begin to mount. When Maddie Washington, a young black woman from a nearby town, seeks to enter the clinic to have an abortion, she is forcefully blocked from entering the building, unleashing anger in the local black community. At a town hall meeting to react, a division arises between the young Dr. Bobby Ford, an increasingly popular local leader who calls for direct action against what he believes are white attempts to deny poor blacks of their rights, and Pastor Samuel Mason from the local African Methodist Episcopal church, who opposes abortion but wishes to remain uninvolved in the issue. As Ford’s followers mobilize to take on Gibson’s picketers, a worried Republican Governor (though himself against abortion) knows that he must call in the National Guard to stabilize the situation and keep it from becoming violent. The clinic remains open, but the city has been severely torn apart at its seams.

What the press would say:

In his newest film Jackson, loosely based on a true story, director Spike Lee delivers a superb portrayal of the battle to close the last abortion clinic in Mississippi. With a theme especially pertinent—and incredibly controversial—in today’s nation, Lee approaches the theme with open eyes, exposing the merits and misdeeds of both sides of the abortion battle. In Jackson, Mississippi’s capital city is divided between abortion’s supporters and opponents when a conservative religious organization moves in to shut down the abortion clinic by blocking those wanting to receive abortions from entering. In one such division, Dr. Bobby Ford, a local leader of the African-American community (Ejiofor), attacks the inaction of Pastor Samuel Mason of a local AME church (Freeman) who wisely refuses to become involved in the depraved events in the streets. This exchange is a welcome meeting of two amazing actors— a rising star in Ejiofor, whose feisty portrayal of a fed-up man proves that he will be around for years, and Freeman, one of America’s most beloved actors, in a very subdued yet powerful turn as the peaceful elderly reverend who will not call for his congregation to join the fight. William H. Macy shines as an anxious governor torn between doing what he knows he must do and his own inclination toward one side of the conflict. Even Tamyra Gray, continuing a trend of American Idol contestants-turned-actors, turns in an impressive performance as Maddie Washington, a woman who gets caught up in the storm despite wishing to obtain an anonymous surgery.

Despite the strong supporting roles, the best performances are those of the main characters. Maria Bello redefines the traditional feminist character as Linda Dixon, the devoted woman in charge of the clinic. Bello’s character is a simple, passionate doctor who wants to lead the fight for her patients when a right-wing organization led by Rev. Daniel Gibson (Hoffman) arrives to shut down the clinic. But unlike the formulaic Erin Brockovich or Norma Rae-type woman, Dixon realizes she may be over her head. She’s a strong leader—only she doesn’t know it—and Bello is astounding in portraying each of her daring actions and also her self-doubts. Hoffman once again gives an awe-inspiring performance as Gibson, an overzealous man whose commanding and boisterous manner of speech as he states his views is terrifying for the audience to watch. Contrary to his much quieter foil played by Freeman, Hoffman’s character is the keystone of the work, the person who drives the entire film… and the audience will thank him for it.

Avoiding all clichés to obtain as accurate view as possible, Lee has created an amazingly fresh film that, with the wonderful cinematography of Oscar-winner John Toll (Legends of the Fall, Braveheart) and the music of Craig Armstrong (Love Actually, Ray), achieves true cinematic beauty. While Jackson will certainly stir conversation about the sensitive issue of abortion, people of both sides of the issue will be happy that no side is favored over the other. Lee allows the strengths and weaknesses of both abortion’s supporters and opponents to speak for themselves, leaving the ultimate judgment of the situation to the viewer.

For Your Consideration:
Best Picture
Best Director- Spike Lee
Best Actor- Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Best Actress- Maria Bello
Best Supporting Actor- Chiwetel Ejiofor, Morgan Freeman, William H. Macy
Best Supporting Actress- Tamyra Gray
Best Original Screenplay- Spike Lee
Best Cinematography- John Toll
Best Score- Craig Armstrong