The Public (Emilio Estevez, 2018): USA

Reviewed by Madeline Englese. Viewed at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, 2018.

The tagline of The Public “make some noise” is fitting for the political drama directed, written, starred in and produced by Emilio Estevez (The Way, Bobby, Men at Work). Touching on the topics of fake news, racism, homelessness, police brutality, mental health, climate change, and the current state of metropolitan America this movie packs a punch and is a bold statement about standing up for what you believe in.

With an all star cast of Alec Baldwin (It’s complicated, The Departed), Christian Slater (Heathers, True Romance), Jena Malone (Contact), and Micheal Kennith Williams (The Wire) this movie gives an honest performance about an “Occupy” sit in gone awry at The Public Library in Cincinnati. Emilio Estevez plays a self-important librarian, Stuart Goodson, and aide to the local homeless population soliciting his library everyday to avoid the sub freezing temperatures. Stuart is having a law suit brought against him and the library being defended by city prosecutor, Josh Davis, portrayed by Slater. We follow our protagonist through a split second tough choice he has to make, and the consequences that follow for him and those around the situation.

A soundtrack by Tyler Bates (Atomic Blonde, Guardians of the Galaxy) creates an intense backdrop of modern sound, playing off of the Cincinnati hip hop scene. It creates a theme and an association of vulnerability and strength. The cinematography by Juan Miguel Azpiro (The Way) shows us the violent cycle of constantly updating, headlines first, truth second news through the use of cell phone footage, news, and security cameras. Use of wide angles shows us the openness and freedom of the closed in space being occupied, juxtaposed with close ups creating a sense of disease and intensity.

The Public for all the big names attached and show boating it does is missing the most important part. Heart. The film is just okay, and the reaction from the crowd is widely split. Estevez says he has no plans as of now to continue work with homelessness in Cincinnati, the film is going to raise awareness and that’s his work. But we already know it’s an issue we need a solution. This movie feels more of Estevez patting himself on the pack than real social commentary. I recommend you volunteer in your community for two hours instead of watching this movie.