Jeri Jacquin
On 4K UHD, Bluray and DVD from Cinedigm Entertainment Group
and writer/director Wes Miller comes a story of justice and revenge with RIVER
RUNS RED.
Charles Coleman (Taye Diggs) is a man who has worked hard
for a career in law and becoming a judge. Married to medic Eve (Jennifer Tao)
and raising son CJ (Joseph Belk), he is seeing all of his life dreams come
true.
When Coleman and CJ have a friendly bet, it is CJ who drives
away in his fathers expensive car! On his way to school, he is pulled over by
Officer Rory (Gianni Capaldi) and Officer Von (Luke Hemsworth) and while
reaching for his wallet the officers open fire.
Coleman and Eve are devastated and can not understand how
such a thing can happen. They are angry and even more so when they are told
that CJ had a gun leading to the officers shooting him. They know this isn’t
true but the pain of their loss has them trying to cope the best they know how.
Coleman enlists the help of Detective Horace (John Cusack) to find out more
about the officers who shot his son.
Javier (George Lopez) is a mechanic who with his wife
Marilyn (Briana Evigan) have spent the last two years avoiding the thoughts of
their sons death. Coleman goes to see him when he realizes that there is a
connection between them. Javier wants nothing to do with speaking about the
death of his son; that is until Coleman shows him something that changes his
mind.
Motivated by anger, rage and sadness, the two fathers make a
plan to take matters into their own hands.
Diggs as Coleman is a husband and father who has worked hard
to become a judge and to provide for his family. Enjoying his life it all
changes in the flash of gunfire. Diggs portrays a father mired down in the hurt
and rage at the unfairness by the same system that he has spent years being a
part of. Turning to all those that should be helping him, he finds that they
don’t seem to take the situation seriously. This is a tough role but Diggs
gives it all the twists and turns up to the shocking ending.
Lopez as Javier is another father who can’t seem to get past
the death of his son. Pushing down his feelings he thinks he finally has his
life bearable. That is until he gets a visit from Coleman with his suspicions
about the officers who killed CJ and shows father Javier a reason to join him
in a plan to get justice for both of their sons. Lopez gets a chance to show
serious acting chops.
Hemsworth as Von knows almost immediately that what has
happened with the judges’ son isn’t something that is going to go away. Trying
to move forward, he immerses into his own home life and that of his young son.
Capaldi as Rory is a hot headed cop who seemed to be looking for any reason
that day to shoot someone. Keeping an eye on his partner Von and believing they
are in the clear is his first mistake. Both of these actors played off of each
other’s character in a chilling way.
Tao as Eve lashes out at her husband when ever she thinks
about the death of their son. She also wants justice and feels that Coleman
isn’t doing enough to make that happen. Evigan as Marilyn watches her husband
become withdrawn but when Coleman shows up she fears what he will do.
Cusack as Horace is a detective that realizes what Coleman
is up against. Wanting to help his friend discover what the two officers are
hiding, he begins to see a change in the judge and fears for him.
Other cast include: RJ Mitte as Officer Thomas, Steve
Berrebi as Brass One, Jaqueline Fleming as Professor Lawless, Tshombi Basemore
as Diego, Michael Clofine as Officer Mike, John D. Hickman as Officer Tom and
Spencer Kingsley as Carter.
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RIVER RUNS RED is a film that speaks about the times we live
in and the way the justice system handles cases of officer involved shootings.
Even when the young man killed has a father who is a judge, there seems to be a
thin veil that no one wants to push through.
Writer/director Wes Miller jumps in without any hesitation
in pointing out the inequalities both Coleman and Javier face. There isn’t any
mincing of words or emotions bringing it all straight out into the open. The
ending is staggering, shocking and emotional showing that everything doesn’t
wrap up as neatly.
The cast led by Diggs and Lopez brings a strong intensity to
the story and once the film begins, there aren’t to many moments to catch your
breath.
In the end – vengeance is the only justice!
