Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 20, 1991 TAG: 9104200360
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Mike Mayo/ Correspondent
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
It looks like something a high school or community college film class might have put together using the locations and props they know. The result is amateurish, boring, long and preachy.
The central character is Sean (played by an appealing young man whose name whizzed by quickly in the credits), a high school runner who hopes to use track to move out of the housing projects. The coach, played by director Ron O'Neal, recruited him to a suburban school. Sean is living two hours away with his mother (Marla Gibbs). He wants to be closer to the school, but to do that he'd have to move in with his brother Jesse (Stoney Jackson), a drug dealer.
Before the film is over the script by Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu has touched on almost every problem faced by the black community today. In dealing with all of them, the film is level-headed, responsible, inspirational and not particularly original.
The action moves lethargically and the characters spend most of their time making windy speeches. What Sam Goldwyn said years ago is still true, "If you want to send a message, use Western Union." `Up Against the Wall': An African-American Images release playing at the Salem Valley 8 (389-0444) and Valley View Mall (362-8219). 102 min. Rated PG-13 for strong language and some violence.
by CNB