The political drama 88 has a lot on its mind and a lot of lofty ambitions, many of which it tackles quite well. The setting is during the next Presidential election of 2024. And although this isn't a Donald Trump world, this reality has plenty of similarities with ours. Femi Jackson (Brandon Victor Dixon) is our eyes in, a financial director of a Super PAC called "One USA." The main purpose of the Super PAC is to get Harold Roundtree (Orlando Bloom), a charismatic Democratic candidate for President and the real frontrunner. He believes in his candidate and his message of change, but his wife Maria (Naturi Naughton) doesn't buy into his rhetoric. One day, Femi begins to notice an irregular pattern appearing within the Super PAC donations. He needs a second set of eyes, so his friend Ira Goldstein (Thomas Sadoski), an investment banker, takes a look at it and is equally mystified by what he sees. What are these irregularities and donations all equaling up in various ways to the amount of 88? It's too strange of a pattern to be a coincidence. And once the investigation gains traction, an entire conspiracy begins to unravel.
88 is a high-stakes and high-concept political thriller that has a lot to say about the ick factor of behind the scenes government action, donations and also a lot to say about race in America. A subplot finds Maria trying to get a customer a loan who happens to be a black ex-felon, someone who's put his life back on track and works incredibly hard. Yet, no matter what she does, his future loan seems like an impossibility. Equal opportunities do not seem to exist to everyone. She also has a pointed conversation regarding race with her husband and the fact that their son loves Black Panther. While they both agree that he's an empowering character, Femi states that, "It's made a billion dollars" to which his wife counters, "For who?" Many conversations tackle question after question regarding race, even racism within their own community. They're powerful moments, paired with a worm hole of a conspiracy plot that just seems to get deeper and deeper. Not all of the twists work, not does all the dialogue but the very strong performances from the cast make it shine, especially Brandon Victor Dixon, Thomas Sadoski and Naturi Naughton. Dixon and Sadoski have a great chemistry together and are both thrillingly engaging and relatable. Naughton's performance is strong and assured, with a loving grace that matches her caring mother/wife character. Even though this is a fictional story, much of it feels real (especially with the plot being peppered by real life organizations and issues). It's a strong directorial effort from Ermose, one that should leave quite a sting once it all wears off.
GRADE: B+
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Eromose STARRING Brandon Victor Dixon, Naturi Naughton, Orlando Jones, Thomas Sadoski, William Fichtner, Amy Sloan SELECTED AS PART OF THE 2022 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL. FOR MORE INFO: 88