Hidden Gem: Will Smith's Epic Civil War Movie Transcends History with Unparalleled Battle Details

Summary

Emancipation, Will Smith's 2022 Civil War movie, accurately depicts certain aspects of battle details, such as how soldiers handled loaded guns and used their muskets.

The film garnered a blend of opinions regarding its depiction of real-life events. Critics believed that it depicted the time period in an exaggerated and sensationalized manner, not aligning effectively with other somber portrayals of slavery.

Although it has largely faded from memory, the movie showcases a certain level of meticulousness in its battle scenes. While not entirely accurate, these scenes highlight the film's emphasis on the issue of slavery in America rather than a strictly historical retelling.

Historian Garry Adelman analyzed a scene from Will Smith's 2022 movie, Emancipation, set during the Civil War. Adelman mentioned that the film accurately depicts certain battle details. In the action thriller, Smith plays the role of Peter, a slave who resists and fights against the white Americans who had enslaved him. However, the movie has received mixed reviews for its approach in portraying real-life events to tell its story. During an interview with Insider, Adelman specifically examined a Civil War battle scene that occurs towards the end of Emancipation.

From 4:38 onwards, the historian provided historical accuracy regarding certain aspects of the battle, including the handling of loaded guns and the use of muskets by soldiers. Below is a transcription of Adelman's comprehensive analysis of the scene:

Having visited Port Hudson multiple times myself, I can attest to the overwhelming extent of the Confederate fortifications, as evident from the photographs taken during and after the siege. It is an extremely challenging location to conquer. However, I do disagree with the choice of terrain for the attack, as it is primarily situated in a swamp. The actual terrain is even harsher and more treacherous than what is portrayed in the scene.

Soldiers began to realize the effectiveness of using a layer of thick dirt, approximately two feet deep and a few feet tall, to protect and preserve life. In addition, they proposed reinforcing this dirt with logs and placing a larger log on top to provide cover for their heads while they fired their weapons. Taking it a step further, soldiers suggested placing sharp logs as independent obstacles in front of their defensive line.

In desperate situations, soldiers resorted to using their muskets as clubs, which we now refer to as club muskets. Instead of taking the time to attach their bayonets and thrusting them at the enemy, soldiers would simply use their muskets as melee weapons.

I love that moment when a soldier wields his bayonet against a fellow soldier, only to be handed a pre-loaded gun by a comrade behind him. With a bayonet affixed to the rifle, it would have been nearly impossible to load it, so the soldier must have already fired his bullet before receiving the firearm. Faced with a new enemy that the soldier behind him couldn't shoot at, he simply passed the rifle forward. During the Civil War, the most skilled shooters often fought at the front lines, having loaders positioned behind them. In the Battle of Fredericksburg, soldiers had pre-loaded guns lined up beside them, ready to be fired at their enemies.

Will Smith's character in the movie represents a combination of two individuals: Gordon, a Black soldier who emancipated himself, and Whipped Peter, another soldier. This portrayal is based on a true story.

I would rate this clip a 6 out of 10.

Why Emancipation Is Already Will Smith's Forgotten Movie

The portrayal of the time period in Emancipation was heavily criticized by a multitude of reviewers for its apparent sensationalization. These particular scenes did not seamlessly blend with the film's more earnest efforts to depict America's history of slavery. Consequently, the movie was soon overlooked following its release, partly because of the perceived lack of quality in the final product.

Real-world events also posed distractions to the movie's release. At the 2022 Oscars, Smith's altercation with Chris Rock took center stage when he slapped Rock on stage in response to a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith attempted to redirect attention to his work in the film Emancipation, hoping it would overshadow the earlier incident. Unfortunately, the film did not gain the traction he had hoped for, possibly due to his public feud with Rock.

Despite the film being largely forgotten by many, Adelman's analysis reveals that a certain level of meticulousness was still applied to the battle scenes, even if they were not entirely accurate. While Emancipation is based on a true story, these discrepancies highlight the film's focus on portraying slavery in America rather than providing an exact historical account. Although Smith's desired recognition for the film was not achieved, it is evident that some elements were still meticulously crafted with the aim of historical authenticity.

Source: Insider/YouTube