Bright is a high-concept fantasy action film released in 2017, directed by David Ayer and written by Max Landis. The film envisions an alternate contemporary Los Angeles where humans share the world with mythical creatures like orcs, elves, and fairies. While magic exists, it is strictly controlled, and a social hierarchy is maintained along racial and species lines in addition to wealth and power.
The narrative focuses on two LAPD officers — Daryl Ward (played by Will Smith), a veteran human cop, and Nick Jakoby (played by Joel Edgerton), the first orc police officer in American history. Their partnership is troubled by intense racial discord. Jakoby faces distrust from both humans and fellow orcs, as well as general resentment for his role in law enforcement. Ward is coping with the emotional fallout from being shot by an orc suspect while in the company of Jakoby — who, as Ward’s partner, failed to apprehend the shooter.
The story begins with Ward and Jakoby answering a call which takes them to a safe house. There, they stumble upon a slain group and, even more astonishing, a magical object—a wand. Within the Bright universe, wands are considered to be extremely potent and coveted relics, wielded only by individuals designated as “Brights.” For non-Brights, mere contact with a wand typically results in death. The wand they find is being held by an elf girl named Tikka (Lucy Fry), who is on the run from a dark elf militant group led by Leilah (Noomi Rapace), the ruthless enforcer of an ancient Dark Lord who attempted to enslave the world eons ago and is now being sought to revive.
Ward and Jakoby are immediately swept into a storm of corrupt Los Angeles police officers, gangsters, and elf assassins. Each faction is vying for control of the wand, resulting in violent confrontations. The city of Los Angeles never sleeps and now, along with the LAPD and a federal FBI-like “Magic Task Force,” local street gangs have taken on the chaos too.
Ward and Jakoby, battling threats to their lives, must also battle their own biases and mutual distrust. Ward starts the film off cynically, hostile not only towards Jakoby, but orcs in general. However, through facing life-and-death struggles together, some semblance of camaraderie starts to develop. Even though Jakoby is portrayed as a naive, over-optimistic character, he does manage to earn Ward’s respect through his fierce loyalty and strong moral principles.
Tikka becomes a pivotal character in the story. She is a Bright, which means she is one of the few people who can wield the wand without being destroyed. Tikka is also a former member of Leilah’s group, the Inferni. This makes her unique as she has defected and now intends to fight against the resurrection of the Dark Lord.
The explosive climax of the film has Ward and Jakoby fighting Leilah in a concealed temple. At what seems like the end, Ward turns out to be a Bright which is a one-in-a-million reveal and obliterates Leilah using the wand. The film’s last scenes showcase the surviving trio emerging from chaos, alive but wounded. While the LAPD and other agencies try to whitewash the magical happenings, Ward and Jakoby step forward as unanticipated champions, receiving newfound respect for Jakoby and a shift in perspective on their partnership for Ward.
Smith portrays Daryl Ward in the film and is still recognized as an enduring cultural figure. Smith’s warm grit charms the audience as he brings to life Ward, a veteran officer brow beaten by the rampant violence and magical crime in Los Angeles. Ward’s distrust of magic is matched only by his fear and wariness of his partner, Jakoby. To my surprise, the best part was Smith’s performance. While playing Ward, he elevated the film’s grounded emotional realism even while the story explored fantastical themes.
Edgerton is Nick Jakoby, the first orc officer and is almost unrecognizable under heavy prosthetics and advanced makeup. With a nuanced performance, he captures the social awkwardness, but earnest traits to succeed in earning acceptance portraying a sensitive struggle for dignity. This character is arguably the emotional heart of the film, and his deeply felt portrayal of Jakoby goes a long way to endear the audience.
Lucy Fry as Tikka
Fry depicts Tikka as both fragile and fierce, a character who is a balance of fear and destiny. As the rightful wielder of the wand, she is pivotal to averting catastrophe and considers herself a significant asset to the narrative, even though her words are sparse.
Noomi Rapace as Leilah
Rapace exudes menace and power as the film’s antagonist. She is the head of the Inferni and seeks to resurrect the Dark Lord, under the irrational premise that the world requires dominion of magic. Her portrayal, albeit not fully fleshed out, contributes a layer of dark mysticism to the storyline.
Director: David Ayer
Ayer is known for gritty films like End of Watch and Fury. He applies his street-level urban aesthetic to this modern fantasy. His experience with Suicide Squad is evident in Bright, as the film blends action with antihero stylings and showcases trademark violent ‘aerial combat.’
Writer: Max Landis
The son of director John Landis, Max Landis wrote the original script for Bright, which sold for a reported $3 million. While the concept was commended, the execution of the script was critiqued for contrived dialogue, sparse character development, and disjointed world-building.
Cinematography & Music
Roman Vasyanov’s cinematography combines neon-lit streets with gritty realism to create a visual language that merges fantasy and urban noir. Featured artists for the soundtrack include Logic, Bastille, and Migos, adding a contemporary and edgy feel to the film.
IMDb Ratings and Critical Reception
Bright has an IMDb rating of approximately 6.3/10, highlighting the film’s polarizing reception. Released on Netflix, it was the streaming service’s first big-budget production. Over 11 million U.S. households viewed it within the first three days, marking a significant commercial success for the platform.
Critically, the film was divisive. Reviewers largely panned it because of its awkward dialogue, uneven pacing, and clunky social commentary. Many felt the racial metaphor of orcs as a marginalized group was overly simplistic and ineffective. Additional complaints centered on the film’s reliance on genre clichés and lack of creativity.
Despite the negative reviews, audiences were more forgiving. Praise centered on world-building and bold genre fusion. Fans of fantasy, action, and buddy cop films found entertainment in the film’s ambitious premise. Over time, Bright garnered a fanbase that, while recognizing its flaws, appreciated its originality and potential.
Conclusion
Bright is a film that attempts a daring combination of genres – the magical with the mundane, and fantasy with urban drama. The film certainly has its weaknesses, but its strengths lie in the scope of its vision and the risks it takes in narrative structure. The coexistence of contemporary modernity and mythical creatures in the film offers a window into deeper reflections on modern-day issues like racism, corruption, and social inequality.
The essence of Bright revolves around the central themes of trust, loyalty, and identity. Through the relationship between Ward and Jakoby, the film examines the struggle to transcend ingrained biases as well as the commitment toward principles. It also sheds light on the idea of fighting for justice in a world filled with moral complexities.
Regardless of its shortcomings, Bright remains an unforgettable attempt in genre storytelling. The film proved commercially successful, which led to Netflix planning a sequel. Unfortunately, its production has been postponed. Whether it transforms into a franchise or stays a standalone film, Bright marks a distinctive spot in contemporary streaming cinema – multi-faceted, deeply flawed, and overflowing with ambition.
Watch Free Movies on Onionplay