Parents' Guide to Brian Banks

As the #MeToo movement makes progress in allowing sexual assault victims' voices to be heard and believed, this film feels like a male ego boost in the form of a "sports, god, victory" trifecta. It perpetuates rape myths, generates the largely unwarranted fear of false accusations, and may contribute to reviving a culture of silencing women and discouraging reporting sexual violence -- all wrapped up in a rah-rah package. Additionally, it bangs the drum of the white savior story to the point that Banks tearfully pleads that white California Innocence Project Director Justin Brooks (Greg Kinnear) is the only person who can save him. (Banks is the project's most high-profile case to date and has gone on to become a celebrity: After his exoneration, he played for the Atlanta Falcons, worked for the NFL, and became a TV show host.)

Both the real-life Banks and Brooks are executive producers of the movie. That's important in the realm of critical thinking, because there's no doubt that Brian Banks has an agenda -- but critical thinkers need to decide for themselves what it is. This isn't the first film about the Innocence Project, and the group is admirably committed to raising awareness of wrongful convictions and criminal justice reform. But Brian Banks is the first Innocence Project-related movie with a faith-based element (Banks looks up at the light and is seen praying at key moments). And then Banks' mother, Leomia (Sherri Shepherd), delivers a speech that bears striking similarity to talking points from Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing. In the capable hands of director Tom Shadyac, the film succeeds in raising awareness of why an innocent person would take a plea deal rather than gamble on jail time, how less privileged communities suffer the most, and the power of persistence, positivity, and resilience. And yet, when Kinnear-as-Brooks coaxes a recantation out of Banks' accuser by putting words in her mouth, it feels like the scales of injustice don't just tip in favor of Banks but leave a vulnerable population of sexual assault victims hanging in the air yet again.