The reviews for 'Harriet' are in — and critics say Cynthia Erivo does the abolitionist justice while the rest of the movie doesn't

Focus Features

• Reviews for "Harriet" say that Cynthia Erivo is fantastic playing Harriet Tubman, even if the rest of the movie seems rote.
• Critics generally agree that the movie's biopic formula is serviceable at best, even as the performances are strong.
• Some take issue with how much of the narrative is dramatized while keeping the brutality of slavery in the background.
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"Harriet" is out this weekend. And along with shaking up the best actress Oscar race, it's attracted some controversy for how it depicts Harriet Tubman's story.

Most critics have praised Cynthia Erivo's performance as Tubman, viewing it as a powerful portrayal of the former slave and abolitionist who defied death and smuggled dozens of slaves to freedom. It's also a welcome return behind the camera for Kasi Lemmons, best known for directing "Eve's Bayou" and "Black Nativity."See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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