A Journal for Jordan (2021) Columbia/Drama RT: 131 minutes Rated PG-13 (some sexual content, partial nudity, drug use, language) Director: Denzel Washington Screenplay: Virgil Williams Music: Marcelo Zarvos Cinematography: Maryse Alberti Release date: December 25, 2021 (US) Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Chante Adams, Jalon Christian, Robert Wisdom, Tamara Tunie, Jasmine Batchelor, Marchant Davis, Susan Pourfar, Vanessa Aspillaga, Grey Henson, Johnny M. Wu, David Wilson Barnes, Spencer Squire. Box Office: $6.5M (US/$6.6M (World)
Rating: *** ½
One of the biggest clichés in Hollywood is actors saying “What I really want to do is direct.” Not every actor is cut out for it. For every success story like Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven) and Ben Affleck (Argo), there’s a failure like William Shatner (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier) and Steven Seagal (On Deadly Ground). Denzel Washington is a case of the former. The two-time Oscar winner (Glory, Training Day) is as gifted a filmmaker as he is an actor. I didn’t see The Great Debaters, but I loved Antwone Fisher and Fences. He’s got game.
Denzel continues his winning streak with A Journal for Jordan, a moving drama based on the best-selling memoir by former New York Times editor Dana Canedy. She, in turn, based her book on journals kept by her baby’s father while he served in Iraq. He met his infant son Jordan only once before he was killed in action in ’06. He filled the pages with valuable life lessons about respecting women and what it really means to be a man. This way, he’s still able to impart fatherly wisdom to his son should something happen to him.
The story of Dana (Adams, Monsters and Men) and 1st Sgt. Charles M. King (Jordan, Creed 1 & 2) unfolds in flashback starting from when the fiercely independent reporter meets the military man in her father’s living room. Something about him draws her to him. She makes up a story about needing a ride back to her hotel so she can spend time alone with him. She’s a talker; he’s quiet. It may not seem like an obvious match, but soon they’re having long phone conversations with each other. Not long after, he comes to the city for a weekend visit. After some back and forth, they get a relationship going. Then she tells him she wants to have a baby, his baby.
A Journal for Jordan is told within the framework of Dana raising her son on her own. Whenever things get rough, she looks through Charles’ stuff and thinks back to their time together in order to figure out her next move. She finally gives the journal to Jordan (Christian, Selfie Dad) when he encounters racism at school (he’s about 12).
So many movies leave me feeling hollow these days. Genuine emotion doesn’t factor in when it comes to big, CGI-driven Hollywood spectacles. There’s no room for it between all the noise and flash. I can’t speak for others, but I’m not always looking to be blown away. Sometimes I want to see a story about real characters in real situations. Sometimes I want to fight the urge to cry and I don’t mean the exasperated sobbing resulting from crap like Dear Evan Hansen (oh, how I hate that movie!). I’m happy to report A Journal for Jordan left me with a huge lump in my throat. The dramatic finale at Arlington National Cemetery really got to me.
Also, I genuinely cared about the characters. That doesn’t happen very often. I knew going in there would be no happily ever after for Dana and Charles which only made their scenes together more poignant. Theirs is a sweet relationship that evolves naturally out of feelings for each other. They are truly in love. Sure, A Journal for Jordan has a few trappings of the romance genre including her tight-knit group of girlfriends and gay bff. There’s that one incident that nearly breaks them up before a tearful apology and reunion. They’re conventions of the genre, but they feel more real here than other films of the ilk. Why? Because both halves of the couple are likable, imperfect but likable.
The acting in A Journal for Jordan is positively superb. Jordan is great, versatile actor with incredible range. He can do it all, he can play it all, from a Marvel villain (Black Panther) to a real-life victim of racial injustice (Fruitvale Station). We won’t talk about the rotten Fantastic Four reboot. Jordan can add another terrific performance to his already-impressive resume. He has excellent chemistry with the lovely Chante Adams. She’s wonderful as the journalist looking for her voice amidst the sexism in her chosen profession. Writing a best-selling book is a brilliant way of achieving just that. This woman has a lot of talent and she’s beautiful too. Young Christian does fine work as the boy who will definitely become the kind of man that would make his father proud.
There’s a lot to love and admire about A Journal for Jordan. Although it deals with the Iraq War, it doesn’t get all in your face with a political agenda. Yes, it’s sad and angering that Charles dies in a senseless war, but Denzel stays away from politics. For that, I thank him. Do we really need another movie intended to divide audiences? HELL NO! What’s wrong with a nice love story that ends in tragedy and triumph? I say make more movies like that. Thank you very much, Denzel.
