Red Tails



Red Tails is a 2012 American war film produced by Lucasfilm and released by 20th Century Fox.[N 1] The film is a fictionalized portrayal of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American United States Army Air Force (USAAF) servicemen during World War II.[N 2]

Filmed in 2009, Red Tails was directed by Anthony Hemingway and written by John Ridley and Aaron McGruder based on a story by John Ridley, with additional material shot the following year with executive producer George Lucas[N 3] as director and Aaron McGruder as writer of the reshoots.[1] Red Tails is the first Lucasfilm production since the 1994 film Radioland Murders that is not associated with the Indiana Jones or Star Warsfranchises. The film stars [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuba_Gooding,_Jr. Cuba Gooding, Jr.] (who previously starred inThe Tuskegee Airmen, an HBO made-for-television film about the same group of pilots) in his first theatrical film in five years,[10] and Terrence Howard (who had also portrayed a Tuskegee pilot in Hart's War).[11]

Plot
In 1944, after enduring racism throughout their recruitment and  training in the  Tuskegee training program, the  332d Fighter Group <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">of young African American USAAF fighter pilots are finally sent into combat in Italy, although flying worn-out <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Curtiss P-40 Warhawk<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">aircraft. Chafing at their ground attack missions against trains and enemy ground transport, the Tuskegee Airmen recognize that they may never fight the <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Luftwaffe<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">in fighter-to-fighter combat. The tight-knit group of Capt. Martin "Easy" Julian ( Nate Parker<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">), Lt. Joe <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> "Lightning"<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">Little ( David Oyelowo<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">), Ray "Ray Gun" or "Junior" Gannon ( Tristan Wilds<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">), and Samuel "Joker" George ( Elijah Kelley<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">) under the <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> guidance<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">of Major Emanuel Stance ( [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuba_Gooding,_Jr. Cuba Gooding, Jr.]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">) and Col. A.J. Bullard ( Terrence Howard<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">), face a white military bureaucracy still resistant to accepting black flyers as equals. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:1em;">[N 4]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">Strife develops between roommates and best friends, Easy and Lightning, each of whom are battling their own inner demons; Lightning is a hotheaded and reckless pilot who takes too many risks, while Easy is analcoholic prone to self doubt. After returning to base from a mission, Lightning spies a pretty Italian girl named Sofia (Daniela Ruah), becomes instantly infatuated with her, and starts a relationship.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">Meanwhile, Stance is able to secure a chance to "light up the board" when the Tuskegee Airmen are chosen to support the Allied landings at Anzio, Italy known as Operation Shingle. There, they battle Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters led by a German ace pilot they nickname, "Pretty Boy" (Lars van Riesen), scoring their first aerial victories over the enemy, as well as destroying a German airfield. However, Ray Gun is injured during the battle and suffers impaired vision in one of his eyes. Ray Gun begs Easy to keep him on the flight roster who ultimately relents and allows him to keep flying.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">Bullard is then approached by the USAAF Bomber Command, who are impressed with the Tuskegee Airmen's performance and ask him to use his fighters as Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber escorts due to unacceptably high casualties among bomber crews. Bullard accepts on the condition that his unit be supplied with the new North American P-51 Mustang<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17" style="line-height:1em;">[N 5]. The tails of the aircraft are painted bright red and become the unofficial name of the outfit. Bullard noted that the flaw of previous escort fighters is that they would recklessly pursue German fighters at the cost of protecting the bombers, so he orders his pilots to stay with the bombers at all costs. Their first escort mission is a success, with the 332nd downing multiple Luftwaffe aircraft without the loss of a single bomber. However, Ray Gun is shot down and captured while Deke crash lands and nearly dies.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">As a result of his injuries, Deke is discharged, and Ray Gun is assumed to be dead. Easy realizes it was his fault Ray Gun was allowed to fly, blames himself and spirals deeper into alcoholism. Lightning, worried about his friend, makes a deal with Easy; he will follow orders and fly less recklessly as long as Easy remains sober. Meanwhile, attitudes against the Tuskegee Airmen begin to change as they earn the bomber crews' respect, even being allowed into the "whites only" officer's club. Ray Gun is sent to a POW camp, where he is recruited by a group of POWs who are planning to escape. The escape attempt is successful, but some of the POWs are spotted by a guard so Ray Gun draws the Germans' attention while the other POWs escape. One of the POWs manages to reach the 332nd's base and informs them about Ray Gun's sacrifice, assuming him to be dead. Later, Lightning finally proposes to Sofia and though she originally hesitates, she later accepts as long as he stays in Italy, which he agrees to do.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">The Tuskegee Airmen are then tasked with escorting the first American bombers to attack Berlin. However, despite their P-51s having more than enough fuel for the trip, the 332nd is only asked to escort the bombers on the first leg of their journey due to propaganda reasons. But the fighter squadron meant to relieve the 332nd never arrives, and Easy makes the decision to stay with bombers all the way. They are then attacked by Pretty Boy, now leading a flight of the revolutionary new Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighters. Despite being outclassed by their superior speed and 30 mm cannon, the Tuskegee Airmen are able to shoot a few down. Pretty Boy manages to get on Easy's tail and is about to shoot him down, but at the last moment, Lightning attacks and kills Pretty Boy in a head-on attack. Although victorious, he is mortally wounded, and Lightning eventually crashes and dies. Easy is then forced to inform Sofia about Lightning's death and consequently overcomes his alcoholism for good. At Lightning's funeral, Ray Gun miraculously returns, having survived his escape from German captivity.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">Ultimately, the Tuskegee Airmen are awarded the Presidential Unit Citation in honor of their achievements.

Cast
<p style="line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">As appearing in Red Tails, (main roles and screen credits identified):<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-credits_19-0" style="line-height:1em;">[14]
 * Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Major Emanuel Stance
 * Terrence Howard as Col. A.J Bullard
 * Nate Parker as Capt. Martin "Easy" Julian
 * David Oyelowo as Lt. Joe "Lightning" Little
 * Ne-Yo as Andrew "Smoky" Salem
 * Elijah Kelley as Samuel "Joker" George
 * Tristan Wilds as Ray "Ray Gun" or "Junior" Gannon
 * Kevin Phillips as Leon "Neon" Edwards
 * Marcus T. Paulk as David "The Deacon" Watkins
 * Michael B. Jordan as Maurice "Bumps" Wilson
 * Daniela Ruah as Sofia
 * Bryan Cranston as Col. William Mortamus
 * Ryan Early as Captain Bryce
 * Lars van Riesen as "Pretty Boy" (the German antagonist pilot)
 * Method Man as "Sticks"
 * Gerald McRaney as General Luntz
 * Henry Garrett as Hart
 * Robert Kazinsky as Chester Barnes
 * Rick Otto as Flynt
 * Josh Dallas as Ryan Fling
 * Lee Tergesen as Col. Jack Tomilson
 * Andre Royo as Chief "Coffee" Coleman
 * Leslie Odom, Jr. as Walter "Winky" Hall
 * Jermaine Johnson as "Sneeky"
 * Edwina Finley as "CeCe"
 * Stacie Davis as Mae
 * Aml Ameen as "Bag O'Bones"
 * Rupert Penry-Jones as Campbell

Production
<p style="line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">George Lucas began developing Red Tails around 1988,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Starlog_21-0" style="line-height:1em;">[16] after hearing of the Tuskegee Airmen from his friend George Hall, a photographer.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fanclub_22-0" style="line-height:1em;">[17] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nyt_23-0" style="line-height:1em;">[18] At the time, the film was scheduled for release in 1992,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24" style="line-height:1em;">[19] with Kevin Sullivan writing the screenplay and Thomas Carter directing.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25" style="line-height:1em;">[20] Lucas originally conceived of the film as a long, detailed narrative similar to Lawrence of Arabia, and as a trilogy,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BBC12Jan_3-1" style="line-height:1em;">[4] but after multiple script drafts, he decided to focus on the combat portion of the story.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26" style="line-height:1em;">[21] He compared it to Tucker: The Man and His Dream as "a story too good to be true".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27" style="line-height:1em;">[22] In researching the film,Lucasfilm invited some of the surviving Tuskegee Airmen toSkywalker Ranch, where they were interviewed about their experiences during World War II.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28" style="line-height:1em;">[23] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29" style="line-height:1em;">[24] Lucasfilm was also given access to the original mission logbooks used by some of the pilots.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MovieWeb_30-0" style="line-height:1em;">[25] A number of writers worked on the project until John Ridley was hired in 2007 to write the screenplay.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Starlog_21-1" style="line-height:1em;">[16] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ridley_31-0" style="line-height:1em;">[26] Lucas held discussions with Samuel L. Jackson regarding Jackson possibly directing and acting in the film. Although Jackson praised the script, he did not commit to either role.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Tails_32-0" style="line-height:1em;">[27] Anthony Hemingway, a former production assistant for Lucas' The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV series,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33" style="line-height:1em;">[28] was ultimately chosen to direct in 2008.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Hemingway_34-0" style="line-height:1em;">[29]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">Pre-production began in January 2009, with location scouting having taken place in June 2008 in Prague, Czech Republic, Italy and Croatia.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Locations_2-1" style="line-height:1em;">[3] Production began in March 2009 with high-definition Sony F35 cameras used for principal photography,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FGV_35-0" style="line-height:1em;">[30] which took place in the Czech Republic, Italy, Croatia and England over a period from August to December.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Locations_2-2" style="line-height:1em;">[3] While shooting in the Czech Republic, the actors also underwent a "boot camp" program, during which they lived in similar conditions to the actual Tuskegee Airmen.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MovieWeb_30-1" style="line-height:1em;">[25]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">Harkening back to his early work on Star Wars where he had studied World War II aerial footage to create the space aerobatics performed by Rebel X-wings and TIE fighters, Lucas was familiar with World War II aerial combat.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36" style="line-height:1em;">[31] The Lucas template for photographing computer-generated imagery (CGI) dogfighting "involved lots of action, continuous motion, moving camera, streaks, loops and rolls, and all of the things aerial photography allows you to do in live action."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37" style="line-height:1em;">[32] Aerial scenes in Red Tails involved actors sitting in a gimbal-mounted cockpits (and mock-up fuselages and wings), in front of a green screen, rocked back and forth by production crew members.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-production_10-1" style="line-height:1em;">[9] In order to achieve a realistic reaction, actors were flown in actual P-51 Mustangs at the Planes of Fame in Chino, California, to experience the forces involved in dogfighting.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39" style="line-height:1em;">[N 7] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-production_10-2" style="line-height:1em;">[9]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">Editing began while the production was in Prague. Avid editing systems were used simultaneously in a Prague studio and at Lucasfilm.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40" style="line-height:1em;">[34] A vehicle was fitted with a "technical center" so that the production could quickly move between locations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FGV_35-1" style="line-height:1em;">[30] In March 2010, Lucas took over direction of reshoots, as Hemingway was busy working on episodes of theHBO series, Treme.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41" style="line-height:1em;">[35] The Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder was brought in late in production, after Hemingway's principal photography, to provide re-writes for the Lucas-directed reshoots.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-moviefone_0-2" style="line-height:1em;">[1]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">In April 2009, Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Lee A. Archer Jr. was selected to be an advisor for Red Tails. He died in 2010 while the film was in post-production and the final credits bear a tribute to Archer.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Obituary_42-0" style="line-height:1em;">[36]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">Lucas covered the cost of production with his own money, and provided a further $35 million for distribution.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BBC12Jan_3-2" style="line-height:1em;">[4] In an interview on The Daily Show on January 9, 2012, Lucas revealed that the long delay in the production of the film was because major film studios balked at financing and marketing a film with an "all-black" cast and "no major white roles." He went on to explain that studios receive "60% of their profit" from overseas, and the studios feel there is no market there for films with all-black casts.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BBC12Jan_3-3" style="line-height:1em;">[4]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">Red Tails was the first film to use Barco’s Auro-3D 11.1 surround sound system.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43" style="line-height:1em;">[37]

Reception
Red Tails<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">received predominantly negative reviews from film critics, currently holding a 39% "rotten" rating on <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Rotten Tomatoes<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">; the consensus states: "Despite a worthy fact-based story and obvious good intentions, <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Red Tails<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">suffers from one-dimensional characters, corny dialogue, and heaps of clichés." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:1em;">[38] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">On <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Metacritic<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">, the film holds a 46/100 rating, indicating "mixed or average reviews". <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:1em;">[39] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">The main criticism was directed to the tone of the film; Stephen Holden in <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> The New York Times<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">review, noted, "In structure and tone, <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Red Tails<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">proudly harks back to the 1940s and ’50s, when good guys were good, and bad guys bad." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:1em;">[40] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">In rebuttal, co-writer Aaron McGruder commented on the film's tone: "Some people are going to like this tonal choice and some people are going to say, 'Oh it should've been heavier and it should've been more dramatic.' But there's a version of this that doesn't have to be <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Saving Private Ryan<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">. We can be <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Star Wars<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">, as crazy as it is." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-moviefone_0-3" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:1em;">[1] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Roger Ebert<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">of the <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Chicago Sun-Times<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">gave the film two-and-a-half stars out of four, stating, " Red Tails<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">(is) entertaining. Audiences are likely to enjoy it. The scenes of aerial combat are skillfully done and exciting." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:1em;">[41] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">In a similar vein, aviation historian Budd Davison, in agreement with fellow historian Barrett Tillman, although cognizant of the "Hollywood treatment", had a caution to aviation enthusiasts looking for a faithful reenactment of the Tuskegee legend, "... buy some popcorn, lean back and enjoy, this is Hollywood telling a story, not making a documentary. Save your guffaws until afterward with your friends." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:1em;">[42]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">Ina Diane Archer for Film Comment, daughter of the late Lee Archer (Tuskegee airman and advisor for Red Tails), criticizes the film's disconnect between aerial scenes and the rest of the film, saying, "One longs for more scenes between the ensemble on the ground, but the emphasis on aerial (and digital) technology leaves the characters without context. There’s a particularly troubling absence of black women (but for a painting on Lightning’s plane) who go unmentioned—no gal back home? no sisters, no Mamas?—nor do we ever see the African Americans who followed the squadron’s adventures."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49" style="line-height:1em;">[43]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.196969985961914px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">In the face of media criticism of the portrayals of the Tuskegee Airmen in Red Tails, a number of activists took to social media to protest against what was thought to be a racially-tinged effort to denigrate the contribution of the wartime fighting unit. Beginning with statements to support the film made by surviving Tuskegee Airmen who had seen the film in previews, and spurred by the comments made by Lucas in a candid interview on The Daily Show where the producer openly discussed the difficulties of trying to get Red Tails made over the past 23 years, a Facebook campaign was started. In the Oakland, California premiere, two sold-out screenings were a testament to the success of the campaign. Effie Tesfahun, one of the organizers, explained, “When [Lucas] said Hollywood does not want to touch black films, it really hit me … I thought we should get together and all go and support [this film]. Regardless of what Hollywood thinks, we all want to see positive messages of black people in the movies ... We need to speak, and speak loud, and speak with our dollars, because that’s where people pay attention, when you start talking with your money," Tesfahun said. "We are sending a message that this is what we want.”<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50" style="line-height:1em;">[44] Lucas commented on the film's reception: "It had an affect on a lot of kids and adults. Now it's the one thing that everyone comes up to me and says 'thank you' for - I'm proud of that." "We didn’t get to a point when [the film studios] said, 'Oh let's just do black movies.' But every time you poke 'em, it makes an effect."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51" style="line-height:1em;">[45]