Watch Kings

Set against the backdrop of the 1992 Los Angeles Riots, Kings is a powerful drama that follows the lives of two individuals from vastly different backgrounds who must come together to survive the violent chaos that erupts in their city. The film stars Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry in the role of Millie Dunbar, a single foster mother of eight children, and Daniel Craig as Ollie, Millie's gruff and rough-around-the-edges white neighbor who reluctantly agrees to help her and her family amid the chaos.

At the start of the film, Millie is shown as a woman who is doing her best to make ends meet by taking care of the children who have been abandoned or neglected by their families. She has a fierce sense of loyalty towards them, and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe and secure. Her dedication to her children is put to the test when the LA riots break out following the verdict in the Rodney King trial. As violence and looting break out across the city, Millie finds herself struggling to protect her family from the chaos that surrounds them.

Meanwhile, Ollie is shown as a loner who lives next door to Millie's house. He comes across as an abrasive and antisocial character who doesn't seem to care much about anyone around him. However, as the riots worsen, he starts to have a change of heart and reluctantly agrees to help Millie and her family. The rest of the film shows how the two characters work together to ensure the safety of the children in their care, while facing danger at every turn.

The cinematography of the film is top-notch, with the chaos and violence of the LA riots captured in a realistic and visceral way. The film shows how the riots affected people from all walks of life, with scenes of looted stores, burning buildings, and senseless violence playing out in the background. The filmmakers effectively portray the sense of impending doom that enveloped the city during the riots, with tension and fear building in every scene.

The acting in the film is outstanding, with both Halle Berry and Daniel Craig delivering powerful performances. Berry captures the resilience and determination of a mother who will stop at nothing to protect her children, while Craig brings depth and complexity to a character who initially comes across as unlikable. Together, the two actors have great chemistry on screen, with their characters' rocky relationship serving as the heart of the film.

Another standout performance in the film comes from Lamar Johnson, who plays Jesse, one of Millie's foster children. Johnson delivers a nuanced and captivating performance, capturing both the vulnerability and strength of his character as he tries to navigate the dangers of the riots. The rest of the cast, including the child actors who play Millie's foster children, also deliver strong performances that make the film all the more engaging.

Overall, Kings is a gripping and emotional drama that offers a poignant glimpse into one of the darkest periods in American history. It stands as a testament to the power of human resilience and the bonds of family, even in the face of the most challenging circumstances.

Kings is a 2018 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.1 and a MetaScore of 34.