Always leery when critics hate a movie. Most critics busy trying to out-deep-think their peers ... like annoying kid in front row that considers self a free-thinking genius and won't let rest of class participate + enjoy. I get criticism of the movie but for me, it's never about film school-y technical perfection ... It's how a movie makes me + audience FEEL. Not a dry eye!!
I graduated HS same year (1971) movie set. Astounding to be reminded YET AGAIN, what fellow black folk were fighting for in NC while living the "good life" of mostly UNDERCOVER (but def overt too) racism up north (Michigan). Taraji played the heck outta her role!