Bright is a look in a fictional world that’s similar to our own except for the fact the human history has included the existence of fantastical creatures like elves, orcs, fairies, and dragons. With the presence of these creatures and the concept of things like magic, society’s issues with discrimination, prejudice, and inequality have evolved to include them as well. As a result, LAPD officer Daryl Ward (Will Smith) is partnered against his wishes with America’s first orc policeman Nick Jakoby (Joel Edgerton). As the two struggle to get along, they stumble upon a powerful magic wand with the power to both make any wish come true and destroy the world, that everyone is willing to kill to possess. Ward and Jakoby are forced to work together to keep the wand out of the hands of gangsters, rogue cops, and an old secret society of special elves called the Inferni before both cops and the world are destroyed.
Bright does a great job of world building with a fascinating concept; most fantasy stories are set in ancient or medieval times, what if we explored fantasy as it would appear in the modern world after having been our reality for millennia? Things like magic, dragons, and fairies being everyday facts of life, or elves and orcs being established demographic groups. This concept also allows the universe created by Bright to be explored in an almost unlimited number of ways. You could conceivably continue with the modern day exploration or insert these fantasy concepts into any time period in history and tell stories there as well. How did orcs, elves, and fairies factor into the discovery of the Americas? Or during World War II? The possibilities are endless and ripe for creative exploration. Screenwriter Max Landis and Director David Ayer deserve credit for the imaginative thinking of establishing this universe and the potential that it represents.
The cinematography in the film is superb from the rich, bright color and illumination of the downtown LA skyline, the realistic portrayal of the inner city, and the appearance of the fantastical settings and characters that feel simultaneously otherworldly and modern. You can feel the distinctive difference between the two locales through their respective presentations while also feeling immersed in them. The colored eyes of the elves and the rough exterior of the orcs are also a testament to the film’s costume design.
While all these elements are superb, Bright’s bright spots are more about what the universe this film creates has the potential to be rather than what the film itself actually is. Bright’s plot is pretty basic, find the macguffin, in this case the magic wand, and keep it away from the bad guys that want to destroy the world. Leilah (Noomi Repace) has the potential to be a compelling villain played by a great actress but, isn’t given much to do or any backstory other than powerful, magic elf. The film did call back slightly too obviously to Ayer’s previous screenwriting work on Training Day. The argument between officers that kicked off Ward and Jakoby’s wild night was very reminiscent of the scene of Roger’s murder and subsequent standoff between cops near the end of that film and Jacoby being saved from the guns of gang members due to his coincidental previous assistance of those gangsters’ young relative was nearly a carbon copy of this same scenario in Training Day.
Bright represents a very creative concept, mixing fantasy and social commentary within a gritty LA landscape. Despite deserving credit for its original premise, the plot and story itself is pretty basic and generic. Although it has the potential to make for some innovative, interesting stories in the future, the one presented here is just ok. The performances from the cast, Edgerton specifically, and gorgeous cinematography help elevate the film and convey the potential that this franchise holds. If you enjoy film making that tries new things in the macro, Bright is worth checking out due to what it portends for the future. But what’s presented to us in the present won’t blow your mind just yet.
Image: Netflix
