Rob Peace Review: Jeff Hobbs’ 2014 biography, The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League, explored the life of his Yale University roommate. The book recounts the story of an exceptional student who, despite overcoming his impoverished beginnings, was unable to escape the fate suggested by the book’s title. This bestselling account has been adapted into Chiwetel Ejiofor’s second film as a director, Rob Peace, following his 2019 Netflix movie The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. While Ejiofor demonstrates a keen ability to direct actors, his storytelling approach remains rather conventional.
The film opens with a politically charged montage, featuring scenes of police brutality and a neighborhood in flames, accompanied by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five’s “The Message.” This sets an ambitious tone for the film but delivers it in a manner reminiscent of an after-school special.
Rob Peace
Drama | Biography
- Release Date: January 22, 2024
- Director: Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Kelly, Mare Winningham, Camila Cabello
- Runtime: 119 minutes
- Genre: Drama
- Writer: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Synopsis of ‘Rob Peace’
The story begins in 1980s East Orange, N.J., where seven-year-old Robert DeShaun Peace (Jelani Dacres) lives. His father, Skeet Douglas (Ejiofor), is depicted as both neglectful and manipulative, kicking him out of the car to retrieve a gun from the glove compartment. This dual nature of Skeet—both considerate and harmful—becomes evident. Shortly thereafter, Skeet is sentenced to life imprisonment for double murder.
DeShaun’s mother, Jackie (Mary J. Blige), views her son’s academic talent as a means to escape the harsh environment of Newark and plans to enroll him in St. Benedict’s Prep School. She instructs him to use the name Robert to avoid any association with his imprisoned father. Despite Rob (Chance K. Smith) excelling in academics and water polo, he remains focused on securing his father’s release, working multiple jobs to fund the appeal. As Rob (Jay Will) heads to Yale, his father’s situation continues to weigh heavily on him, leading him to sell drugs on campus to cover legal fees.
The film addresses systemic racism and flawed legal and economic systems that disproportionately impact marginalized communities. It sympathetically portrays the characters’ struggles while holding them accountable for their choices. Skeet’s self-centered actions, prioritizing his freedom over Rob’s future, and Rob’s unethical decisions to raise money are both depicted.
Ejiofor’s Strengths and Weaknesses in ‘Rob Peace’
Ejiofor shows strength in directing his actors, from young talents portraying Rob at various stages of life to the notable supporting cast, including Mare Winningham as a Yale professor. The film’s dialogues, infused with technical terms from biophysics and biochemistry, are delivered naturally, adding to the film’s authenticity. Ejiofor’s attention to even minor roles highlights his skill as an actors’ director.
However, Will’s voiceover narration is notably flat and lacks emotional depth, indicating Ejiofor’s difficulty with storytelling. Although he is attuned to cultural issues, his narrative lacks the finesse to effectively convey these themes. The voiceover tries to emulate a Scorsese-style approach but falls short in execution and impact.
Ejiofor integrates insightful observations on Rob’s experiences, such as instances of microaggressions at Yale. One scene illustrates how Rob’s simple request for a gate to be held open is met with suspicion, contrasting with the indifference toward his role as a drug dealer. Naya (Camila Cabello) highlights the unconscious bias on campus, but the film’s approach to this issue feels somewhat heavy-handed.
‘Rob Peace’ as a Narrative
The film often resembles a checklist of events rather than a cohesive story. It covers Rob’s life from Newark to Yale in the first half-hour and his junior year at Yale precisely at the one-hour mark, reducing storytelling to a formulaic approach.
A significant drawback is Jeff Russo’s overly sentimental score, which, while intended to evoke a sense of dread, ends up feeling excessive. Instead of subtly hinting at the film’s tragic elements, the music imposes a sense of despair on the audience. Despite occasional appearances by Layzie Bone and Ludacris in the soundtrack, the film remains predictably somber and didactic. Although Peace faced many hardships, his achievements also deserve recognition.
