Live by Night (2016) | How Woke Is It?

Our VerdictNot Woke

20%

Live by Night2016

In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected speech. These reviews reflect personal opinions and not statements of fact.

What We Think

‘Live by Night’ is a throwback to classic gangster films, focusing on story and characters more than modern identity politics. While it lightly brushes social issues, it steers clear of typical woke pitfalls. This film lands solidly in the non-woke territory.

Score Breakdown

Compromised:Narrative Integrity

Not Woke

What is this?

Live by Night mostly sticks to traditional storytelling. Characters are developed based on their roles, with attention to classic crime drama tropes. Identity politics are not pushed to the forefront, and character arcs hinge more on personal choice and classic themes like ambition and loyalty. Forced representation is essentially absent.

Compromised:Cultural Foundations

Mildly Woke

What is this?

The film largely respects themes of family, masculinity, and personal morality, set against a backdrop of prohibition-era America. While it touches on issues like racism and social class, it doesn’t preach modern ideological narratives or rewrite tradition for contemporary sensibilities.

Compromised:Ideological Monoculture

Mildly Woke

What is this?

There’s some one-dimensionality in a few villains, but ‘Live by Night’ features competing moral perspectives and personal struggles. It doesn’t wholly villainize tradition, nor does it push an overt ideological monoculture; it’s mainly a standard gangster drama with familiar genre conflicts.

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Disclaimer: In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected as a form of free speech and freedom of expression. The reviews and commentary on this site represent personal opinions and interpretations. They are not statements of fact and should not be taken as factual claims about any individual, company, or creative work.