Stand!

With so many lifeless, soulless retreads of Marvel properties and other franchises clogging theatres, it's heartening to see a film that is actually about something, made by people who are expert storytellers.

Robert Adetuyi's film meshes historical facts with romantic fiction to earnest, right-on effect, even if the result seems a little stagebound.

"Stand!" unfolds as more of a series of teachable moments than as cohesive drama.

Adetuyi navigates through these multifaceted conflicts carefully and well, utilizing lots of homegrown talent, including Williams, Daniels, Bell and Carlucci.

The production looks lovely, crammed with period detail and striving to resonate with today's gig economy... But the results are, dare I say, laboured.

Director Robert Adetuyi...makes a strong impression on a low budget, and marshals large groups of people in dynamic ways.