Movie review
March 6, 2020 · 120 min · PG-13
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
A historical drama inspired by the real 1950s-60s story of African-American entrepreneurs Bernard Garrett and Joe Morris. They team with a white frontman to buy real estate and banks, bypassing racist barriers to integrate housing and extend loans to Black families in Los Angeles and Texas. Identity themes of racial discrimination and economic access appear visibly and recur as the central historical conflict and character motivation. No modern activist overlays, gender elements, or other social-justice messaging stand out.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Banker.
Woke representation / casting
Casting naturally fits historical Black figures and story world with no forced diversity or mismatches.
Woke political dialogue
Period-appropriate references to 1960s racism and equal opportunity with no modern activist rhetoric.
Identity-driven story themes
Narrative centers on racial barriers to housing and business access as the core historical conflict.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Only setting-appropriate 1960s discriminatory practices shown; no modern activist critique of current institutions.
Production
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No backlash claiming too woke or identity politics; controversy was family-related only.
Creator track record context
Minor inclusion work by one co-writer; no strong relevant pattern otherwise.
