The Banker is bounced
Controversy means movie may not be seen any time soon
When Apple TV+ acquired
The Banker, a film about two black businessmen circumventing racist practices during the 1950s and ’60s, it seemed to throw the new streaming service into awards-show contention. But the Dec. 6 release of the film, which is inspired by real events, has been delayed. It’s unclear when the film, which stars Samuel L. Jackson and Anthony Mackie, will be shown in theatres or on Apple’s streaming service. The move came as relatives of one of the film’s real-life subjects made accusations of sexual misconduct against another relative involved with The Banker.
Following is a quick guide to the controversy surrounding the film.
WHAT IS THE FILM ABOUT?
George Nolfi’s The Banker is based on two real people. Jackson and Mackie star as Joe Morris and Bernard Garrett, respectively, two black businessmen who recruit a working-class white man to serve as the face of their real estate and banking empire. Meanwhile, Garrett and Morris pose as a chauffeur and a janitor as the business grows. They eventually attracted legal attention and were convicted of misusing bank funds.
WHAT ARE THE ACCUSATIONS?
Cynthia Garrett, a former VH1 and MTV interviewer and founder of Cynthia Garrett Ministries, is one of the daughters of Bernard Garrett Sr. (played by Mackie). She accuses her half brother, Bernard Garrett Jr., of repeatedly sexually abusing her and her sister when they were girls. She also accuses Garrett Jr. of misrepresenting their father’s life story. Garrett Jr. has publicly denied the accusations. “These charges against me are deeply humiliating and frustrating because I can never prove how false they are,” he said in a statement. He said he removed his name from the movie credits and stepped away from the project “so as to not tarnish my father’s legacy.” The siblings are also in a public dispute related to Garrett Sr.’s marriage to his second wife, who is the mother of Cynthia and her sister, but is not portrayed in the film.
WHAT CAUSED THE DELAY?
Apple TV+, which launched earlier this month, acquired
The Banker after the movie was complete. The Hollywood Reporter, citing “sources close to The Banker,” reported that Apple and the filmmakers were unaware of the accusations until recently. But neither Apple nor the production company Romulus has publicly stated that the delay is related to the accusations levelled by Cynthia Garrett. (Neither company has responded to The Post’s inquiries about the allegations). “We purchased The Banker earlier this year as we were moved by the film’s entertaining and educational story about social change and financial literacy,” Apple said in a statement provided recently to several media outlets. “Some concerns surrounding the film were brought to our attention. We, along with the filmmakers, need some time to look into these matters and determine the best next steps.”