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Ethan Hawkes rage-filled croak as abolitionist John Brown inThe Good Lord Birdis biblically awesome.
His face grows red, then purple.
His eye color seems to darken.
None of this is a special effect.
Of course, Brown is also, to quote a supporting character, nuttier than a squirrel turd.
Thats not a diagnosis, nor evidence of the character being wrong on the merits.
Its a personal observation that happens to be accurate.
Onions voiceover narration is at once innocent and knowing.
Browns followers and sons arent gung ho about him all the time, either.
Also, Browns speeches go on for hours.
Hes certainly more blessed than Black abolitionists would be under similar (armed) circumstances.
