Love, Action, and Lionel Richie: Shadow Force Surprised Me!

Joe Carnahan’s Shadow Force was released on May 9th, starring Kerry Washington and French actor, Omar Sy. As part of the 2025 Atlanta Film Festival, I had the opportunity to screen this film, and of course, Kerry Washington was in attendance! Before the screening, Reasonable Doubt actress, Emayatzy Cornealdi presented Washington with the Ossie Davis Award, "named after the late actor and activist, which recognizes creative excellence and creative excellence and dynamic contributions to the art of cinema."

Reasonable Doubt actress Emayatzy Cornealdi presenting Kerry Washington with the Ossie Davis Award at the 49th Annual Atlanta Film Festival, on Sunday, April 26th.

Kerry Washington

This action film is filled with themes of family and love and features the cutest eight-year-old boy you’ll ever see on screen.

Atlanta Film and TV's Youth Contributing Writer, Madison Johnson and Executive Director, Mandisa Johnson at the Shadow Force Screening in April at the Plaza Theater in Atlanta, GA.

Shadow Force's depiction of family and love is meaningful to me. It’s touching to see such emotional depth portrayed, even in an action-packed movie!

And the soundtrack! Let me tell you, the constant repetition of Lionel Richie’s Truly, really struck a chord. Richie’s song brought a sense of positivity throughout the film. It evoked nostalgia for the characters and, interestingly, played at moments when the characters didn’t expect it, ultimately helping them in meaningful ways.

Kerry Washington answering a few questions during the Q&A, which followed the Shadow Force screening.