It's best to avoid this film, and the book as well. _mild spoilers:_ The filmmakers made several missteps in creating what should have been a good movie. Initially, the central character is difficult to connect with; his personality seems inconsistent. Is he rebellious or cultured? Does he prefer cycling or driving? Is he tough or sensitive? The narrative couldn't settle on any of these aspects, presenting contradictory traits. It’s hard to imagine many viewers supporting an unremarkable individual whose humor involves displaying a dead rat to his sister. Another significant error occurs about two-thirds of the way through when a major character dies. That feels like having part of your meal taken away mid-course and being told to finish it because it's art now. At that point, fast forwarding is acceptable, bypassing tedious exchanges between the pothead hero and his girlfriend, who seems more envious than pleased with him. Ultimately, the most glaring problem lies in the absence of a coherent plot. Events occur, but they aren’t connected; there’s no underlying structure, just a sequence of incidents linked only by chronology. You won't find those memorable scenes or meaningful plot developments that stick with you. "Native Son" isn't that kind of film; it's simply not a good movie. It earns one star solely for its production values. 8 April 2019

Source on TMDB