Hubbry Logo
A Journal for JordanA Journal for JordanMain
Open search
A Journal for Jordan
Community hub
A Journal for Jordan
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
A Journal for Jordan
A Journal for Jordan
A Journal for Jordan
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

A Journal for Jordan
Promotional release poster
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDenzel Washington
Screenplay byVirgil Williams
Based onA Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor
by Dana Canedy
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMaryse Alberti[1]
Edited byHughes Winborne
Music byMarcelo Zarvos
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release dates
  • December 9, 2021 (2021-12-09) (AMC Lincoln Square)
  • December 25, 2021 (2021-12-25) (United States)
Running time
131 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$25 million[2]
Box office$6.7 million[3]

A Journal for Jordan is a 2021 American romantic drama film directed and co-produced by Denzel Washington from a screenplay written by Virgil Williams, based on the memoir A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor by Dana Canedy. The film stars Michael B. Jordan (who also co-produced the film) and Chanté Adams in the lead roles, along with Jalon Christian, Robert Wisdom, and Tamara Tunie in supporting roles.

The film was released by Sony Pictures Releasing, through the Columbia Pictures banner, on December 25, 2021. It received mixed reviews from critics and was a box office bomb.

Plot

[edit]

Based on a true story, while 1st Sergeant Charles Monroe King is deployed in Iraq, he keeps a journal of love and advice for his infant son. Sharing this journal with her son, his fiancée, Dana Canedy reflects on her unlikely yet powerful romantic relationship with King.[4]

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Todd Black read Dana Canedy's memoir before it was published in 2008, was impressed, and asked Sony to purchase the movie rights and Denzel Washington to produce it into a film with him.[5][6] In 2017, Black asked Virgil Williams to consider writing the script,[7][8] and he was signed on as screenwriter by January 2018.[9] In 2018, Williams and Black gave a first draft of the script to Washington, who responded with excitement and confirmed that he would direct the film.[6][7][10] In February 2019, it was reported that Michael B. Jordan would play the lead role.[11] In October 2020, Chanté Adams was cast in the film.[12] As of December 2020, production had begun.[13][14] In February 2021, Robert Wisdom, Johnny M. Wu, and Jalon Christian joined the cast.[15] In March 2021, Tamara Tunie joined the cast.[16]

Release

[edit]

A Journal for Jordan was originally scheduled by Sony Pictures Releasing for a limited theatrical release on December 10, 2021, before going wide on December 22.[17][18] In October 2021, the film was pushed to a wide theatrical release on December 25, on Christmas Day, without a limited release.[19] The film had its world premiere at the AMC Lincoln Square Theatre on December 9, 2021.[20] The film was released video-on-demand on January 11, 2022, and on Blu-ray and DVD on March 8, 2022.[21]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

In the United States, A Journal for Jordan was released alongside American Underdog and the wide expansion of Licorice Pizza, and was projected to gross around $5 million from 2,500 theaters over its first two days of release.[2] It made $1.2 million on its first day and $1 million on its second, debuting to $2.2 million and finishing eighth at the box office.[22] In its second weekend, the film finished ninth with $1.2 million.[23] The film dropped out of the box office top ten in its third weekend, finishing twelfth with $600,880.[24]

Critical response

[edit]

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 39% based on 62 reviews, with an average rating of 5.2/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "A Journal for Jordan's affecting fact-based story stumbles onscreen due to Denzel Washington's undistinguished direction and overly sentimental approach."[25] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 42 out of 100 based on 20 reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[26] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.[22]

The motion picture had three nominations at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture for Jalon Christian's performance.[27]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

A Journal for Jordan

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
is a 2021 American romantic drama film directed and co-produced by , adapted from the 2008 memoir of the same name by . The story centers on the real-life relationship between Canedy, a former New York Times editor, and Charles Monroe King, a U.S. Army deployed to who authored a journal of life advice for their unborn son before his death in combat in October 2006. The film stars as King and Chante Adams as Canedy, with a screenplay by emphasizing themes of love, duty, and legacy amid military service. The , subtitled A Story of Love and Honor, details Canedy's romance with , their decision to have a , and the journal's contents, which include guidance on integrity, resilience, and ; it achieved status upon release. Washington's portrays the couple's , 's deployment challenges, and Canedy's reflections on raising their son Jordan alone, drawing directly from the journal's excerpts for authenticity. While praised for its emotional sincerity and performances, particularly Jordan's depiction of a principled , the film received mixed critical reception, with critics noting its sentimental tone and Washington's direction as competent but unremarkable, evidenced by aggregate scores of 39% on and 52/100 on . No major controversies surrounded the production or release, though the narrative's focus on personal sacrifice in the context highlights broader debates on military engagements, presented here through individual human experience rather than geopolitical analysis. The project underscores Canedy's transition from to authorship and advocacy, including her role as a Pulitzer Prize administrator, framing the journal as a testament to enduring paternal influence despite untimely loss.

Background

Memoir and true events

A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor is a 2008 memoir by , published by Crown Publishers, that details her relationship with U.S. Army Charles Monroe King and the journal he composed for their son amid his deployment to . The book expands on Canedy's January 1, 2007, New York Times article, "From Father to Son, Last Words to Live By," which first shared excerpts from King's writings and the circumstances of his service. Charles Monroe King, aged 48 at his death, had a distinguished career marked by multiple deployments, including to in 2006 as part of a supply convoy operation. On October 14, 2006, he was killed in when an detonated beneath his armored vehicle. Prior to deploying, King began writing a journal in late , intended for his then-unborn Jordan; the document ultimately spanned approximately 200 pages of handwritten advice on topics including personal integrity, emotional resilience, ethical decision-making, and expectations of manhood. Canedy and King met near , , where Canedy's family had ties; their relationship deepened over subsequent years, leading to her pregnancy in 2005. Their son, Jordan Monroe King, was born on July 4, 2006, while King was deployed; he returned briefly on mid-deployment leave to hold the infant before resuming duties. King's writings emphasized paternal guidance and sacrifice, reflecting his anticipation of potential risks without direct paternal influence for his child.

Development

In January 2018, Sony Pictures set Virgil Williams to write the screenplay adaptation of Dana Canedy's memoir A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor, with Denzel Washington attached to direct the film. Williams, known for co-writing Mudbound, drew from extensive consultations with Canedy and her son Jordan, as well as close study of the original journal entries by First Sergeant Charles Monroe King, to craft a narrative balancing the couple's romance against King's paternal guidance for his son. Washington, who co-produced alongside Escape Artists' Todd Black and Jason Blumenthal, prioritized themes of military duty, familial sacrifice, and moral inheritance, shaping script revisions to underscore King's reflections on integrity and resilience amid wartime separation. The dual-timeline structure—interweaving the couple's courtship with King's posthumously discovered journal—presented adaptation challenges, requiring fidelity to the memoir's emotional authenticity while dramatizing interpersonal tensions without fabricating events. Michael B. Jordan was cast as Charles Monroe King ahead of , bringing prior collaboration with Washington to the role of the soldier-father. joined as Dana Canedy, the journalist and mother raising their son alone after King's death in . The production carried a budget of $25 million, reflecting a modest scale suited to the intimate drama rather than spectacle-driven elements. Development progressed amid industry-wide delays from the , pushing filming into late 2020 after script finalization.

Plot

The film interweaves past and present timelines to depict the romance between Dana Canedy, an ambitious New York Times reporter, and First Sergeant Charles Monroe King, a disciplined U.S. Army soldier and family friend of her parents. Their relationship begins in the late 1990s when Dana visits her childhood home and Charles gifts her father a framed photograph, sparking an unlikely courtship marked by long-distance phone calls, visits, and tensions arising from Dana's career focus and Charles's military duties and prior divorce. Despite initial reluctance, Dana becomes pregnant with their son Jordan, while Charles, portrayed with minimal emphasis on combat specifics, deploys to Iraq after the September 11, 2001, attacks; she presents him with a blank journal before his departure, which he fills with over 200 pages of paternal advice on manhood, respect, emotions, and life aspirations for the unborn child. Charles's death in action leads to the journal's posthumous delivery to Dana, who raises alone amid professional pressures as one of few editors at and the emotional void of loss. The narrative shifts to 's middle school years, where Dana shares entries from the journal, guiding his development and instilling values of honor and resilience drawn from his father's words. While rooted in Canedy's memoir, the film introduces fictionalized dramatic elements, such as heightened relational conflicts and selective portrayals of military life, to structure the story around , , and enduring legacy without delving into broader contexts. The resolution centers on Jordan's growth into a principled young man, with Dana reflecting on the journal's role in bridging their family across time, culminating in affirmations of paternal influence and familial strength.

Cast

Michael B. Jordan stars as 1st Sgt. Charles Monroe King, the disciplined U.S. Army sergeant based on the real-life soldier whose journal forms the story's core, with Jordan also serving as a co-producer. His selection drew on his prior experience portraying resolute, physically demanding characters, complemented by intensive military training for authenticity in depicting service life. Chanté Adams portrays Dana Canedy, the ambitious New York Times editor inspired by the memoir's author, in what director described as the production's most critical casting decision after rigorous auditions to ensure emotional depth and realism. Jalon Christian plays , the young son at the narrative's center, representing the child for whom the journal was written. In supporting roles, appears as Sgt. T.J. Canedy, Dana's father; as Penny Canedy, her mother; Vanessa Aspillaga as Manuela; and Johnny Wu as Manny, contributing to the family and professional dynamics grounded in the true events.

Production

Pre-production

To ensure military authenticity, the production team conducted extensive research into U.S. protocols during the , drawing on Dana Canedy's memoir, Charles Monroe King's actual journal entries, and her journalistic investigations into his combat experiences. Screenwriter consulted directly with soldiers who served under King's command to capture his leadership style and interpersonal dynamics, while spending time with Canedy and her son in New York to inform civilian-military dialogue and emotional realism. A dedicated military advisor, Mark "Ranger" Jones, provided expertise on uniforms, tactical procedures, and base operations, facilitating accurate depictions without official endorsement challenges noted in production accounts. Set design, led by production designer Sharon Seymour, focused on recreating New York civilian environments alongside Iraq War-era military bases, emphasizing functional authenticity over stylization to reflect the memoir's dual settings of urban intimacy and deployed hardship. Sharen Davis sourced period-specific combat uniforms and civilian attire, prioritizing historical accuracy for King's rank and deployment timeline through collaboration with military suppliers and advisor input. Prop fabrication included a faithful replica of King's journal, incorporating scanned entries for visual and narrative fidelity in key scenes. Logistical planning addressed the balance between personal drama and war sequences by pre-visualizing transitions via storyboards and location scouts in New York for domestic scenes, while using controlled base recreations to avoid on-location hazards in Iraq-simulated environments. Director , preparing over years of script refinement, incorporated insights from peer directors like to refine these elements without compromising the story's causal focus on family legacy amid service demands.

Filming and post-production

Principal photography for A Journal for Jordan took place primarily in the United States, with key locations including , New York; Washington, D.C.; in Arlington, ; and the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, where military base facilities simulated Iraqi war environments. Production utilized these practical settings to depict authentic experiences, reducing dependence on extensive digital reconstruction for combat sequences. Filming in New York, including sites such as the Chalet Inn & Suites and Centerport, was underway by April 2021. directed with an emphasis on emotionally resonant visuals, selecting cinematographer to handle intimate scenes, including a deliberate focus on vulnerability in character portrayals. In , editing incorporated subtle visual enhancements, with and effects handled by Zero VFX for integration tasks and FIVE AM FX for 2D work on select sequences. The process aligned with the film's December 2021 release, prioritizing character-driven narrative flow over elaborate action effects.

Release

Distribution and marketing

had its world premiere on December 9, 2021, at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater in , attended by cast members including , , and Chante Adams. The film was distributed theatrically in the United States by Releasing, opening wide on December 25, 2021. Promotional campaigns centered on the film's roots in the true story of Monroe King, who wrote a journal of life lessons for his son while deployed in , alongside Denzel Washington's direction and themes of love, duty, and family legacy timed for the release. Trailers, crafted by Group for Entertainment, featured excerpts from the journal, emotional family moments, and tributes to , with the final trailer released on November 3, 2021. Post-theatrical, the film streamed on and , becoming available for digital rental and purchase via platforms like at Home. Physical media distribution included DVD and Blu-ray editions released on March 8, 2022.

Reception

Box office performance

A Journal for Jordan had a production budget of $25 million. The film earned $6,545,174 domestically and $137,511 internationally, for a worldwide total of $6,682,685. This represented less than 27% recovery of its budget through theatrical earnings alone. It opened on December 25, 2021, across 2,500 theaters, grossing $2,201,886 over the weekend of December 24–26, placing seventh at the North American . Subsequent weeks saw sharp declines, with earnings dropping amid the variant surge of , which led to reduced theater capacities and attendance in many markets, alongside competition from higher-grossing releases like Spider-Man: No Way Home. By its second weekend, the film fell out of the top ten, accumulating under $10 million globally by early 2022. The underperformance marked one of Denzel Washington's largest theatrical losses as a director, with the romance failing to attract audiences despite the stars' draw, exacerbated by holiday release timing during pandemic restrictions. Industry trackers classified it as a given the disparity between costs and returns.

Critical response

A Journal for Jordan received mixed reviews from critics, with a 39% approval rating on based on 62 reviews and an average score of 5.2/10. On , it holds a score of 42 out of 100 from 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reception. Critics praised the chemistry between leads Michael B. Jordan and Chanté Adams, noting their warm, engaging connection and the film's occasional humor in developing the romance. Denzel Washington's direction was commended for its restraint and for honoring military sacrifice through the protagonist's journal entries, which offer paternal wisdom amid deployment to Iraq. Some reviewers appreciated the film's sincere and emphasis on , , and fatherhood, viewing it as an idealistic portrayal of Black family life and service that resonates with traditional values. However, common criticisms centered on excessive sentimentality, predictable narrative arcs, and a lack of dramatic conflict, with characters depicted as overly agreeable and the story feeling safe rather than probing. Reviewers faulted the for glossing over the War's complexities, presenting an overly sanitized view of service that avoids geopolitical tensions or personal doubts. The described it as a "bland romance" that is shallow and awkwardly structured, undermining Washington's efforts. Others highlighted pacing issues and an earnest tone that borders on maudlin, failing to elevate the true-story basis beyond weepy . While some outlets valued its unapologetic tribute to American heroism, left-leaning critiques often dismissed the idealized soldier narrative as disconnected from broader war skepticism.

Audience response

Audiences gave A Journal for Jordan a mixed but generally appreciative reception, with an IMDb user rating of 6.0 out of 10 based on over 3,200 votes. Viewers frequently praised the film's emotional portrayal of personal loss, the poignant father-son bond depicted through the journal's entries, and its tribute to everyday heroism in , often citing these elements as resonating on a heartfelt level despite narrative shortcomings. Common criticisms centered on the film's deliberate pacing and occasional , which some found detracting from the story's authenticity, though many still recommended it as suitable family viewing for its uplifting themes of resilience and legacy. In military communities, the movie garnered positive word-of-mouth, with screenings at bases like Fort Jackson drawing soldiers, veterans, and families who connected with the real-life soldier's sacrifices and the journal's practical life lessons on , , and . Online discussions, including on , echoed this by emphasizing the journal's timeless wisdom—such as guidance on integrity and family priorities—over perceived cinematic flaws, viewing the story as inspirational beyond its artistic execution. The film generated limited awards traction among general audiences, who prioritized its thematic impact on personal growth and remembrance rather than competitive accolades.

Factual basis and accuracy

The film A Journal for Jordan is adapted from Dana Canedy's 2008 memoir of the same name, which recounts her interracial relationship with Charles Monroe King, a U.S. soldier, and the journal he wrote for their unborn son before his death in . Core elements, such as the journal's content providing paternal guidance on , financial prudence (e.g., saving and avoiding ), and nurturing relationships, align closely with excerpts from King's actual writings, which emphasize resilience, faith, and intolerance for dishonesty. Canedy's career as a senior editor at , including her contributions to Pulitzer Prize-winning projects on race and national reporting, is accurately depicted without embellishment. The timeline of events is compressed for dramatic pacing: Canedy and King met in 2001 at her family's home near , , initiating a marked by his multiple deployments, whereas the film accelerates their courtship and conflicts into a more condensed arc culminating in his 2006 death. King's , including his receipt of awards for valor prior to , and his sacrifice on October 14, 2006—when an detonated under his during a supply near —are verified by records and corroborated in Canedy's accounts. Deviations include amplified interpersonal tensions in the romance, such as heightened depictions of opposition and relational strains due to King's demands, which Canedy's presents as real but less melodramatically. Dialogues and specific interactions are fictionalized for cinematic flow, and combat sequences are minimized, focusing on personal preparation rather than the operational realities of King's unit (1st Battalion, , 4th Division). The portrayal of son 's infancy and upbringing adjusts narrative elements for emotional impact; in reality, Jordan was born in 2008, over a year after King's death, and raised solely by Canedy while she continued her editorial work. These alterations prioritize themes of enduring legacy and individual duty over exhaustive policy or tactical analysis of the , as confirmed by cross-references to military casualty reports and Canedy's interviews, which underscore King's personal motivations amid verified combat hazards.

References

  1. https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/ajournalforjordan
  2. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/23531/a-journal-for-jordan-movie-tie-in-by-dana-canedy/
  3. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_journal_for_jordan
  4. https://www.metacritic.com/movie/a-journal-for-jordan/
  5. https://books.google.com/books/about/A_Journal_for_Jordan.html?id=uKyY2QUXUasC
  6. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/01/us/01charles.html
  7. https://www.army.mil/article/243808/upcoming_movie_to_pay_tribute_to_fallen_soldier_family
  8. https://www.npr.org/transcripts/104479354
  9. https://www.bookbrowse.com/bb_briefs/detail/index.cfm/ezine_preview_number/3290/a-journal-for-jordan
  10. https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/a-journal-for-jordan/
  11. https://deadline.com/2018/01/a-journal-for-jordan-movie-denzel-washington-virgil-williams-sony-1202273200/
  12. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/journal-for-jordan-true-story-arlington-explained-1235067962/
  13. https://www.moviemaker.com/a-journal-for-jordan-screenwriter-virgil-williams-mantra-denzel-washington/
  14. https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/a-love-story-on-a-crash-course-with-destiny-virgil-williams-talks-a-journal-for-jordan
  15. https://variety.com/2020/film/news/cleveland-berto-journal-for-jordan-chicago-pd-1234848062/
  16. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Journal-for-Jordan-A-%282021%29
  17. https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2021/08/11/a-journal-jordan-trailer-michael-b-jordan-denzel-washington/5520959001/
  18. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-journal-for-jordan-movie-review-2021
  19. https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/a-journal-for-jordan-review-michael-b-jordan-chante-adams-denzel-washington-1235138091/
  20. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_journal_for_jordan/cast-and-crew
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995854/
  22. https://people.com/movies/michael-b-jordan-calls-training-to-play-a-soldier-in-a-journal-for-jordan-intense-but-fun/
  23. https://www.essence.com/entertainment/denzel-washington-casting-chante-adams-a-journal-for-jordan/
  24. https://deadline.com/2020/10/chante-adams-michael-b-jordan-in-denzel-washingtons-journal-for-jordan-1234602390/
  25. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995854/fullcredits/
  26. https://www.motionpictures.org/2021/12/a-journal-for-jordan-screenwriter-on-adapting-this-moving-true-story-for-denzel-washington/
  27. https://www.taps.org/markjones
  28. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/a-journal-for-jordan-film-denzel-washington-michael-b-jordan-1235066099/
  29. https://theknockturnal.com/exclusive-sharen-davis-talks-costume-designs-for-a-journal-for-jordan/
  30. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/denzel-washington-on-directing-im-still-learning
  31. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995854/locations/
  32. https://www.army.mil/article/246980/denzel_washington_michael_b_jordan_wrap_filming_at_ntc_and_fort_irwin
  33. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/ny-filming-journal-for-jordan-michael-b-jordan-denzel-washington-72998/
  34. https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2021/12/22/a-journal-for-jordan-michael-b-jordan-denzel-washington/6461093001/
  35. https://fiveamfx.com/a-journal-for-jordan
  36. https://graziamagazine.com/us/articles/journal-jordan-red-carpet-best-dressed/
  37. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10294919/Denzel-Washington-Michael-B-Jordan-Chante-Adams-NYC-premiere-Journal-Jordan.html
  38. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/calendar/changes/?offset=840
  39. https://www.sonypictures.co.uk/movies/journal-jordan
  40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOzrXqf5pvE
  41. https://variety.com/2022/awards/news/golden-trailer-awards-2022-the-batman-top-gun-maverick-1235330834/
  42. https://www.netflix.com/title/81472868
  43. https://www.hulu.com/movie/a-journal-for-jordan-e6c8478b-9a4a-4708-89a8-a565054e0b7a
  44. https://www.movieinsider.com/m3994/journal-for-jordan
  45. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1886552833/
  46. https://deadline.com/2021/12/a-journal-for-jordan-review-denzel-washington-directs-michael-b-jordan-1234901169/
  47. https://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2022/01/18/a-journal-for-jordan-movie-review/
  48. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-denzel-washingtons-melodramatic-a-journal-for-jordan-is-out-of-step/
  49. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jan/19/a-journal-for-jordan-review-denzel-washington-michael-b-jordan
  50. https://ew.com/movies/movie-reviews/a-journal-for-jordan-review-denzel-washington-michael-b-jordan/
  51. https://lwlies.com/reviews/a-journal-for-jordan
  52. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995854/reviews/
  53. https://www.army.mil/article/252833/a_journal_for_jordan_premiers_at_fort_jackson
  54. https://www.reddit.com/r/blankies/comments/rh12rq/a_journal_for_jordan/
  55. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-12-23/journal-for-jordan-true-story-fact-fiction-denzel
  56. https://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=6519229&page=1
  57. https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/dana-canedy
  58. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/11/business/the-guardian-us-dana-canedy.html
  59. https://thefallen.militarytimes.com/army-1st-sgt-charles-m-king/2295335
  60. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRECB-2006-pt18/html/CRECB-2006-pt18-Pg23460.htm
  61. https://www.npr.org/2009/05/25/104479354/late-soldier-leaves-journal-to-infant-son
  62. https://www.war.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/2882207/a-journal-for-jordan-brings-soldiers-story-of-love-legacy-to-life/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.