Do the Right Thing

Streaming: Prime Video/Showtime
Warnings:
Explicit Language
Violence
Racism
Sex
Nudity
Rating: R

Do the Right Thing is a comedy-drama set in 1989, that explores Brooklyn’s neighborhoods while highlighting racial tension which escalates in tragedy and violence. Do the Right Thing was produced, written and directed by Spike Lee. It stars Lee, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, John Turturro, Rosie Perez, Martin Lawrence and Samuel L. Jackson. This is the feature film debut of Martin Lawrence and Rosie Perez. Do the Right Thing was a success critically and commercially and received numerous accolades. This film is often listed as one of the greatest films of all time. In 1999 the Library of Congress deemed Do the Right Thing as, “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant,” when it was eligible, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. Do the Right Thing was nominated for the Academy Awards, Best Supporting Actor for Danny Aiello, and Best Original Screenplay for Spike Lee. The film won Best Director, Best Film and Best Music from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. It also won Best Cinematography from the New York Film Critics Circle. Do the Right Thing was nominated and won numerous other words, there are too many to name. Film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert ranked the film the best of 1989 and later ranked it as one of the top 10 films of the decade. Siskel stated the film is like a, “Spiritual documentary that shows racial joy, hatred and confusion at every turn.” Ebert praised the film for “coming close to reflecting the current state of race relations in America than any other movie of our time.” Do the Right Thing uses innovative camerawork, iconic acting, and genuine dialogue to portray different cultures of this Brooklyn neighborhood. This film is as relevant as it has ever been and certainly exposes how much the negligence from the police force, as well as racism hasn’t changed.

            The script is filled with casual dialogue and uses different perspectives from the neighborhood to tell the story. Spike Lee wrote the screenplay in two weeks. Parts of the conversations between characters were improvised, specifically the scenes of the “corner men”. He was inspired for the film after watching Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode, “Shopping for Death,” in which the main characters debate a theory that hot weather increases violent proclivities. He was also inspired by the shooting of Eleanor Bumpurs who is an elderly, disabled African American woman who was shot by the New York Police after they broke into her house and struggled to subdue her. An officer fatally shot her with a 12-guage shotgun. There was another incident that inspired the storyline, there were young Black youth who were chased out of a pizzeria by some white youth in Howard Beach, New York City. All of these inspirations allowed Spike Lee to create a film that is not only truthful, but also a genuine image of what America is actually like.

            The acting in the film is beyond phenomenal, many of the roles were played by young actors who are now known as “the greats”. Four of the cast members were stand-up comedians which added to the comedic charm throughout the film, they are Martin Lawrence, Steve Park, Steve White and Robin Harris. Rosie Perez was cast as the main character Mookie’s (played by Spike Lee) love interest after he saw her dancing at a Los Angeles dance club. This was the feature film debut for Rosie Perez. Danny Aiello won Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Sal from the Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics, the Chicago Film Critics Association, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. One person to note specifically in this film is Giancarlo Esposito who played Buggin’ Out, his character is prevalent throughout the film and he is part of the reason the story escalated the way it did. His character is relatable, comedic and complex. Spike Lee did a wonderful job creating these characters because they are so relative to actual people, and they are all complex in their own way. The actors truly brought these characters to life in way that is unexpected and sincere.

            The cinematography is one of the most interesting elements of the film. Ernest Dickerson known for The Wire, The Walking Dead, Jungle Fever, Mo’ Better Blues, and Malcolm X (1992), uses the camera to act like a fly on the wall throughout the neighborhood. The camera follows characters as they interreact and portrays certain characters as powerful in the moment and other characters as small. For example, there is one scene where two characters are arguing and one character who is clearly in the wrong is filmed from above, the character who is being wronged is filmed from below, this creates a dynamic of power and a lack of power. In addition to the carefully chosen camera angles, Lee and Dickerson used the camera to break the third wall, the characters talk directly to the camera and even yell at the camera at times, this makes the audience feel as if they are included in the film. This is an iconic artistic choice that has been referenced in many films since this film. Lastly, there is a shot in the film where the camera is following Mookie (Spike Lee) as he walks through the neighborhood, the camera carefully showcases the neighborhood as well as the different characters in it, this is an interesting choice that allows the audience to understand the dynamic of the community. Do the Right Thing is beautifully shot and created a new approach of filming characters in an honest way.

            Do the Right Thing is probably one of the best films you will ever see, personally I believe it is Spike Lee’s greatest film. Do the Right Thing is still relevant today, especially when considering the political climate joined with police brutality in the United States. This film comments on the issues that affect different cultures in this specific neighborhood however, it is relative to the United States as a whole. If you wish to enjoy a dramatic comedy that is truthful, and also uses the F-word approximately 240 times, Do the Right Thing is the film for you.

The Black Power Mixtape

Streaming: IFC Films Unlimited/Prime Video
Warnings:
Racism
Violence
Rating: Not Rated

The Black Power Mixtape is a documentary made of compiled footage shot by a group of Swedish journalists documenting the Black Power movement in the United States from 1967-1975. The archival footage is overlaid with commentary and interviews from African American artists, activists, musicians and scholars. This documentary is vital when understanding the historical impact of the Black Power movement, especially when considering the current political climate of the United States. The film is divided chronologically from 1967-1975 and it focuses on several topics ranging from Black Power, the opposition of the Vietnam war, The Black Panther Party, covert FBI operations, and the War on Drugs. The film includes people who were significant to the movement including Angela Davis, Stokely Carmichael, Huey P. Newton, Eldridge Cleaver, and Bobby Seale (to name a few). The Black Power Mixtape also includes archival footage of Martin Luther King Jr., Louis Farrakhan, Emile de Antonio, Richard Nixon, and Ingrid Dahlberg. Some of the commentary carrying the film includes but isn’t limited to Erykah Badu, Ahmir Questlove Thompson, Talib Kweli, Angela Davis, Sonia Sanchez and Abiodun Oyewole. The historical importance of this film is essential to understanding American history, and it is an interesting perspective simply because it was filmed by Swedish journalists. The archival footage as well as the editing joined with the commentary creates a masterful film that shows the audience a side of America that hasn’t been shown to a mass audience before. The Black Power Mixtape is so powerful, it was nominated for numerous awards and won the Editing Award World Cinema Documentary from the Sundance Film Festival, the Best Editing from the Gulbagge Awards, and the Best Documentary from the African American Film Critics Association.

            The first most important element to discuss about The Black Power Mixtape is the historical importance. In the United States, a lot of history isn’t properly taught, and this documentary allows an audience who might not know about this history, to see the truth for the first time. This film pushes the envelope by prominently featuring activists who were considered “dangerous” or “a threat” to the American people. The Black Power Mixtape not only discusses the concept of Black Power and what it means, it also discusses how the government has marginalized generations of people within the United States on purpose. This film makes connections that have not been seen before to American audiences and allows the audience to understand what the Black Power movement was actually all about, rather than what it was misconstrued to be. Diane Archer of Film Comment stated that The Black Power Mixtape is “a chronological musically structured collage tracing the arc of the Black Power movement from its inception during the civil rights era through its dissolution as drugs began to erode black communities in the Seventies, created with rarely seen footage culled from the archives of Swedish Television.” The two main historical events the film does a good job covering specifically is the Civil Rights Movement and the effects of the War on Drugs. These two events are framed to be highly relevant to the Black Power movement throughout the documentary.

            Another important element of the film are the interviews, the commentary that carries The Black Power Mixtape create an interesting approach to storytelling that isn’t often utilized in documentaries. Usually, the interviewee is seen throughout the film however, just the voices of the interviewees are used. This creates an effective way to focus on the content rather than who is speaking which can at times become distracting in certain approaches. One memorable part of the film features Erykah Badu singing during her commentary and the editor joins her voice with images of children in poverty who were not going to be able to eat breakfast that morning. At this point of the film, they were discussing free breakfast and lunch that the Black Panthers would provide, so it was certainly a powerful way to get that message across. Talib Kweli adds to an interesting part of the film where he discusses knowledge, and his commentary is joined with a Black elder who owns a historical bookstore. Editing choices like this adds to the points that the interviewees were trying to make, they allow the audience to understand their commentary on another level. Editors Göran Olsson and Hanna Lejonqvist did a wonderful job capturing the perspectives of their interviewees through the archival footage they used.

            The archival footage throughout the film is shocking and informative. The Black Power Mixtape uses footage that was predominantly never seen by an American audience, so a lot of this imagery was lost in history. Luckily it was discovered 30 years later in a cellar of Swedish Television. Without this footage, this documentary would not exist, and the American Audience would not have seen a great deal of our country’s own history. The archival footage included is one of the only interviews of Angela Davis in jail. This thoughtful interview with Angela has become quite famous and has been used in other documentaries since then. Police Brutality is an additional thing that is highlighted in the film, the only thing that has changed about the police are their uniforms. The Black Power Mixtape makes a point to include footage of people discussing their treatment from police back then which is a devastating comparison to make when considering the issue with police brutality today. The Black Power Mixtape has a lot of elements within it but through the editing, commentary and archival footage the film makes interesting and significant points about the Black Power movement.

            The Black Power Mixtape is not necessarily a film to watch when you want to feel better about being a citizen of the United States. However, it certainly is an inspirational film that makes the audience feel encouraged to work towards change for the future. The Black Power Mixtape is informative and educational when it comes to the civil rights movement as well as the Black Power movement and it is important to continue educating people properly about this history. Through the editing, archival footage and thought-provoking commentary, this film allows the audience to understand a different perspective of American history. I highly recommend watching this documentary film when you want to learn something new about the United States.

The Wiz

Streaming: Showtime/Prime Video
Rating: G

The Wiz is an adaptation of the Wizard of Oz that tries to capture the African American experience through a whimsical story. The fantasy film features joyful music, energetic choreography, and stunning art direction. Despite The Wiz flopping in the box office, the film later became a hit. Starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nispey Russell, Ted Ross, Lena Horne, and Richard Pryor, The Wiz became a cult classic. The Wiz was Michael Jackson’s film debut, Diana Ross’ last film, and it was the director Sidney Lumet’s only musical. Produced by Rob Cohen and screenplay by Joel Schumacher, The Wiz was a commercial failure and marked the end of the resurgence of African American films that began with the blaxploitation movement of the early 70s. After the theatrical release of The Wiz, The New York Times stated, “The Wiz might be the last gasp of what had been steadily expanding black presence in mainstream filmmaking.” The film’s failure steered Hollywood Studios away from producing all-black film projects however, some argue that without blaxploitation there might not have been another generation of Black actors to emerge, or they would have taken longer to appear in Hollywood. The Wiz is an important film because of the representation it provided in the 1970s, and even with the negative reception, it was still nominated for awards. It was nominated for the Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Song Score and Best Cinematography by the 51st Academy Awards.

            The acting in the film wasn’t necessarily viewed as “stunning” or “perfect,” either. Some critics thought that The Wiz was too scary for children yet too silly for adults. Diana Ross in particular received harsh criticism for her role as Dorothy. Many people believed that she was too old to play the 14-year-old Dorothy and eventually her role was changed to a 24-year-old schoolteacher. The original director John Badham decided not to direct the film upon learning that Diana Ross was going to play Dorothy. Badham told Cohen that he thought Ross was, “a wonderful singer. She’s a terrific actress and a great dancer, but she’s not this character. She’s not the little six-year-old Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.” Most critics agreed that what had worked in the theater did not translate well to the screen. The Grove Book of Hollywood noted that, “the picture finished off Diana Ross’s screen career.” Michael Jackson’s performance as the scarecrow was one of the only positively reviewed elements of the film stating that he had, “genuine acting talent” and “provided the only genuinely memorable moments.” A lukewarm criticism from Rotten Tomatoes states, “This workmanline movie musical lacks the electricity of the stage version (and its cinematic inspiration), but it’s bolstered by strong performances by Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.” Personally, after re-watching the film Diana Ross in particular didn’t seem to deserve the disrespectful reviews she received, and Michael Jackson certainly portrayed the scarecrow in a unique and playful way.

            The music is something that needs to be addressed because it carried the film to another level. The Music was produced by Motown Productions, from the film/TV division of Berry Gordy’s Motown Records label. All but 5 songs were written by Charlie Smalls for the film, Quincy Jones wrote “Can I Go On,” contributed to the “Emerald City Sequence,” as well as “Is This What Feeling Gets?” American bassist Anthony Jackson created the, “Poppy Girls Theme.” Charlie Smalls however was the main composer for the film, he is a best known for writing the lyrics for the Broadway musical The Wiz. It is important to note that Charlie Smalls was considered to be a musical prodigy, he attended the Julliard School at age eleven in 1954 staying until 1961. Smalls won the 1975 Tony Award for Best Score for his work on the Broadway musical version of The Wiz. With all of that being said, it isn’t a huge surprise that the music in The Wiz is uplifting, inspirational and overall great.

            The art direction and set design was nominated at the 51st Academy Awards and the nomination is well deserved. The art direction and costume design were by Tony Walton and Phillip Rosenberg and the set direction was executed by Edward Stewart and Robert Drumheller. It is understandable that some critics said that The Wiz is too scary for kids because at times this film is comparable to a drug trip. There is a part of the film where the actors literally come off of the walls when Dorothy first arrives in Munchkinland. They look like shadows at first and when they come into the light, they are covered in what seems to be graffiti from being stuck on the walls for so long. One could surmise this would be terrifying to see as a kid, however as a child in the 90s who watched The Dark Crystal, I was not phased. The Wiz was possibly ahead of its time with the art direction and creative costumes. From the garbage monsters, flamboyant poppy girls, and even the color changing fashion show in Emerald City, The Wiz doesn’t disappoint.

            It is completely understandable why The Wiz is now a cult classic. The actors involved in the film are iconic, the art direction is something to aspire to, and the music is inspirational. Even though the film has numerous negative reviews, this validates the statement, “opinions are just opinions”. The Wiz is a family film that should be enjoyed by everyone regardless of the negative criticism is received in the past.

Get Out

Streaming: HBO
Warnings:
Graphic Violence
Racism
Rating: R
Note: Some Spoilers in this review

  Get Out is a horror film following a young African American man who discovers an alarming secret when he meets the family of his white girlfriend for the first time. Written, produced and directed by Jordan Peele in his directional feature debut, this horror film explores new boundaries when discussing the concept of race and interracial dating. The film stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Lil Rey Howery, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Stephen Root, Catherine Keener, and LaKeith Stanfield. Get Out premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017 and was released in the United States a month later by Universal Pictures. Get Out received critical acclaim praising the screenplay, acting performances, and the direction. Critics also appreciated Daniel Kaluuya for incorporating comedy and social themes into his role. The film was incredibly successful in the box office, with a budget of only $4.5 million, Get Out grossed $255.4 million in the box office worldwide. The acting is great, the choices the actors make for their performances developed interesting characters and for some of the characters, terrifying. The cinematography also added to the success of the film, there are jarring images that makes the audience feel uncomfortable and sometimes disgusted. The screenplay is an element to applaud, the film wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the creative thought process of Jordan Peele. With all of these elements in mind, Get Out is well deserving of all of the awards it was nominated for as well as the awards it received including an Academy award for Best Original Screenplay, an IGN Award for Best Horror Movie, and Best Picture from the African American Film Critics Association (to name a few). The total number of awards is 88 and the total number of nominations is 218.

            The screenplay for Get Out was the first step towards a masterpiece, Jordan Peele discusses in an interview his process of creating this story and how impactful it was for him. Peele wanted to include a theme that is relative to the prison industrial complex and in an interview with Vanity Fair he states that it was a “very emotional discovery” for him. He also states, “I remember having so much fun writing it, but at that moment when I figured out this weird esoteric, but also an emotionally brutal form of suffering to put the character through- I literally cried writing the scene.” This symbolism didn’t go unnoticed and there are plenty of themes included in the film that comment on the Black experience. Peele also made a point not to make the racists in the film overtly obvious like neo-Nazis or the “alt-right,” he purposefully made them middle-class liberals. Something that is highlighted perfectly in the film is how these same types of liberals can make life so hard and uncomfortable for Black people, even if its unintentional. The film exposes a liberal ignorance that was significantly prevalent during the Obama era, assuming that racism didn’t exist anymore because of the fact that the United States had a Black President. Get Out examines the liberal complacency with racism that still exists in the everyday lives of BIPOC (Black, indigenous, people of color) individuals. The film also depicts a lack of attention to missing Black Americans when compared to missing white females, according to the FBI archives, although Black people only comprise 13 percent of America’s population, they are 34 percent of America’s missing people. This reality exists in result of racial and socioeconomic factors and yet white women receive more media coverage when it comes to missing people. (For those who do not know, “missing white woman syndrome is a term used by social scientists and media commentators to refer to extensive media coverage especially in television of missing person cases involving young, white upper-middle-class women or girls” – Wikipedia) In addition to the theme of missing people, Peele wrote a subversion to the white savior trope that is often portrayed in various genres of cinema. The evil white character in the film is not a victim of indoctrination, hypnotism or Stockholm syndrome, they are simply evil. These themes in combination with each other creates a story that is unlike any other but also incredibly relative to the Black experience in the United States. Due to the success of Get Out, Jordan Peele became the first African American writer, producer and director to earn more than $100 million for his debut feature film. 

            The acting is a factor that makes the film as chilling as it is. Daniel Kaluuya as Chris Washington and Allison Williams as Rose Armitage developed completely plausible characters. Peele and Williams stated that “Rose behaved like a teenager as her emotional development was delayed.” Williams noticed that after some white audiences watched the film, they frequently misinterpreted the motivations of the evil characters and they’d assume that they didn’t mean to be harmful, or that their actions weren’t intentional. Williams in particular was cast to disorient audiences into trusting her. Daniel Kaluuya was cast based on his powerful performance in the Black Mirror episode, Fifteen Million Merits. According to IMDB, Kaluuya was given the lead role for nailing his audition. After doing about 5 takes of a key scene where the character Chris Washington needs to cry, Kaluuya was perfect and for each take, his tears came on cue every single time. Kaluuya’s performance is beyond masterful, he portrays his character as a good guy that everyone knows, someone who is a relatable “everyman.” To highlight a few nominations and awards, Kaluuya won the Outstanding Actor award from the Black Reel Awards, he won Best Actor for the African American Film Critics Association and was nominated for Best actor for an Academy Award. Get Out won Best Cast from the National Board Review and Best Ensemble from the Seattle Film Critics Society.

            Finally, the cinematography is an important element of this film because it adds to the shocking scenes and pushes the audience further out of their comfort zone. Cinematographer Toby Oliver, who is known for Happy Death Day, Insidious: The Last Key, and Dead to Me has worked on over forty films and has been active in the industry since 1994. The principal photography of Get Out lasted 23 days and was filmed in Fairhope, Alabama. Some critics likened the film to Alfred Hitchcock specifically North by Northwest because of its execution. One particular scene that is similar to Hitchcock is when Walter (played by Marcus Henderson) is running directly towards Chris and also the audience, the camera is directly facing Walter as he is running at full speed, this is a distressing shot to say the least. Decisions like this throughout the film is what makes it a great horror movie, the audience is shocked yet not to the point where they become disinterested. Toby Oliver and Jordan Peele make a wonderful team and hopefully they work together in the future.

            Get Out is an unforgettable horror film that incorporates so many elements of suffering that it becomes a plausible nightmare. After watching this film, it is evident that something similar to this is probably actually happening somewhere in the United States. Jordan Peele truly shows that he has talents beyond comedy and can create frightening films that are also thought-provoking. From the acting, the writing and the cinematography Get Out is one of the best horror films from this decade. If you wish to enjoy a cerebral horror film that makes you think, I highly recommend Get Out.

The Photograph

Streaming: HBO
Warnings:
Sex
Strong Language
Rating: PG-13

  The Photograph is a dramatic romance that follows an estranged daughter of a famous photographer who falls in love with a journalist who is researching her mother’s life for a story. This film is a love story for the ages, it intertwines the past and present to show two different romances. Written and directed by Stella Meghie, the film takes the audience on a beautiful journey that is playful and passionate. Meghie is known for her direction of television series including Grown-ish, Insecure and First Wives Club. She is currently set to direct the Whitney Houston biopic called, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, which is set to be released in 2022. The film stars Issa Rae, LaKeith Stanfield, Y’lan Noel, Chanté Adams, Lil Rel Howrey, and Marsha Stephanie Blake. The Photograph is a film that is not necessarily comparable to other romantic films. The film has a more modern approach and its distinctive because of the writing, acting and the music. The Photograph is a more in-depth type of romantic film that most audiences are not used to and that is what makes the storyline convincing and appealing.

The writing is well done and allows the audience to understand the characters as they are. The characters are complex, and specifically the women are portrayed in a positive light without the male gaze tarnishing their personality traits. This is important to mention because in many romantic films, the woman’s only goal is to find a male counterpart however in this film, Issa Rae’s character Mae Morton doesn’t revolve her life around the pursuit of a man. In addition to that, Mae’s character doesn’t have to “fix” LaKeith Stanfield’s character Michael Block in any way. Both Mae and Michael are successful and well-adjusted throughout the film which is something that is unique to a romantic drama. In addition to that, both characters are not willing to compromise their own career goals for each other, many romantic dramas involve someone giving up on a goal for their significant other which isn’t practical to real life concerns. The Photograph portrays romance in a more authentic manner which is what makes the film engaging to watch.

The acting from Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield is something to praise, they both portray the characters authentically and they each have clear goals for themselves. On Rotten Tomatoes the critics consensus states, “Gorgeous visuals, an affecting love story, and simmering chemistry between Issa Rae and LeKeith Stanfield keep The Photograph solidly in focus.” It is also important to note the roles of Ylan Noel who plays Young Isaac Jefferson, and Chanté Adams who plays Young Christine Eames, both do a wonderful job showing how their characters are struggling and connecting them to their older selves. In general, the film takes the audience on a heartfelt journey that is unexpected and sincere.

Since The Photograph is partially based in New Orleans and partially based in New York, it is important to comment on the musical score. The film changes from different types of jazz from scene to scene, each type highlighting the location and the emotion of the moment perfectly. Robert Andre Glasper who is an American jazz pianist, record producer, songwriter and musical arranger created the musical soundtrack for the film. Glasper is an award-winning musician and it certainly shows consistently in the film. Glasper claims that the music of Miles Davis has had a significant influence of his style as a musician. He states, “I’m obviously influenced by Miles Davis – even just the psyche of how he thinks about music… how he moves through and always wanted to reflect the times he’s in. That’s what I’m doing now. He opened that door.” This interest shows through the music chosen for the film as well as how the jazz changes from New York to New Orleans. The music is a really strong part of the film and it certainly adds to the success.

Most romantic dramas fall flat because of their lack of complex characters, their inattention to musical detail and their absence of complex writing however, The Photograph has all three of these elements. It creates two storylines that allow multiple characters to show their own truth while showcasing that romance doesn’t have to completely blow up a person’s life. This film is a practical romance that considers both the male character and the female character’s wants and needs rather than the usual “damsel in distress” approach. This approach is what made the film interesting and effective. I highly recommend this film if you are interested in watching a romantic drama with a feminist lens.

Queen and Slim

Streaming: HBO
Warnings:
Violence
Sex
Domestic Abuse
Drugs
Explicit Language
Racism
Rating: R

Queen and Slim is a romantic crime drama that centers on a young Black couple who become fugitives after accidentally killing a racist police officer during a traffic stop. Queen and Slim is a modern romance that examines police brutality and what it means to be a Black individual in America. Directed by Melina Matsoukas and written by Lena Waithe based on a story by James Frey and Waithe, the film takes the audience on an unexpected adventure. The film stars Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Bokeem Woodbine, Chloë Sevigny, Flea, Sturgill Simpson, and Indya Moore. Queen and Slim had its world premiere at the AFI Film Festival and was theatrically released by Universal Pictures. Queen and Slim generally received positive reviews, especially Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith for their lead performances, Waithe’s script and Matsouka’s feature directional debut. The film was nominated for Outstanding Actress, Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Original Score as well as Outstanding Film. Queen and Slim won numerous awards including Best Movie from the BET Awards, Outstanding Emerging Director, Outstanding First Screenplay and Outstanding Production Design from the Black Reel Awards (to name a few). Queen and Slim also did well in the Box office, with a budget of only $20 million, the film grossed $47 million in the Box Office. From the cinematography, the unique yet familiar storyline, and the wonderful musical score, the film was destined to be a hit.

The concept of Queen and Slim is similar to Shakespearean tragedies while also hinting to similarities of Bonnie and Clyde. Along with this combination, the film highlights the issue of police brutality in America and explores what it’s like to be a Black individual targeted by a racist police officer. Kaluuya and Turner-Smith brought this story to life through their impeccable acting. An interesting and important fact about the two characters, according to Waithe, the divergent world views of Ernest (Slim) and Angela (Queen) were based on the differences between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Both Ernest and Angela are relatable and complex characters, this depiction allows the audience to have a deeper connection with the characters. Queen and Slim also forces the audience to contemplate how probable this situation is for Black individuals in America, which is a necessary conversation to start.

The cinematography is a breathtaking element of the film, it is incredibly well executed and beautiful throughout. Tat Radcliffe executed the cinematography, he is known for such films as ’71, Pride, and Whiteboy Rick, he also has worked on the show Lovecraft Country. Radcliffe plays with color in the film in more ways than one, from muted tones on the countryside, to dramatic hues of blue and red, the cinematography follows the moods of the story in a stunning way. The location of the camera is played with as well, at one point in the film when Angela and Ernest are on the run, the camera is following them in a shot from behind. This makes the audience feel as if they are riding along in the backseat. In another shot, Ernest opens the car door and the camera is attached to the door. These choices are aesthetically pleasing to the eye and psychologically forces the audience to place themselves in the film like a fly on the wall. Tat Radcliffe won Outstanding Cinematography from the Black Reel Awards.

The music and sound editing are something that stood out in Queen and Slim; the music fit well with the scenes and always added to the moment in the film. The score was composed by Devonté Hynes who is an English artist from London. Hynes is also a singer, songwriter, record producer and director. When searching for an artist to compose the musical score for Queen and Slim, Matsoukas stated that she wanted a “Black composer that could live between classical, hip-hop, and pop that’s current.” Matsoukas turned to Solange Knowles for advice, and she suggested Hynes for the role. Queen and Slim won Top Music Film Awards from ASCAP London Awards, Outstanding Original Song from the Black Reel Awards, and was nominated for Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album from the NAACP Image Awards.

Queen and Slim is a heartbreaking film that doesn’t stray away from the traumatic truth of what its likes to be Black in America. It also highlights issues with police brutality and what the Black Lives Matter movement is working towards. Throughout their journey the characters meet a variety people, their interactions expose different opinions of the American people about police brutality which is an impactful part of the story. Overall, this film is remarkable, a tragedy and something that forces the audience to think outside of themselves. This is a necessary film especially because of the conversation it starts about police brutality in the United States. I highly recommend this film for an evening you wish to view an introspective dramatic romance.

Roxanne Roxanne

Streaming: Netflix (with Subscription)
Warnings:
Domestic Abuse
Violence
Drugs
Sexual Abuse
Sex
Rating: TV-MA

Roxanne Roxanne is a coming-of-age drama based in the late 80s/early 1990s following the fiercest battle MC in Queens, New York. Roxanne Shanté at the age of 14 was well on her way to become a hip-hop legend. She hustled and did what she had to do to provide for her family while experiencing trauma that no teenage girl should ever face. Roxanne Roxanne is a necessary film portraying the hardships women face when entering a world that is predominantly male centric. Written and directed by Michael Larnell and co-produced by Forest Whitaker and Pharrell Williams, the film has a lot of big names attached to it. Starring Chanté Adams, Mahershala Ali, Nia Long, Elvis Nolasco, Kevin Phillips and Shenell Edmonds. Roxanne Roxanne was screened in the U.S. Dramatic Competition Section of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Roxanne Roxanne received overall positive reviews for the biopic however, according to Nick Allen from Roger Ebert something was incomplete about the film. Personally, the film doesn’t feel incomplete and the 2-star rating that Nick Allen gave to the film seems unreasonable. From the acting, the editing and the music the film takes the audience on a journey that is heartbreaking and astonishing.

            Chanté Adams plays Roxanne Shanté, at the time she was only 22 years old however she plays Roxanne Shanté from the age of 14-16 years old in the film. An interesting fact is that Chanté Adams is actually named after Roxanne Shanté. Originally Adams is from Michigan, she began studying acting in high school and she received her bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University’s Drama school. Shortly after she graduated, she moved to New York to pursue an acting career. Only one month after she moved to New York she auditioned for the lead role in the biopic, she was cast as Roxanne Shanté and production began filming 8 days later. She received the Special Jury Prize for Breakthrough Performance at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. She does a wonderful job portraying an individual who was popular before her time, she perfectly captures the mannerisms and nuances of Roxanne Shanté. Mahershala Ali is the antagonist in Roxanne Roxanne and it is a reminder that he does just as well as the “bad guy” as he does playing the “good guy.” Both of these performances carries the film.

            The music in the film was produced by RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan and it shows. The music is perfectly chosen for each scene and it highlights the talent that Roxanne Shanté had at such a young age. The music included in the film shines light on how different hip hop was back then yet how battle rapping hasn’t changed. Parts of the film also showcase how Roxanne Shanté used beatboxing to support her rhymes. Roxanne Roxanne features different hip hop artists that she was creatively involved with during her career which is interesting to see when considering her influential background in hip hop. The music paid homage to Roxanne Shanté in a way that wouldn’t have been captured if RZA wasn’t involved in the process.

            Finally, the editing is something that stands out in Roxanne Roxanne. The transitions in particular were well executed and shocks the audience from one scene to the next. Editor Claudia Castello known for Creed, Black Panther, and Fruitvale Station, does a wonderful job capturing the emotion in the scene while also emphasizing it through transitions. There is one part in particular when Roxanne Shanté is rapping, and the scene transitioned in the middle of her rap. This was unexpected but also clever and highlights how long Roxanne Shanté had been working on her rhymes. Roxanne Roxanne is a heartbreaking film especially when considering Roxanne Shanté’s transition to womanhood and this dramatic growth would not have been the same if this film was edited by a man. This is to say that a woman’s perspective significantly helped in telling this story properly while allowing Roxanne Shanté’s experiences to speak for themselves.

Even though this film received mixed reviews from critics, it is certainly a hidden gem. Roxanne Roxanne highlights a lot of the issues that come with entering a male dominant world, especially when you’re a young girl. It also explores how much damage one man can do to a woman’s life whether you’re a grown woman or not. This film is important in more ways than one because of the content as well as showcasing the influential female rappers at the time. Roxanne Roxanne is a tragic story, but it is well executed, and I highly recommend it when you are looking for a film about a powerful young woman.

13th

Streaming: Netflix (With Subscription)
Warnings:
Violence
Racism
Explicit Language
Sexual Abuse
Drug Abuse
Graphic Imagery
Rating: TV-MA

13th is a documentary film that examines the prison system in the United States in depth and exposes the nation’s shameful history of racial inequality. Written, directed and produced by Ava DuVernay, 13th explores race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States. The title of the film comes from the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States constitution that was adopted in 1865. The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery across the United States and ended involuntary servitude however, redesigned racial caste allows punishment for a conviction of a crime to carry out new forms of involuntary servitude. 13th explains how slavery has been perpetuated since the end of the American Civil War and portrays how certain laws weigh more heavily on minority communities especially African Americans. This film examines the prison industrial complex from every angle and highlights the issues by discussing how people are profiting off of incarcerations of marginalized communities. In order to best explain this information DuVernay interviewed experts from numerous professions including Newt Gingrich, Henry Louis Gates, Cory Booker, Angela Davis, Michelle Alexander, and Jelani Cobb just to name a few. The film was released to Netflix in 2016 and was later released for free on YouTube in 2020. An interesting fact is that the film was produced and filmed in secrecy, it was only revealed after it was announced as the opening film for the 2016 New York Film Festival, and it was the first documentary to ever open the festival. 13th was well received by critics, Manohla Dargis of the New York Times praised the film, and she summarizes it by stating,

“The United States did not just criminalize a select group of Black people. It criminalized black people as a whole, a process that, in addition to destroying untold lives, effectively transferred the guilt for slavery from the people who perpetuated it to the very people who suffered through it.”

13th was nominated for dozens of awards, it won Best documentary at the British Academy Film Awards, as well as the Primetime Emmy Awards. It also won a Peabody Award for excellence and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Duvernay won a Primetime Emmy Award for her writing and was nominated for her directing. 13th is an eye-opening film that uses archival footage, graphics, cinematography and tactful editing to reveal the prison industrial complex in a powerful way.

            The first most important part of the documentary to highlight is the archival footage. The archival footage validates everything that the interviewees are saying and the way it is edited enforces their points as well. Editor Spencer Averick known for Selma, A Wrinkle in Time, and When They See Us interlaces the archival footage with modern day commentary from politicians like Donald Trump. This editing technique enhances the facts that the interviewees are stating and allows the audience to make the connection that the prison industrial complex is a redesigned form of modern-day slavery. The editing also highlights how not much has changed from the past to present day, the same type of treatment that people endured decades ago still goes on today.

            The second important element of the film that assists with better portraying the statistics are the graphics. Throughout the film the graphics show appalling numbers of incarcerations and highlights how they grew astronomically over the years. In addition to the climbing numbers of incarcerations, the graphics also compare the ratio of how many white men will be incarcerated in their lifetime (1 in 17) versus how many Black men will be incarcerated in their lifetime (1 in 3). Lastly, the graphics also emphasize words from statements of the interviewees, or at times words from music that is included. This accentuates the information that is being brought to the attention of the audience with an added visual element. The use of graphics throughout 13th helps the audience comprehend and contextualize the important information that is being articulated.

            Finally, the cinematography is something that didn’t go unnoticed in 13th. The cinematography was executed by Kira Kelly and Hans Charles. The filming locations and production design of the interviews were deliberately placed with brick walls and industrial equipment to represent the labor that has been stolen from Black people in this country for centuries. Angela Davis’ interview was located at an abandoned train station, it was chosen in particular because “it was this gorgeous train station, gorgeous because of the level of decay. It’s something that would be hard for our art department to recreate,” stated Kelly. There is a large arch that frames Davis in the shot, it appears almost like a throne which DuVernay notes in an interview with Oprah Winfrey (conversation available on Netflix). In another interview with Michelle Alexander, Kelly deliberately makes Alexander stand out with a gray background and a pop of color with her chair, also hinting like she is on a throne.  In Henry Louis Gates’ interview he is on a Hollywood soundstage with an electrical plant in the background. A shot was included where the sun is setting on the electrical plant which is exactly the type of background that unconsciously makes the audience think of work or labor. This attention to detail and deliberate artistic approach with these interviews is interesting but also significant when it comes to documentary filmmaking. Oftentimes creative shots are not something that can be achieved in certain settings and the filmmaker just has to work with what they have, however DuVernay and Kelly were methodical when approaching the look of this film.

13this an eye-opening documentary with stunning cinematography, thoughtful editing, informative graphics and heartbreaking archival footage. This film is important to better understand how the prison industrial complex is fostering involuntary servitude in the United States. This film shines a shameful light on how the United States never reconciled for the atrocities they produced throughout history towards African Americans and marginalized communities. The fact that this film is on Netflix to reach a mass audience is one step forward towards change. Education is a powerful tool that cannot be taken away and this film certainly tells a truth that needs to be heard.

Morris From America

Streaming: Prime Video (With Subscription)
Warnings:
Explicit Language
Nudity
Drugs
Rating: R

Morris From America is a dramatic comedy that follows a young teen named Morris and his father while they are living in Germany. The film was written and directed by Chad Hartigan and stars Craig Robinson, Markees Christmas, Carla Juri, and Lina Keller. Morris From America was nominated for numerous awards and won the Special Jury Price and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival. These accolades are understandable because the concept of Morris From America is a unique story looking at Americans from the outside in. Morris From America also shows the perspective of being American in a foreign country and the struggles people deal with while learning how to adapt to a new culture. The acting of Craig Robinson and Markees Christmas are genuine and heartfelt, showing a father and son relationship that is both relatable and authentic. The music in Morris From America is an interesting mix of American hip hop and German electronic music. This is an enjoyable family related film that sheds light on American and German culture while also highlighting stereotypes that can be detrimental to Black Americans when they are abroad.

Morris From America has a unique storyline that is unpredictable and also cringe-worthy at times. Morris who is played by Markees Christmas is struggling to make friends and fit in with the right crowd in Germany, having only his father to talk to, he begins to hang out with the rebellious kids. His experiences as a young teen in Germany are interesting because of the portrayal of how German teens view and misunderstand Black Americans; yet they still have similar qualities as teenagers growing up and trying to understand the world. Morris From America is a distinctive film in more ways than one because of the outside look at Americans and the viewpoint of being American living in an unfamiliar country.

The acting is something to note in Morris From America because of the mix of young actors as well as Craig Robinson’s role as the widowed father Curtis. Craig Robinson is not a father himself, but he used his own experiences from childhood to portray the struggles of being a father, he also had to learn conversational German for this role. The young actor Markees Christmas also stood out, especially because this was the first feature film, he has acted in. He was nominated for an Outstanding Breakthrough Performance Award by the Black Reel Awards. Lina Keller played Katrin who is Morris’ crush, she is a character who is rebelling through her teenage years. Her portrayal of a young teen who hates the world is relatable and frustrating to watch as an adult. Overall, the acting in Morris From America brought the story to a new level of interesting and created convincing characters that the audience can relate to.

The music is a big part of the film because Morris and his father Curtis relate to each other through hip hop music. Both Morris and Curtis can rap, Morris hopes to be a professional rapper someday and Curtis is supportive of his son’s dreams. Keegan DeWitt edited the music for this film and incorporated some of his own music as well. Morris From America also incorporates German music into the film, Morris is introduced to German electronic dance music when he is with his rebellious friends, and he even learns how to dance to it. This clash of cultures is interesting and hints at the dynamic world education Morris is going to continue to experience living as a young American abroad.

Morris From America is enjoyable, witty, and heartfelt. This film shows the audience a different portrayal of Americans from a German perspective while highlighting the struggles that Americans may face while abroad. Even though this film isn’t the most shocking or eye-opening film, for what it is, it certainly has charm. From the talented acting, interesting storyline and wonderful music, this film takes the audience on an adventure through Germany and teenage rebellion. I highly recommend this heartwarming film when you are looking for an escape.

Black Panther

Streaming: Disney+ (With Subscription)
Warning:
Violence
Rating: PG-13

Black Panther is a superhero film like no other, it is based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The film was directed by Ryan Coogler who also co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole. Black Panther has a long list of stars including Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/Black Panther alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Ander Serkis. T’Challa is crowned the king following his father’s death making him the new Black Panther. He is challenged by Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) who plans to abandon Wakanda’s independence policies in order to form a worldwide revolution that can only end in bloodshed. In January 2018 Black Panther premiered in Los Angeles and was theatrically released in the United States in February 2018. The budget of Black Panther was $200 million and grossed $1.347 billion in the box office. The film was nominated for numerous awards and won seven Academy Awards including Best picture and even won an American Music Award. Black Panther was the first comic book and superhero film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, as well as the first film in the Marvel Comics Universe (MCU) to win an Academy Award. Critics praised Black Panther for the superb cast, shocking action sequences, and beautiful visual imagery. The costume design was also highly celebrated, Black Panther won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. This film is unforgettable, especially when so many superhero films are very similar, Black Panther stands out and created a new form of superhero to aspire to.

            The writing is one of the most important elements of the film, the production team was inspired by Ta-Nehisi Coates who is a modern writer of the comic book series Black Panther. The specific inspiration came from Coates’ poetic dialogue. Characters within the film were picked throughout the comics and were chosen based on what worked well with the film’s storyline. Donald Glover even added some minor contributions to the early draft of the script that helped develop the relationship between T’Challa and his younger sister Shuri. There were a lot of different types of inspiration that came into developing the narrative behind Black Panther, however it is still a unique and original story. Producers from Marvel Studios stated that Black Panther doesn’t depend on any other plots from MCU films, however it does affect the wider MCU moving forward, they also went on to state that it has an important link to Avengers: Infinity War. While staying true to the comics, the film blossomed into an intriguing storyline that will also act as a positive representation for children for generations to come.

            The cast was made of many famous familiar faces which allowed the film to develop to its full potential. Black Panther simply would not be the same film without the cast that was chosen, everyone was phenomenal. However, Chadwick Boseman in particular was beyond extraordinary, during his performance in Black Panther he was suffering from stage III colon cancer which eventually progressed to stage IV before 2020; this did not hold him back by any means. During his treatment which involved chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, he continued to work and completed production on several films besides Black Panther including Marshall, Da 5 Bloods, and Ma Rainey. Boseman died at his home as a result of complications related to colon cancer in August of 2020 with his family by his side. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige called Boseman’s death “absolutely devastating,” writing, “Each time he stepped on set, he radiated charisma and joy, and each time he appeared on screen he created something truly indelible […] now he takes his place as an icon for the ages.” Boseman was nominated for many awards for the films he worked on while he was undergoing treatment including Best Actor for both of his roles in Ma Rainey and Da 5 Bloods. Boseman is an unforgettable actor who has changed superhero stories forever, he created space for more superheroes of color to exist in a predominantly white world.

            The costume design is another element of the film that added to its success. Ruth E. Carter was the costume designer, she referenced the Maasai, Himba, Dogon, Basotho, Tuareg, Turkana, Xhosa, Zulu, Suri and Dinka people in her designs for the film. She also examined different Japanese, French and American fashion designers for Angela Bassett’s costumes. For the Dora Milaje costumes, she decided to use primarily red to reference different African cultures and overall wanted to avoid the common “girls in bathing suits” look. Instead, she made the Dora Milaje wear full armor that would be used practically in battle while considering the actor’s stunt work. For T’Challa’s costumes, they combined his role as King as well as head of military. Carter was also deliberate in using distinct colors to represent different Wakanda tribes, green with shells for the River Tribe, blue with wood for the Border Tribe, Black with royal purple for the Black Panther and the Royal Palace. 700 costumes were created for the film, Carter worked with numerous illustrators, designers, mold makers, fabric dyers, and jewelry makers to get the correct feel for Wakanda.

            Black Panther is a necessary superhero film that was long overdue and became quite frankly, the greatest superhero film of all time. From the attention to detail, the action choreography, the storyline and the acting, Black Panther has created space for more superheroes of color, allowing more representation in Hollywood of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of color) individuals. This film is beyond inspirational not only for the children who see it but for adults as well, most of the characters in the film are noble and positive representations. Black Panther brings positivity to a group of people who have not often been the centerpiece of Hollywood films. Films like this help strengthen identity and helps reduce internalizing negative impressionable stereotypes that are often portrayed in Hollywood and the media. Wakanda represents Africa without Western colonialism which in itself is inspiring for many people to understand and contemplate. This representation has never been portrayed before, especially in Hollywood, which allows the audience to ponder Black liberation in a different light. Hopefully Black Panther has inspired more films to be made with this in mind in order to create a new narrative for BIPOC representation in Hollywood; until then, I highly recommend Black Panther.

Moonlight

Streaming: Netflix (With Subscription)
Warnings:
Drugs
Sex
Violence
Explicit Language
Rating: R

Moonlight is a coming-of-age drama written and directed by Barry Jenkins, based on the play by Tarell Alvin McCraney (McCraney also co-wrote the script for the film). The film won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Moonlight follows a young man struggling with his identity and sexuality while he experiences a difficult childhood and adolescence, his struggle develops into a troubled adulthood and the film beautifully portrays these different stages of his life. Since the film is based on a play, the story is also divided like a play, however the acting isn’t similar to theater acting whatsoever. Moonlight stars Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Janelle Monáe, Asthon Sanders, Jharrel Jerome, Naomie Harris and Mahershala Ali. Moonlight is cited as one of the best films of the 21st century. It became the first film with an all-black cast and the first LGBTQ related film to win the Oscar for Best Picture. Joi McMillon also became the first Black woman to be nominated for an editing Oscar and Mahershala Ali became the first Muslim to win an acting Oscar. There are many wonderful elements to this film but focusing on the acting, the cinematography and the music as well as sound editing will better capture how stunning Moonlight is.

            Mahershala Ali plays Juan, who is a positive role model for young Chiron and the perfect example of positive masculinity for him to look up to. Ali won Best Supporting Actor and received numerous other awards and nominations for his role. Ali was magnificent in his role, but all three actors who played Chiron are also incredibly impressive. Alex Hibbert plays child Chiron, Ashton Sanders played teen Chiron, and Trevante Rhodes plays adult Chiron, each actor brought a new perspective and insight into the personality of the character. Trevante Rhodes completely captured the transition after teenage Chiron, now a handsome adult but still just as insecure. Kevin, who is Chiron’s closest friend is played by three phenomenal actors as well, Jaden Piner plays child Kevin, Jharrel Jerome plays Teen Kevin, and André Holland plays Adult Kevin. The combination of these actors together truly stole the show; the casting is especially well thought out because the transition through characters is convincing. It is not at all surprising how many awards Moonlight won; it was certainly well deserved.

            The cinematography was executed by James Laxton, known for If Beal Street Could Talk, Tusk, and Camp X-Ray. Moonlight had a relatively low budget of 1.5 million dollars, Laxton and Jenkins had to become more creative with the resources they had. This challenged them to work through a lens of contemporary filmmaking and ingenuity that blossomed into a bold cinematic masterpiece. The cinematography is at times entrancing like a dream and at other times shocking like a horror film. There are scenes in the film where the colors are gloomy yet captivating, drawing the audience into the scene further. Other times the lens has a soft focus, highlighting the delicacy of the moment and allowing the acting to take over the scene. Laxton won his first Academy Award for Moonlight along with an Independent Spirit Award.

            Along with the beautiful imagery, the score is also attention grabbing. The score skillfully accompanies the cinematography in a way that enhances the story, every single track in the film is purposeful and fits the scene perfectly. Nicholas Britell composed the score for Moonlight and applied a chopped and screwed technique from hip hop to orchestral music to produce a fluid score that is also bass heavy. Moonlight won an Academy Award for Best Original Score as well as a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score in the Motion Picture category. The score was praised by the New York Times to be “both surprising and perfect.” The score was also described as, “… an enthralling collection of music that will linger in your mind and in your heart in much the same way as the film.” Attention to detail combined with a determined effort allowed many elements of the film to flourish and it is evident that the music had a significant role in making Moonlight amazing.

            Moonlight broke many barriers in Hollywood and allowed a story to be told that hasn’t ever been told in the past. This film is monumental because it allows BIPOC (Black, indigenous People of Color) and LGBTQ individuals know that they have a place in mainstream media; not only can they break those barriers, but they can also win awards while doing so. The acting, cinematography and the music combined, created such a breathtaking film that the audience couldn’t ignore it. This film is heartbreaking, thought-provoking as well as an extraordinary story and hopefully it is just the beginning of this type of representation in mainstream media.

Black Box

Streaming: Prime Video (Free with Subscription)
Warnings:
Domestic Abuse
Graphic Imagery
Rating: Unrated

  Black Box is a modern horror film directed by Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr. and written by Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour and Stephen Herman. Black Box stars Mamoudou Athie, Phylicia Rashad, Amanda Christine, Tosin Morohunfola, and Troy James. The film was released in October 2020 as the second film that is a part of a collaborative anthology series produced by Amazon Studios and Blumhouse Television. Black Box is certainly a thought-provoking film, even though the story is similar to a few other popular films, it is still engaging and sparks interest. Of the entire anthology series, Black Box is currently rated the highest on Rotten Tomatoes. Black Box is about a father (Nolan) who is struggling to regain his memory after surviving a tragic car accident that killed his wife. Desperate to put his life back together to raise his daughter as a newly single father, he begins to receive experimental neurological treatment that helps him remember his forgotten memories. Something feels off about the memories which sparks him to investigate further. Through the storyline, cinematography and the acting, this film is certainly intriguing.

            Some critics argue that this film is more like a science fiction than a horror which is not a completely incorrect statement. Although there are parts of the film that are truly chilling, Black Box does weigh heavily on science fiction more so than horror. Black Box is similar to popular films like Get Out and even some episodes of Black Mirror, but it never quite shocks the audience in the same way. Black Box isn’t a film that can be predicated but it is a film that follows similar journeys that other science fiction films have in the past, in other words, Black Box isn’t as original as it seems. However, with that being said, it is still worth the watch.

            The imagery and cinematography used to portray traveling through Nolan’s memories is similar to The Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind but takes the audience on a different journey. The transitions in the film are clever and adds to the discomfort the audience feels when anticipating the next memory. The cinematography was executed by Hilda Mercado who has a long history of working in the Hollywood camera department, however most of her films are not horror films. Along with the depictions of the memories, the cinematography allows the audience to absorb clues in the story as they go along without being too obvious. This is a strong aspect of the film that adds to the intrigue.

            The acting carries the film most of all, Mamoudou Athie known for The Get Down, Underwater and The Circle, does a wonderful job playing the father who is just trying to put his life back together. Athie pulls the audience in when he is suffering through the predicaments his memory loss has put him in. He also is incredibly convincing when he is terrified while viewing his own disturbing memories. This role in particular gives me hope to see him in more roles in the near future.

            Black Box isn’t a typical horror, nor is it a film that will be going on my “favorite horror list,” but it is certainly enjoyable and thought-provoking. It takes the audience on an unexpected journey that stirs uneasiness and discomfort like most horror films but the shock that is needed isn’t as astonishing as one would hope. However, through the acting, the interesting imagery, and the engaging story, Black Box is a good film to watch on a rainy day.

Becoming

Streaming: Netflix (Subscription)
Rating: PG

Becoming is a heartfelt documentary exploring an inside look at what it’s like to be Michelle Obama. This intimate documentary examines Michelle’s life, her goals and her ability to connect with others while she is on her 2019 book tour for ‘Becoming.’ Directed by Nadia Hallgren, featuring Barack Obama, Gayle King, Oprah and many other recognizable personalities, Becoming is an inspiring portrait of the former First Lady. Nadia Hallgren was also the cinematographer of the documentary and followed Michelle Obama through her 34-city book tour after the book was published. The documentary features footage of Obama’s travels, talk shows and her work while she was the First Lady. The film was released to Netflix in 2020 and was nominated for four Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award. The reception of the film was generally favorable, although the film doesn’t get as personal as some viewers might have hoped, Becoming offers an uplifting look at a pivotal part of Michelle Obama’s public life. This documentary focused on the connections she made with the American people and her own backstory, through the editing and cinematography the viewers are able to see Michelle Obama in a new light that hadn’t been exposed before.

            Becoming does a wonderful job portraying how Michelle Obama connects with the average American, the film follows her while she’s talking with people and Hallgren truly captured her charisma. Becoming not only focuses on how she connects with young Black women across the United States, but it also shows how she connects with all women and how much of an impact she has made as an inspiring individual. One part of the film in particular follows a young Mexican woman in Chicago who spoke with Michelle in a discussion. She questions why she was even allowed to speak with the former First Lady after talking about her own backstory and Michelle responds, “Your story, with highs and lows, what seems so ordinary and seems like nothing to you, is your power.” This moment shows how Michelle became such a positive figure to all women, she uplifts and reassures others even when they think they shouldn’t have a place at the table. In addition to inspiring young women, there is a part of the film where Michelle Obama is talking with Black elders, they tell her how much her presence in the White House means to them and how, “she will always be their First Lady.” This is moving because it highlights how inspirational Michelle Obama has been generationally to women.

            Becoming also features Michelle Obama’s backstory and shows how much Barack’s presidency has positively and negatively affected her personal life. The film exposes how much the family of the President is affected and how much of a toll it takes on everyone being under the spotlight of the American people. It also highlights how connected she is with her family as well as how much they mean to her. Becoming includes photographs from Michelle Obama’s childhood as she describes each memory. She also talks about her father passing and how much he meant to her as well as the difficulty she faced when dealing with the loss of such an important person in her life. This intimate depiction of Michelle allows the audience to understand her and relate to her on a different level that wouldn’t be accomplished in any other format. The film also interviews people around Michelle providing a personal perspective of her through the eyes of her loved ones. This portrayal allows Michelle to speak her truth but also connect with others who might need encouragement through their own journeys.

            Becoming was edited by Erin Casper, Nathan Punwar, and Aaron Wickenden, one thing to note about the editing is that it assisted in representing Michelle Obama in a positive light while capturing her playful personality. The way Michelle’s childhood photographs were displayed also added to her personality, the images shown create a path of Michelle’s life that is interesting and sincere. In one part of the film, past photos are shown while Michelle and her family are recounting memories, this allows the audience to reflect on how Michelle is similar in more ways than one to the average American. In addition to the photos portraying a personal story of Michelle, the editors highlight the personal struggles Michelle had with critics while she was campaigning and after she became the First Lady. The editors chose to juxtapose an image of Michelle with the critic’s voices discussing her in a negative fashion, this part of the film truly humanized Michelle and showed the heavy weight she carried on her shoulders during that time. This is not to make the audience feel sorry for her, but instead to understand how she rose above those critics and how she followed her own advice, “When they go low, you go high.” This is a special moment in the film because it encapsulates what Michelle is about and how she has become such an inspirational figure.

            Becoming not only makes the audience miss the Obama presidency, but it also reminds the audience of what a true leader looks like. This film shows how important it is to have people with integrity in the White House to properly represent the American people. Throughout the film Michelle reflects upon where she came from and how she became who she is today, this aspect of the film teaches young women everywhere to aspire to greatness. Through the editing, cinematography, and personal reflection, this film allows the audience to relate to Michelle in a positive manner and makes them wish she was still our First Lady. In case you are feeling down, need inspirational motivation or just want to remember a more positive political time, I highly recommend this heartfelt documentary.

Bad Hair

Streaming: Hulu (With Subscription)
Warnings:
Graphic Violence
Sex
Sexual Abuse
Explicit Language
Rating: Unrated

Bad Hair is a comedy horror film written, directed, and produced by Justin Simien. Justin is known for his writing for the movie and the show Dear White People. The film stars Elle Lorraine, Jay Pharoah, Lena Waithe, Kelly Rowland, Laverne Cox, Usher, and many other reputable stars. Bad Hair had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, and it had a limited release followed by digital streaming on Hulu. The film received moderately positive reviews from critics which is understandable; Bad Hair has some interesting concepts, but the execution was uneven and there were some plot points that were impossible to ignore. The concept of the story is interesting, but the direction and the writing fell short, this kept the film from reaching its full potential. With the lack of direction, and cluttered writing the wonderful star cast were unable to make this film a good movie. The film is set in the 80s during the rise of new jack swing and follows an ambitious young woman named Anna from Compton. She aspires to be a producer, but she continuously gets overlooked because she doesn’t have the right hair, the right skin color, or the right image to succeed. A new boss takes over at the network Anna works for and the boss suggests that she gets a weave to receive a promotion. Surprise, as you might have surmised, the weave turns out to be evil. The concept of the film had a lot of potential, but the execution just fell flat.

            The idea is interesting, along with highlighting the pressures that Black women are put through in the professional world to change their hair, the film does get some things right. Bad Hair exposed how much pain Black women are put through just to be able to have what is considered “professional” hairstyles in the workplace. The film also incorporated slave lore to tie the hair concept together with history, however one would argue that the writing did not support the combination of these two concepts, nor did it dive too deeply into the slave lore to fully explain the connection. Not only did the “Bad hair” origin make no sense, it also didn’t follow the same rules for every character, as the film progressed the hair’s abilities changed without explanation. There were too many unanswered questions to call this film cohesive or even worthy of the audience’s time.
            The long list of star actors was entertaining to see in 80s glam, but it seems like Simien was depending on their presence to make the film enjoyable. The actors were entertaining enough but the writing fell short, not only was the story jumbled but as I mentioned before, the “bad hair rules” seemed to change throughout the film. In order to make a good horror film, the “evil” in the film needs to have rules and limitations, the hair in this film has some limitations but the “power” of the hair changed and was not consistent with each character. It almost seems as if Simien would give the hair new capabilities simply for shock value and a lack of imagination. Along with the inconsistent hair rules, the writing was an obvious attempt to cater to Black women.  The writing was recognizably written by a man for women, and it didn’t capture the women in a flattering way. The main character is timid but once she “turned bad” she immediately started speaking up for herself, this seemed like an unfortunate way for this character to grow. She had to “whitewash” herself in order to become assertive for herself, and this became a theme for Black women in the film. Even though this theme is trying to make the point that Black women don’t have to do this to reach their goals, this message fell short in the writing and direction.
            The gore and violence in the film fit the 80s theme but also seemed like it was only for shock value. Some of the gorier scenes seemed unnecessary and sometimes just disgusting, and I am writing this as someone who loves most horror films. There are a lot of comical deaths throughout the film but one big thing that was missing was the police following the trail of bodies that were circling around this TV network, throughout the entire film there was only one part where the authorities were involved with no follow up at all. Realistically this made no sense especially because the deaths were often in public spaces. Ultimately the gore could have been the savior of this film, but it just added to the confusion. The hair’s capability changed throughout the film which was only heightened by the over-the-top gore making the story less entertaining and more cluttered.

            Overall, this film did not live up to its potential and was disappointing to say the least. Upon researching more about this concept, even the story isn’t unique. This unfortunate horror could have been a new cult classic but instead in result of the chaotic writing, directionless acting, and the pointless gore, it will be dubbed a waste of time. If you wish to waste your time through a 2-hour distraction, I recommend diving into this chaotic mess of a horror comedy.

Loving

Streaming: Netflix (With Subscription)
Warnings:
Racism
Explicit Language
Rating: PG-13

Loving is a heartfelt story of Richard and Mildred Loving, a couple who was arrested for interracial marriage in the 1960s in Virginia, this sparked a legal battle that would end with the Supreme Court’s historic 1967 decision. Ruth Negga plays Mildred and Joel Edgerton plays Richard; critics were near unanimous in praise for Negga’s portrayal of Mildred Loving. This biography is an important portrayal of history because its exposes the hardships that the Lovings had to deal with on a daily basis just for being in an interracial marriage. Loving is an earnest film that shows how far our society has come in regard to interracial relationships, however it also brings attention to how much we still need to change for progress. Along with the historical importance, the cinematography is beautiful and attentive. The costume design is also well executed, there was significant research that went into recreating the fashion during that time. Loving received numerous awards and nominations, it received two nominations at the 74th Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor for Edgerton, and Best Actress for Negga. Loving has been named one of the best films of 2016 by various critics.

Mildred and Richard Loving originally did not set out to spark the civil liberty battle that began in result of their marriage, but as they were fighting for their own rights, they realized this legal battle will help other interracial relationships. Producer Peter Saraf made a statement in a Q&A discussion with an audience, he described the film’s authenticity as “true to life.” Richard Loving was as stoic as portrayed by Edgerton in the film and Mildred really did write to Robert Kennedy, her letter is still in the Kennedy collection and the Lovings’ lawyer relayed Richard’s words to the Supreme Court that he loves his wife. Even the jail in the film is the same jail the couple stayed in when they were arrested, the front shot of the courthouse was also the same courthouse. To ensure accuracy, the Lovings’ surviving child Peggy Loving was a consultant for the production. When Peggy visited the set, she was shocked by how accurately the actors had channeled her parents in character and in costume. There are some details that were changed, with the invention of some characters and scenes but the creators of the film sought to stay true to the Lovings’ story as much as possible.
            Loving was shot on 35 mm film by cinematographer Adam Stone, known for Wild Wild Country, Take Shelter, and Mud. The director, Jeff Nichols wanted to make sure the audience felt how beautiful Caroline Country, Virginia was but at the same time didn’t want the film to feel “affected or sweetened.” Stone and Nichols wanted to use the camera to highlight the performances of the actors because that was what was going to effectively construct the story they were going for. Stone in particular wanted to use a moving camera shot for certain scenes but didn’t want to use a Steadicam, he explains that “if an actor’s moving on camera, we wanted to be straight on or [slightly] off axis. We used a dolly with a boom and a hothead for more stability.” This allowed the production team to capture the characters in a beautiful way that allowed their acting to shine.

The costume design is also something that is important to note for this film. Costume designer Erin Benach worked with Nichols previously on Midnight Special and she approached Loving with a great deal of attentive research. Benach states that she had a large amount of historical imagery to study along with rich material in order to best understand what people specifically in that location were wearing at that time. Benach noted that it was difficult to portray the fashion authentically or in a naturalistic way. However, she strived for the audience to notice the costume changes as they happened. It was especially difficult to portray Mildred while she was going through different stages of pregnancy, making sure she was at the correct stage took time to ensure everything was accurate. The Black and white check dress with a jacket is a costume that is noteworthy because Benach recreated that dress by using a past photograph of Mildred. Attention to details like this helped this film receive the accolades it won.

Loving is a stark reminder of the civil liberties the Lovings fought for while exposing how much still needs to change. This genuine retelling of their love story is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. Through focusing on the historical importance and using the cinematography and costume design to uplift their story, this film deserved the high praise it received from critics.  Stories like this are important to learn and understand because they are significant parts of the United States history. I highly recommend this film if you are interested in viewing historically accurate, entertaining cinema.

Cinderella (1997)

Streaming: Disney+ (With Subscription)
Rating: G        

Cinderella (1997) is a musical fantasy television film produced by Walt Disney Television that paved the way for more positive representation for women of color. With an all-star cast, Cinderella was destined to be a hit. Brandy plays Cinderella, Whitney Houston is her fairy godmother, Whoopi Goldberg plays the queen, Jason Alexander plays Lionel the head servant, Bernadette Peters as the evil stepmother, and Paolo Montalban plays the Prince. This film is important because it was the first time Disney cast a Black woman to play a Princess, it’s also important to note that she stayed a Black woman for the entire film unlike Princess and the Frog (2009). Along with casting a Black woman as the main character, the Prince being played by a Pilipino actor is also important representation that hadn’t happened before. Besides the casting, the art direction and wardrobe for the film is like a live action cartoon, everything is bright and colorful while exaggerated and over the top at the same time. Lastly, the music is amazing and captivating. With Whitney Houston as an executive producer and Brandy cast as the main character the music is beyond the typical musical trope Disney has created in the past. This film became a trailblazer for positive representation of Black women in children’s films as well as positive representation of mixed families.
            The representation in this film at the time received positive attention for the diverse casting and for a generation of Millennials who grew up watching this film, Cinderella being on Disney+ reignites the nostalgia and appreciation. At the time Brandy was gaining recognition for the lead role in the TV sitcom Moesha and her musical career had taken off. Since she had accomplished so much by the early 90s and was recognized as a multi-talented individual, she was able to take on this roll with ease. Not only is it important that the main character is a Black woman shown in a positive role, her role models in the film are also Black women being properly represented. Whitney Houston has a wonderful impact on Cinderella and gives her the chance of a lifetime to get out of the predicament she is in living with her horrible stepsisters and stepmother. Whoopie Goldberg is the queen of the castle, her role as the queen is not typical of this time nor has a Black woman been cast in this role in a Disney film before. These three roles may not seem like they are a big deal, but they certainly matter, and that representation tells children watching this film that they can be royalty as well.

The music is a wonderful addition to the film, it is certainly entertaining, and it carries the film’s narrative. The music stands out because the film stars Whitney Houston and Brandy since both of these women are phenomenal singers, this created an element that most Disney films don’t have. The music producers Chris Montan and Arif Mardin were interested in combining “Broadway legit” and “Hollywood Pop” for the film to achieve a more contemporary sound. The musicians also wanted to avoid completely modernizing the music making the compositions follow too closely with The Wiz, so they tried to simply “freshen” the orchestration while adding contemporary rhythms. Cinderella went on to win numerous awards including Emmy awards for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special and Outstanding Music Direction. An interesting thing to note about Brandy’s performance, at times she wasn’t confident in her singing next to her idol Whitney Houston because her voice hadn’t “completely developed.” Houston would encourage Brandy to “Sing from your gut” thus beginning a positive influence between artists behind the scenes.

            The art direction and wardrobe were both a huge part of the film that received accolades as well. Even though the film is live action the costumes and set design make it feel like a fairytale cartoon. The wardrobe is beautiful as well as bright and colorful; the same can be said for the set design. At the 50th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1998, the film was nominated for Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program, Outstanding Hairstyles for a Mini-series, Movie or Special and ultimately it won Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program. This was awarded to Julie Kaye Fanton, Edward L. Rubin and Randy Ser. The film also won an art Directors Guild Award for Excellence in Production Design. The awards alone speak volumes for how much work went into the production design and wardrobe design for Cinderella, and they are all well deserved.

Cinderella is a wonderful film for kids and adults, especially if they are fans of Whoopi Goldberg, Whitney Houston or Brandy. This film went above and beyond to produce a work of art that created roles for Black women to be represented in a new light that hadn’t been seen before by a Disney audience. Cinderella is considered to be a groundbreaking film due to its diverse cast. BET referred to Cinderella as a phenomenon whose cast “broke new ground.” Newsweek opined that Brandy’s casting demonstrated that “the idea of a Black girl playing the classic Cinderella was [not] unthinkable,” they went on to say that it is “especially significant because Disney’s 1950s film ‘sent a painful message that only white women could be princesses.” For a generation of young children of color this film became an iconic representation that proved to them that they could be anything they desired when they grow up and that alone is truly magical.

I Am Not Your Negro

Streaming: Netflix (With Subscription)

Warnings:
Extreme Violence
Racism
Sexual Abuse
Graphic Imagery
Explicit Language
Rating: PG-13

            I Am Not Your Negro is a 2016 documentary film directed by Raoul Peck, written by James Baldwin and Raoul Peck and edited by Alexandra Strauss. I Am Not Your Negro is a powerful criticism of America’s failure to rectify its shameful past of racial inequality. The film is narrated by Samuel L. Jackson and its inspired by James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript, Remember This House which is a collection of notes from the mid-1970s written by Baldwin. The unfinished memoir recounts the lives of Baldwin’s close friends and civil rights leaders: Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Medgar Evers. The film was very successful, it was nominated for numerous awards nationally and internationally and won over a dozen awards. This includes Best Documentary (numerous festivals), the Audience Choice Award for the Best Documentary Feature from the 52nd Chicago International Film Festival, and the People’s Choice Award for the 41st Toronto International Film Festival. I Am Not Your Negro is one of the most heart-breaking documentary films created, it examines all areas of where America has continued to fail to repair the damage from racial inequality that this country was built on. The film follows James Baldwin’s writings like he is recounting the events himself. It is a remarkable nod to his powerful words that perfectly analyzes America in the way it should be evaluated. This film breaks down the facade that white America has portrayed for decades. The archival footage and the editing of this film pay homage to Baldwin’s words and honor what he as an author wanted to convey. This film is not easy to watch by any means, but it is important to see for the educational aspect for specifically non-Black individuals, as well as the historical aspect which explores different comparisons that haven’t been examined in the past.

            Samuel L. Jackson does a superb job narrating this film and making it feel as if we are hearing Baldwin’s words from himself. Even though the film is a documentary, the storyline is carried like a novel, it feels as if the audience is being told a story. The appalling content in this film breaks down America’s shame in such a way that hasn’t been seen before. It creates a narrative that exposes how misrepresentation in media has added to racial inequality. For example, the film discusses how white America is portrayed in the media and how Black Americans have been portrayed. This might be the only exposure to Black Americans that white Americans see which then causes a collective misrepresentation that continues to harm the Black community. Along with deliberate action to continue racial inequality upheld by the government, extreme violence from police towards Black Americans and continued misrepresentation of Black Americans in the media, collectively this only upholds America’s shame and allows it to continue for decades. The film does a wonderful job explaining these topics in such a way that makes the audience reconsider the media they have consumed as well as their own past experiences. The introspective aspect of this film comes from James Baldwin’s own words, throughout the film he is contemplative, analytical and incredibly poignant.

            The archival footage added to the narrative approach of this documentary. The content of the archival footage is not only shocking but also painful to watch. At one point in the film editor Alexandra Strauss juxtaposes politicians apologizing over archival footage which furthered the disappointing reality that the government hasn’t done enough to rectify racial inequality in the United States, nor does it care to. Another interesting part of the film highlights reality TV and game shows, the film is commenting on how this is what America wants the world to see when they think about America, but in reality, this image disregards an important part of how America was built and how many lives generationally have been affected by slavery and racial inequality. This misrepresentation furthers the notion that even today some white Americans believe to be true, specifically that there is no racial inequality or such things as white privilege. This lack of understanding further divides America and the film approaches this issue in a thought-provoking way.
            The editing in this film allowed the archival footage to speak volumes, American media today is so saturated with violence that at this point people expect it. In result of social media and instant news notifications, certain non-Black people have begun to turn a blind eye to violence that has been happening for decades. The editing for this documentary approached portraying violence in a different way, it wasn’t for shock value by any means, it validates the words of James Baldwin by exposing the truth behind America’s shameful facade. Throughout the film, Strauss would show white media which portrayed over joyous white people without a care in the world, then she would show images of police brutality and things depicting racial inequality. This comparison added to James Baldwin’s analysis of America and forces the audience to see the discrepancies in media representation and actual people. Along with the horrifying archival footage and informative comparisons, the editing of this film follows the impact that Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X and Medgar Evers had on the United States as well as their friendships with Baldwin. This is an interesting part of history that hasn’t really been followed in this manner before and it is a driving narrative within the documentary. Baldwin discusses the impact of their friendships as well as their deaths and how much trauma the Black community endured when losing these three iconic figures of the civil rights movement. History like this is important to understand, especially for non-Black people because the media and Hollywood for so long has misrepresented the Black community only furthering their pain and trauma. This documentary is imperative to watch when understanding the history of the United States and the history of the civil rights movement.

I Am Not Your Negro is a one-of-a-kind documentary that shows history for what it is without embellishment or distortion. This film is a painful part of the tragic and shameful history of the United States that examines what it’s like to be Black in America. However not only does it show what Black Americans have to deal with on a daily basis, it also shows how misguided white Americans have been by their own piers for so long. This lack of understanding and lack of civil rights education is what is continuing racial inequality in the United States along with a government that is enabling it. People often say, racism is taught and that is certainly true, but it is also enabled and that is something that needs to change.

“People cling to their hates so stubbornly because they sense once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” – James Baldwin

Miss Virginia

Streaming: Netflix (With Subscription)
Warnings:
Violence
Rating: TV-MA

            Miss Virginia is an American drama film directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna. Written by Erin O’Connor with cinematography executed by Nancy Schreiber, this film recreates a true story about how activist Virginia Walden became inspired to fight for better education for the children of the District of Columbia. Starring Uzo Aduba as Virginia Walden, Niles Fitch as James Walden and Matthew Modine as Congressman Cliff Williams, the genuine acting in this film takes the audience by surprise. Miss Virginia examines the District of Columbia’s educational system from all perspectives. Specifically, how underfunded education affects communities of color generationally and how educational policies are not always in poor children’s favor. This film is important because it highlights the discrepancies of the educational system even in our nation’s Capital. Miss Virginia not only exposes this problem in the District of Columbia, but it also indicates that this issue is a problem throughout the United States.

            Virginia Walden is a struggling mother in the District of Columbia who sacrifices everything to give her son a good education and to keep him off the streets. After Virginia’s son starts to fall in with the wrong crowd, she becomes unwilling to accept this dangerous school as her son’s only option. This inspires a movement that could save his future and thousands of other students in the same predicament as him. Miss Virginia does a wonderful job looking at the issues within the educational system at every angle, from the politicians, the burned-out educators, and even sometimes the absent parents. It uncovered how the education system is broken and how the lack of education can significantly affect generations of poor people. The beginning of this film starts out as a typical “single mother struggle” trope but becomes more than that once Virginia is inspired to take action. This heartfelt story is shocking, thought provoking and overall inspiring.

            Even though Virginia was inspired to become an activist later in life, this is not the first time she was faced with a difficult decision about education. Virginia grew up in the deep South and enrolled at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas in 1966. Virginia and her twin sister joined one hundred other Black teens at Little Rock Central. Upon her attendance, she and others were abused every day, and not only by the students but by the teachers as well. Virginia wanted to return to her previous all-black school, but her father insisted that she needed to stay. Even though she was abused and had to face racism on the daily, Little Rock Central offered a better education, so Virginia stayed and continued to pave the way for other students of color. This is a significant part of Virginia’s life that the film doesn’t focus on. This is the first moment when Virginia understood the importance of education. It is unfortunate that this backstory is not included in the film because it would have shed light on the relationship Virginia has with the educational system. However, without this aspect of her life included, the story is still incredibly interesting and informative.

            Along with the intriguing story, the acting of Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) takes the film to a different level. She shows genuine emotion when discussing the issues with education and captures the struggle of Virginia fighting for her son. Aduba forces the audience to feel her pain while she faces challenges trying to get legislation passed in favor of the children. Niles Fitch (When They See Us) also does a wonderful job portraying the daily struggle of poor students who just want an education. He creates the understanding of the adversities that some students face when attending schools that don’t support them. This acting team portrayed the story in a way that wouldn’t have been accomplished with anyone else.

Ultimately this film is enlightening while revealing the issues that inner cities face when it comes to the educational system for the poor in the United States. Miss Virginia inspires the audience to take action and create change in their own communities. Not only does this film show how change can be made, but it also shows how getting involved in the legislative process can affect many people’s lives in a positive way. This is a wonderful film for anyone who cares about children’s education, supporting poor communities, and making positive change in the United States.

The Burial of Kojo

Streaming: Netflix (With Subscription)
Warnings:
Mild Violence
Rating: TV:14

 The Burial of Kojo is a dramatic thriller following a young girl named Esi (played by Cynthia Dankwa) and her family who encounter a tumultuous time in their lives. The audience listens to Esi as she recounts her childhood, focusing on her relationship with her father Kojo (played by Joseph Otisman). The film also examines the relationship between Kojo and his vengeful brother Kwabena. This whimsical film explores depths of African folklore that isn’t often examined in modern cinema. The film was produced, written and directed by Blitz Bazawule; he also composed the music for the film. Blitz Bazawule is known for his direction for Black is King, Diasporadical Trilogia, and Native Sun. The cinematography was executed by Michael Fernandez who is known for Black is King and The Killers: Caution. The cinematography in this film is mesmerizing, from the exaggerated shots to the intentional color changes in the light, it goes above and beyond to portray an imaginative realm that is unknown to humans. The musical composition also adds to the tension in the film, the music itself is a work of art; Bazawule meshes classical music with African drumming and even distorts it to intensify the moment. Alongside the beautiful cinematography and entrancing music, the origins of the film are very interesting. Bazawule was inspired after visiting his family in Ghana to create a film that included a real issue that Ghana has been dealing with: Illegal mining. These three elements of the film made a masterpiece that was well received by the critics. The Burial of Kojo was nominated for many awards but won two awards including Best Narrative Feature (World Cinema) and Best First Feature Film by a Director. This was the first Ghanaian film to premiere in selected countries worldwide on Netflix.

The first element I would like to discuss is the cinematography, this film almost reminded me of Alice in Wonderland at times because Esi went on a magical journey by herself to understand her whereabouts of her father. There are many shots that are breathtaking but just as many that are jarring forcing the audience to feel uneasy. During some parts of the film the audience isn’t sure if they are experiencing a dream or reality which adds to the uneasiness. The concept of reality is not always clear, and the cinematography assists with creating magical realism. There are scenes that are filmed upside down which certainly created an uneasy tension for me, but it also makes the audience feel as if they are in a realm that is different than the world we know. The choices with the cinematography made is interesting, wonderful and imaginative.

The music certainly caught my attention while viewing this film, some sounds were so invasive that you wish they would stop, and others were comparative to classical music. Bazawule stated that he started composing the music before he was even done with the script, he could see the scenes and he could get an idea of the sounds (Ted Fellows). He even went on to write certain scenes to music, he wanted it to be fluid, he insisted on creating something that was harmonious, and he applied a lot of his musical ideology into making this film. Bazawule wanted the film to “move and be fluid like music.” The music in this film is certainly fluid, there is a scene where the music continues to slow down during a transition, and it was jarring and entrancing all at the same time. The music is strong element of this film much like the cinematography.

            The mining aspect of the film is important, and it is imperative to note that illegal mining is a huge issue in Ghana. According to Ted Fellows, illegal mining dominates the tabloids, newspapers, radio and TV. This type of work is incredibly dangerous, and it can be deadly. A story about a group of young miners that had been buried alive caught the attention of Bazawule which inspired him to create this film. Although the story became more about family, betrayal and guilt, the story featured illegal mining and highlighted the dangers of it. This aspect of the film is really interesting because American audiences oftentimes don’t know about issues that are going on abroad.

            The Burial of Kojo can be shocking, mesmerizing or even moving. Bazawule created a world that makes the audience feel as if they are entering another dimension. From the folklore embedded in the storyline, the cinematography and especially the music, the film takes the audience places they have never been before. Along with the social justice aspect focusing on the illegal mining, this film creates a story that cannot be ignored. I look forward to escaping into more films created by Blitz Bazawule in the future.

Afro Samurai: Resurrection

Streaming: Hulu (With Subscription)
Warnings:
Extreme Graphic Violence
Sex
Nudity
Explicit Language
Rating: TV-MA

            Afro Samurai: Resurrection is a one-of-a-kind futuristic anime about God-like warriors. This film is a sequel to the TV miniseries Afro Samurai, when Afro’s father’s grave is defaced, and his father’s body is stolen, Afro takes up his sword again to battle an army of deadly opponents lead by a merciless enemy. From the animation, music and storyline, Afro Samurai: Resurrection doesn’t disappoint. This film was directed by Fuminori Kizaki who is known for X-Men, Marvel Anime, Human Lost and Bayonetta: Bloody Fate. The musical composition was created by RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan which creates a wonderful mesh of Japanese and New York hip hop culture for the film. Along with the impressive creative team, the actors in the film are no strangers to American audiences, the film stars Samuel L. Jackson as Afro and Ninja Ninja, Lucy Liu as Sio, and Mark Hamill as Bin and the Oden Shop Master.  This impressive team created quite possibly one of the best anime’s ever to be seen by American audiences.

            The first most important thing to note is the animation. Afro Samurai: Resurrection (and the TV miniseries) go above and beyond with their breathtaking animation. Takashi Okazaki wrote and illustrated the original Afro Samurai and after the release of the anime series, Okazaki remade the original Afro Samurai into a two-volume manga. When viewing the film, it is as if the audience is watching a live action manga, from the swift movements, the extreme close ups, and the exaggerated style of drawing the characters, one cannot help but to be engulfed into the story. Even the color choices combined with the drawing is interesting, there are times when there are muted tones with hints of color and other times where the color palette is bright and luminous. This film is also not for the squeamish, the amount of blood shown is over the top, but it is there to exaggerate his talents as a warrior; Afro is an undefeated samurai champion, and his violent ways portray that. Even though this film has a lot of classic anime aspects to it, it’s still very original and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats for the entirety of the film.

            The second part of the film that stands out is the music, the music was composed by RZA from the Wu-tang Clan and it certainly shows. Not only does the music make the anime even more amazing, but it also adds to Afro’s godliness when he is in battle. The powerful music makes Afro seem even stronger than it would without it, this truly makes the anime unique. There is an interesting part of the film where a DJ is playing RZA’s composed music and Japanese and Black individuals are enjoying it, this is a fascinating mesh of two cultures that is not often portrayed in anime, or in any other cinema for that matter.

            Last but not least, the storyline is very different than any other storyline I have encountered in Anime. It certainly has the vengeful trope driving the story, but the small details are what makes it different from the rest. Along with the animation making the film seem like a live action manga, the storyline does the same thing. The twists and turns are unpredictable and makes the story incredibly interesting in result of that. Afro Samurai: Resurrection also includes flashbacks which is a common choice in a lot of stories, but the difference with these flashbacks is the way the colors change and that makes the storyline much more extraordinary.

            In conclusion Afro Samurai: Resurrection is not for the faint of heart but will not disappoint if you venture to watch it. This unique anime is not only a rare gem, but it is also historical, there are no other anime films starring a Black Samurai like this. The music, animation and storyline make the film great and hopefully this isn’t the last Black samurai film American audiences are exposed to.