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.

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.

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