If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

As I'm yet to read James Baldwin's work —hopefully I'll get to read something soon— and I was not a fan of Moonlight when I first saw it —I rewatched it recently and it definitely worked better for me the second time—, I didn't care about Barry Jenkins's If Beale Street Could Talk. It getting a Best Supporting Actress nomination is the reason I watched it anyway. 

Set in 1970s Harlem, the story follows a young African-American couple, Tish (Kiki Layne) and Fonny (Stephan James). Shortly after Fonny is falsely accused of the rape of a Peurto Rican woman (Emily Rios), Tish learns that she's pregnant with Fonny's child. As childbirth approaches, Tish and her family try to prove that Fonny is innocent.

The plot is simple and straightforward, yet complex as the story is about love, tragedy, hope and sacrifice thick with social commentary on race relations, police brutality, racial discrimination and the United States' unjust system that targets minorities. Unfortunately, while the non-linear narrative makes it more compelling, the story itself isn't particularly interesting, it unfolds very slowly, there are some subplots that feel forced, and it didn't have any emotional impact on me.

The characters are the film's saving grace. In the second part of If Beale Street Could Talk, Barry Jenkins dives deep into characterization which results in complex, compelling characters that are likeable, sympathetic and, although there was something off about the young couple —I felt like there wasn't a lot of chemistry between Layne and James—, I couldn't help but be invested and root for them.

Chemistry aside, the performances are good, Kiki Layne being the stand out as her voice-over narration is absorbing and her portrayal of Tish is believable and carefully and slowly constructed. She is the glue that holds the characters and the film together. Stephen James, unfortunately, never goes past the pity case. Regardless of her small screen time, Regina King shines as she gives a passionate and convincing performance as Tish's mother and gets to deliver some of the film's best lines. It's simply impossible to take you eyes off of her when she's on screen.

Annapurna Pictures
As with Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk has a wonderful cinematography, with beautiful, atmospheric long shots and intimate close-ups of the young lovers that add to the film's poeticality. The musical score is also beautiful.

Overall though the film didn't convince me. It felt cold and detached, the pace is too slow, many scenes are dragged on too long, and it just feels like it goes on for 3+ hours when it's almost 2 hours long.

10 comments :

  1. I liked this a bit better than you did. It was pretty slow, but I've been enjoying Jenkins work.

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    1. I've only seen Moonlight and I kind of hated it the first time, but then, I don't know how it's possible, I loved it. Maybe I'll give this another chance in the future and see if I change my mind about this one too.

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  2. Nice review. I think a lot of people had issues with the pacing so you're not alone.

    Personally, I thought they chemistry was perfect, especially that first sex scene which was very senstively done as it was her first time. It was romantic.

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    1. I liked their chemistry in the sex scene too. And it was so beautifully filmed!

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  3. Oh no...that's a shame but i will still see it because I liked Moonlight from the get go. I hope I will not find this movie long winded

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  4. Moonlight is the reason I haven't seen this one yet. I just wasn't a fan...at all!

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    1. It's still worth giving this a chance, I think.

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  5. Great review! I am getting increasingly bored and annoyed by bad movies, the ones who are boring and/or have no emotion. I mean, I can get behind messy plotlines and weird direction, but damn it, give me emotion. Make me care, at least. I don't know I will get to this....since the awards season is over, I don't really care about it anymore

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    1. I still kinda care because I'm supposed to write my best and worst of 2018 post😅

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