Every decade or so, movie audiences change depending on how our society is doing. So, as these changes take place, the ideas for stories change as well. And with this, it has become indisputable that our society is becoming more violent, condescending, and so the racial tension doesn't want to go away. Even though the race issues have improved since the '50's, it's still alive and kicking. So we've seen many films that mirror the racial tension in past years, and now we have "Queen & Slim" to gnaw on.
While on a forgettable first date together in Ohio, a black man, Ernest Hines (Daniel Kaluuya) and a black woman, Angela Johnson (Jodie Turner-Smith) are pulled over for a minor traffic violation, The situation escalates, with sudden and tragic results, when the man kills the police officer, Reed (Sturgill Simpson) in self-defense, only after the officer shot the woman in the leg. Terrified and in fear for their lives, the man, a retail employee, and the woman, a criminal defense lawyer, are forced to go on the run. But the incident is captured on video and goes viral, and the couple unwittingly become a symbol of trauma, terror, grief and pain for people across the country. Through all of these events, they become Queen & Slim. Many help them along the way including the woman's Uncle Earl (Bokeem Woodbine) in the hopes they can make it to Cuba.
Others to round out the cast are Chloe Sevigny as Mrs. Shepherd, Flea as Mr. Shepherd, Indya Moore as Goddess, Benito Martinez as Sheriff Edgar, Jahi Di'Allo Winston as Junior and Bryant Tardy as Chubby.
This was rivetingly directed by Melina Matsoukas (TV and a ton of video shorts). Considering this is her first feature film, it is amazingly well crafted, but since she has directed so many video shorts, this has served her well. I truly believe that a talented director, or even writer, has come from a TV or short background, and the more experience in that arena, the better when entering the feature film world, as with Matsoukas. The intensity, especially between Kaluuya and Turner-Smith was incredibly underlying. To create this amount of intensity, one would think that the violence with tons of blood would flow like water, however the violence did not match the level of intensity. Oh yes, there was violence, however not as much as one would think considering the intensity. It was equally well written by Lena Waithe ("Untitled Lena Waithe Project" (TV movie) '16) plus TV and shorts, based on a story by James Frey and Waithe. Again, like the director, this is this writer's first feature film, and was gripping. Even though this wasn't based on a true story, it was almost written like it was, or possibly could. The characters were simply real people lunged into an impossible situation and attempting to right a wrong in the best way they can considering the horrific place in time they are in. This writer will obtain more work. She is a talented writer. The script is cohesive and tight. And, other than the fact that it was a bit long-in-the-tooth (about 5mins could've been shaved off), this script soared. There is Oscar buzz around Kaluuya, and he could definitely be nominated. This being a film that introduced Turner-Smith to film, showcased her true potential. She will receive more films.
If message films are a favorite of yours, because you're a passionate filmgoer, this will be a film that will set right with you. It ends in a rather bittersweet way, but isn't that the way life goes in our lives? So much of the time, our lives are ran by plan A, but, a lot of times, plan B seems to reign and then we just have to punt. As a racial message, this speaks volumes, but, whether one is black, white or any other race, we all need to accept each other since none of us are going away any time soon.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: R 133mins.
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