IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (2018)

If Beale Street Could Talk is an adaptation of a novel by American writer James Baldwin; the film itself is directed and the is screenplay written by Barry Jenkins (the filmmaker who also wrote and directed Moonlight) fame. An emotionally-driven story, it focuses on Fonny and Tish, an African-American couple living in Harlem in the 1970s. The film is non-linear, starting at a pivotal point, then going back to the start, filling in the blanks and switching back and forth between the two different timelines. Normally, the non-linear style doesn't work well as the "future" portions tend to give away the conclusion of the "past" portion, but it was actually very well done and gave nothing away.

The film is scripted and directed incredibly well. With the exception of some of Fonny's family members who are under-developed and come across as laughable caricatures, the cast is very well selected, with fleshed-out characters and traits. The film has such a feeling of authenticity, using very little dialogue, instead, allowing blank space and facial emotions to convey what the character is trying to say. You know a film is well-done when dialogue is not needed at all, and Jenkins quality of directing is clear to see. The musical score works well to add to the scenes that have minimal dialogue, though the impact it has does tend to be inconsistent depending on the scene.

The film does struggle with some pacing issues after a very powerful and investing first act. The premise is revealed, and we get a great scene that shows how every significant character responds to that premise. Emotionally charged, conflicting support and aggression, it very quickly garners empathy from the audience. However, the film struggles to get that drive and tension back in any later scenes. It almost feels like the film needs to be compacted down slightly to reduce that runtime and keep the plot moving.

Visually, the film is stunning. A lot of long, slow sweeping shots between characters during dialogue, allowing close-ups of the faces, without any jarring edits flicking from person to person. Again, the cast did an amazing job not just saying their lines, but conveying a specific emotion as they tell it. Their eyes tell you so much more than their words do. If Beale Street Could Talk also has a nice colour palette. Despite the rather dismal premise, the film focuses on the supportive side and keeps everything warm and vibrant, with some lively reds, greens, and gold. The cinematography was also very well shot and directed, with a wide variety of perspectives and timing, that can make the characters feel like they are the only significant people in existence, or portraying how they interact with their environments, everything appears meticulously chosen. 

It is nice to see an African-American family portrayed on the big screen that isn't just stereotypes. These characters have a wealth of development that draws you in and gets you invested in their plight, and it serves as a valid reminder that despite a rapidly changing world that aims for more and more social justice, there are many people in the system that still suffer from historical intolerances. If Beale Street could talk, the world would be ashamed of the stories it could tell.

Originally posted to: http://djin.nz/Kr8158