If there are any people who still believe that La La Land should have taken home the Best Picture Oscar, Barry Jenkins has reminded us why he deserved that divisive win.
While Damien Chazelle’s Neil Armstrong biopic, First Man, received lukewarm reviews across the board, Jenkins has done the seemingly impossible in his follow-up feature to Moonlight by creating an equally moving and beautiful portrait with a familiar theme: love triumphs above everything else. Adapted from James Baldwin’s 1974 novel, If Beale Street Could Talk is another instant classic as it tackles the radically unjust racial stereotype of being a black man in 1970s America and the lengths a young woman is willing to go for the love of her life.
There’s no limit to love
Tish Rivers (KiKi Layne) and Alonzo ‘Fonny’ Hunt (Stephan James) were childhood best friends whose sweet friendship blossomed into a loving relationship as they grew into young adults. Tish is a gentle, innocent soul with a personality that perfectly compliments the gentlemanly gestures of Fonny’s genuine love. Although they are young- Tish in her late teens and Fonny in his early twenties- they have big plans and dreams for their future, which now includes a baby. But on the night Tish announces she is pregnant, a cause worthy of celebration, she is also dealing with the reality that her soul mate and best friend is sitting in a prison cell for a crime he didn’t commit.
Tish, with the support of her family, rallies around Fonny’s innocence and they do what they can to help clear his name. Tish’s mother Sharon (Regina King) is especially crucial in tracking down the woman (Emily Rios) who falsely identified Fonny as her abuser and rapist, due to unlawful and extreme pressure from police to name a suspect. Aware of the woman’s situation and her compliance in order to appease the cops instead of speaking the truth, Sharon goes the extra mile to beg and plead with her to set Fonny free from this accusation and stigma. Throughout the struggle of pregnancy, loneliness, and heartache, Tish knows she must be strong for Fonny and not let the emotional and psychological torture of her situation undermine her dreams of a fairytale future as a family of three.
Absolutely beautiful score and cinematography
The magic that Barry Jenkins captured in Moonlight is back in Beale Street and, any way you look at it, this film radiates beauty. The original score by Academy Award-nominated composer Nicholas Britell is layered with methodical orchestral sounds of bold strings and classical piano, each strum of the bow telling its own heartbreaking and emotive story. The inclusion of Al Green’s For the Good Times- a song that lives in my own Spotify playlist entitled “Feels”- is another perfectly chosen song (although its placement in the scene is ironic given the context of the lyrics). Musically, this is the most powerful film of 2018. Visually, cinematographer James Laxton continues to create art within every frame. Laxton, who worked with Jenkins on Moonlight, brings the same intimacy and dreaminess that made him an Academy Award nominee back to the big screen (and another nomination seems obvious).
The power of words
Unlike Moonlight, however, Beale Street jumps the narrative timeline and instead floats in and out of Tish and Fonny’s life together and apart. Another inventive technique is how the characters share their intimate conversations of distress and longing while looking directly into the camera. They address each other while visually addressing the audience, which can feel jarring at first. However, this tactic brings the story closer to home, which prompts the audience into an indirect yet burning desire to emotionally support Tish and her family in helping clear Fonny’s name. This voluntary obligation stems directly from these intimate conversations, showcasing the power of words and the passionate people behind them.
A cinematic masterpiece
If Beale Street Could Talk is a cinematic masterpiece and the complete package: a powerful cast of mostly newcomers to the screen, a story that hits the emotional pinpoints, and a superb filmmaking team behind the scenes. Stephan James quietly commands the picture as a role model for men, and KiKi Layne equally captivates in her feature film debut. Powerful supporting performances from Brian Tyree Henry, Colman Domingo, and Dave Franco add to its emotional impact. When watching If Beale Street Could Talk, prepare to be engulfed in emotions as you witness the pureness and fragility of true love.
‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ is rated R for language and some sexual content. 119 minutes. Opening this Friday at ArcLight Hollywood and the Landmark.
