Con’s Score: 4 Jars of beer
Beale Street is an important street in African-American history. It’s where Louis Armstrong and the Memphis blues were were born, but this adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel isn’t about that. It’s a tale about two lovers whose love survives while their lives are destroyed, in an all familiar story. (Baldwin was the subject of the documentary ’I Am Not Your Negro’).
Trish (KiKi Layne) and Alfonzo, known as Fonny (Stephan James), are in love. They have been since they were kids. But Fonny is an artist who ends up in goal; He’s accused of a rape he didn’t commit. Tish is pregnant and her family (Colman Domingo and Regina King) ate doing all they can to get him out. The problem is the rape victim, Victoria Rogers (Emily Rios), has fled to Puerto Rico as she needs to escape her demons too.
This is all interwoven with flashbacks of Tish and Fonny falling for each other, their first time, the time Fonny upset a cop, and the time she fell pregnant. This is a small, simple story made intricate, in a simple, soulful way.
There are no dramatic plot twists, chases or revenge… yet I felt an outrage they didn’t show. Black Americans seem defeated by their lot, and that’s the tragedy below this drama.
Director-writer Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) has a gentle touch with small, human stories like these. He relies on his actors to show subtle touches with almost imperceptible arcs. He has cast well. KiKi Layne debuts as Tish and she has an innocence that’s as cute as the buttons she wears. Stephan James is also believable and endearing. Their chemistry is the key that will unlock your emotions. All the supports are excellent, particularly Regina King; she is regal. She’s nominated for an Academy Award for this fiery role. For me, they are all achingly good.
James Laxton’s cinematography is excellent as is the sparse soundtrack. Jenkins has honed his craft here. It’s a slow moving film with lots of dialogue, and it’s very bitter-sweet, just like the blues.
This story is more overtly political than Moonlight. It reminds us that black lives matter by showing us ‘why’ they matter… these are real people with honest dreams, talents and hopes that are dashed before they even reach expectation. It’s a tragedy that is modern-day America that even a black president couldn’t change and left me gutted. Once again, the job of hanging this mirror is up to the artists.
Con Nats, On The Screen
