Review of If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) by Richardrad — 06 Jan 2019
"If Beale Street Could Talk” grabs you by the throat and never lets go. And that's a problem. The film is about 30 minutes too long. The music, which could have been terrific, was surprisingly pedestrian.
That said, the acting is first-rate and story is deeply compelling. A young African-American man is convicted of a crime he didn't commit in Harlem, New York during the 70s, while his pregnant fiancee and her mother fight fiercely to prove that he didn't do it.
Sadly, there is no nuance here. We are commanded by the director to be outraged, and we are. But where is the dance of life and the mystery of what brings two souls together in such a passionate embrace.
I want to read James Baldwin's novel. I'll bet it's a lot better than the movie.
This review of If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) was written by Richardrad on 06 Jan 2019.
If Beale Street Could Talk has generally received positive reviews.
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