"Queen & Slim" Review: A Must See
Looking for a thought provoking, unapologetic and unorthodox heroism movie? Then let me introduce you to Queen & Slim. Melina Matsoukas hits the ground running with her directorial debut, taking you on an emotional roller coaster of highs and lows equipped with twist and turns. Some may look at this film as a modern day Bonnie and Clyde but don’t let the sound bite from the trailer lead you astray, it stands in its own lane.
Imagine being on a Tinder date that’s not the one you run and tell your friends about. It's going down the “no serious connection and not really down for a second date” path before an aggressive cop pulls you for what should be a routine traffic stop. In the midst of the interaction, your date gets shot by the cop and you accidentally shoot and kill the cop in self defense. That’s the story of Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith) and Slim (Daniel Kaluuya), taking off with them becoming two of America's Most Wanted. Once they decide to flee the scene and go on the run they become instant icons to some and hated by others. As the duo tries to find freedom, they find they have more in common than they thought.
Matsoukas sets a pace that gives perspective for black people of all ages in a crisis situation like this. We've seen the aftermath of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, for example, but not played out from beginning to end in cinema. This film gives detail, perspective and voice to these situations and the effects it has on the those involved and watching. At one point I felt like the third passenger in the car giving directions to Kaluuya and Turner-Smith. Their character performances are executed effortlessly. They both exude the emotional make up of two people not looking for trouble, who grow to become rebels fighting for their lives.
Overall, you'll learn something about being black in America from this film. The movie is a relevant timepiece that captures the current state of certain situations of black culture. Laced with an incredible soundtrack, this film is noteworthy and a must see. The last fifteen minutes alone make a heart wrenching argument for racial equality without preaching, but instead showing us the bleak reality of society today.
Rating: B+
*Edited by Kevin Sampson
