Film and Television

Green Book - Peter Farelly

Green Book is a 2018 American-period drama starring Oscar winner Mahershala Ali and two-time Oscar nominee Viggo Mortensen. The film is based on a true story of New York African-American jazz pianist Don Shirley (Ali) and his bodyguard/driver Tony Vallelonga (Mortensen). In the early 1960s, Shirley, an exceptional concert pianist is to embark on a tour through the Deep South. Vallelonga, a former club bouncer with a reputation for being unorthodox and often violent, applies to be Shirley’s driver through the tour. Although they do not get along at first, primarily because Shirley is Black and proper, while Vallelonga is Italian and crass, the two soon form a strong bond built on trust and protection. As the tour heads deeper into the South, they are met with increasing racism. Vallelonga grows to consider Shirley as family, and as they head back towards New York City, they have formed an incredible bond that feels like they are family. I have to say that this movie was rather predictable. However, it was still beautiful.

Widows - Steve McQueen

This movie was a thriller/drama about three women who carry out a heist after their criminal husbands are killed by the police in a failed attempt to take $2 million dollars from a local politician running for alderman. Starring Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Liam Neeson, Collin Farrell, and many more amazing actors and actresses, this film definitely had me on the edge of my seat. I personally felt that it was one of the best movies released in 2018. Unfortunately, it did not do too well in the box office and was snubbed by both the Golden Globes and The Academy. Despite the fact that i did enjoy every moment, the story was a little difficult to follow because it was told in a series of flashbacks and trying to understand the connection that each of the characters had to each other was a little difficult. I also felt like there was a lot more that could have been added to the story, and that there was a lot of loose ends that needed to be tied. Ultimately though, I enjoyed it.

The Chi - Lena Waithe

I didn’t grow up on the south side of Chicago; I didn’t grow up in Chicago at all, even if my fake ID says I did, but Lena Waithe creates something that makes you feel as though you have a relation to the drama and consequence that is exhibited through her new show, The Chi. The pilot episode sets a pretty high bar in terms of content regarding revenge and resolution, so my fingers are crossed for a season that lives up to the expectation.

Shadowing a collective of kids, teens, adults, and elders who each have a story interlaced with one another, The Chi should definitely be added to your must watch shows list. Although some of the actors come across as a bit inexperienced, and have a bit of work to do as far as growing into the depth of their characters, the slack is picked up by actors such as Jason Mitchell; who steps into a genuine and intriguing character role as if it was part of his daily routine since birth. The complex storylines and the constant mixture of emotions that are yet to be explored leave it with a lot of potential.

Atlanta - Donald Glover

Honestly please let me know if you know someone who wasn’t stoked about the second series premiere of Atlanta; I would love to meet them, and smack them upside the head. I’m only partially kidding, but if you’ve ever watched the show, you know that the acting along with the direction and production are unreal. I tend to feel like reviewers should be unbiased, but I probably won’t fall into that category when talking about this production; my apologies. With a second season that just released, ten episodes in the first season, and 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, Donald Glover sets up an awkward and in depth construction of black men in Atlanta, hip hop, and life. The show merges humour with an honest environment and character development that shows how far and how deep anxiety and despondency can run in the black community.