Queen & Slim: The New Classic

Visually striking and intricately simplistic, the film offers a peak at the Black experience through a tale of self-discovery and love while on the run from the law

Legacy. There lies one of the central themes that punctuates this auspicious feature film debut from Melina Matsoukas (the Grammy-winning director of "Formation" and many other high-profile music videos). The stylish drama, equal parts fantasy and sobering realism, outlines a tale of Black love in the wake of a police shooting. Our stars, Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith, portray the titular characters with weighted sincerity. Some moments of movie magic aside, they feel realistic and their chemistry works well enough to cover a number of the movie’s flaws. They are indeed the film's engine, being helped along the way by colorful supporting players (Bokeem Woodbine, Chloe Sevigny and Flea, among others) and welcome moments of levity. “The Chi” creator Lena Waithe’s script navigates their perilous romance with appropriate touches of tenderness and stomach-churning tension as the two make their race towards freedom.

The couple seems awkwardly mismatched in their first Tinder-spun meeting. Queen (named Angela Davis) is a steely, straight-shooting defense attorney and Slim (named Earnest Hines) is an easygoing yet unremarkable everyman. Their existence as sharp opposites is evident from the opening frame and is only illuminated the further they travel. She looks pristine in her white outfit, her braids neatly draping from her scalp. He sits slouched and wooly-haired while loudly chewing his food. She’s an atheist. He’s God-fearing. She isn't close with her family while his seems very tight-knit. However, as they progress, we see their respective barriers lowered and they begin to acquiesce to the demands of their situation. They need each other and once they realize they can provide in areas where the other lacks, they both open up and honestly, it's a beautiful process to watch.

So, what doesn’t work? Well, there is quite a bit of incredulous decision making on all fronts. It’s the kind of picture that squarely hinges on such a thing. If all parties involved made the most logical decision at all times, the movie would have been over in about 10 minutes. The plot is propelled by one split-second decision that forever alters several lives and neither of our protagonists are hardened criminals. So, while the head-scratching choices occasionally slow the picture down, they never derail it. Many have also found the ending unsatisfactory and while I find it fitting given the narrative, I can understand the criticism. Pacing may also be an issue for some and while it's well-shot, I think some of the editing choices were a bit odd. Still, this is a heck of an effort by what is essentially a rookie directing and screenwriting duo (and Black women to boot). Despite its flaws, the artistic flourishes and powerful performances by its leads are worth the price of admission and I look forward to whatever Matsoukas and Waite do next on the road to establishing their own legacies. A-