Beats (2019)

★★★

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A young talented guy who suffered from the loss of his sister meets a disoriented manager who is trying to get back on track in his musical career.

Classification: 15

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Harsh societal realities and redemption form the narrative structure of Beats with an unlikely duo bringing out the best of each other through their shared passion for music. August traumatised by witnessing the brutal murder of his sister and Romelo, a washed-up music manager now security guard who sees August's musical abilities as his ticket out. Director Chris Robison creates two complicated and sympathetic characters but the story that encompasses them, for the most part, is predictable but affecting.

However, that does not mean Beats does not have any merit, the way Robinson executes August's trauma and suffering allows for the films best scenes. In fact, the film is momentous in its character-driven emotional scenes rather than its tale about music management. Both

Khalil Everage as August and Anthony Anderson as Romelo have great chemistry together and display their characters charm and flaws with a genuine charm. Anderson especially when Beats goes deeper into his character's complicated past with his wife, former colleagues and his overall destructive nature. The supporting cast deserves praise as well in creating Robinson's interpretation of Chicago, from Paul Walter Hauser, Emayatzy Corinealdi and of course Uzo Aduba whose performance as August's mother grounds the emotional core of the Monroe family.

We all deal with tragedy differently but in many cases, one would an outlet to express themselves, either publicly or privately. In August Monroe's case, he honours his sister's memory by continuing her passion for making music and by exiling himself in his apartment to avoid the same fate. With the brutal beginning to Beats, it is quite off-putting when the film begins it more lighthearted and humorous moments but that's where Robinson's direction of the emotional core ambushes you. Robinson is able to convey the tragic complacency of gun crime and homicide in America, with every character just seeing the senseless murder of children no different to a rainstorm. No better example than seeing a school principal ask for donations to a student's funeral to a crowd of disinterested teachers but this complacency makes the hard-hitting dramatic beats all the more powerful.

August's pain is always there with him drifting to happier memories with his sister but Robinson has the film be about how his relationships are able to draw him back to reality. The most important one obviously being Romelo who serves as a catalyst both positively and negatively to August's development. Everage portrayal of these relationships varies but always show his character's desire to live his life again in subtle ways. The emotional expression through his music can be especially heartbreaking with August playing a recording of his sister singing to comfort himself.

The film has itself in two worlds, straining itself between human drama and modern music commentary just like its characters. While it doesn't balance itself out as well as one would hope, Chris Robinson still delivers an emotional authority with Beats. The story of August and Romelo feels relevant to the times and offers a realistic insight to trauma, redemption and forgiveness. It shows the best solution to tragedy is to keep living, not to allow to influence you for the worst but to use it as a way to move forward and help those around you. Seeing August and Romelo using their mutual talent for music to become better people shows that the complacency that has consumed us to violence can't last forever.

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Director: #ChrisRobinson

Cast: #AnthonyAnderson, #KhalilEverage, #UzoAduba, #PaulWalterHauser, #EmayatzyCorinealdi, #DaveEast, #AshleyJackson

Release Date: June 19th 2019

Available exclusively on Netflix.

Trailer:

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Written review copyright ©CoreyBullochReviews

Images and Synopsis from the Internet Movie Database