★★
A couple's first date takes an unexpected turn when a police officer pulls them over.
Classification: 15
While beginning with a visceral and compelling opening scene which captures the terror of Black America's reality and relationship to law enforcement, Melina Matsoukas's feature debut slowly becomes a frustrating film that never lives up to its potential. Essentially Queen & Slim is a modern reimagining of Bonnie & Clyde, a pair of criminals and lovers whose exploits capture the imagination of America as they avoid the authorities, flooding this story with themes of racial inequality, classist fury, and the divides that have irrevocably split America. It's topical and relevant to so many issues that could create an unforgettable film for audiences to really reflect upon on, at least that's what you would hope for. On paper, the pitch for Queen & Slim sounds amazing but while Matsoukas and cinematographer Tat Radcliffe create a beautiful visual journey of these two characters travelling across a vibrant Americana, Lena Waithe's script is where all this potential falls apart.
I shall admit though I am caucasian, I live in England and I have never been pulled over by an aggressive racist police officer before. I will never understand the systematic racism and violence that terrorises so many African Americans but Queen & Slim fails to create an inclusive narrative to inspire debate or empathy beyond its first sequence. The film feels cluelessly "woke", a strange mix of intense realism and power fantasy as its depiction of its controversial subject matter neither feels like its condemning nor condoning the actions of the characters. Waithe and Matsoukas want their film to be a radical statement about race in America but never properly grasp the reality they are wrestling with. Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin and so many other injustices combined with the Black Lives Matters movement feel exploited by the film as Queen & Slim would rather just envoke anger than any catharsis. Anger is good however, there is righteous anger within this film, justifiable anger to the conflict but Matsoukas can't channel or direct this generational pain into something evocative beyond fury. It just feels like an extension on more anger but confused as Queen & Slim regresses into stereotypes for its characters and narrative, making its preaching about racial bias in America undermined.
The titular Queen & Slim have an inconsistent characterisation, they make dumb, unfocused decisions that seem to be based on Waithe needing to create drama within her screenplay than from actual character flaws. Daniel Kaluuya as Slim is decent, his classic suave charisma working well in the film's more spiritual or erotic scenes but the film struggles to pin down either character or their goals beyond survival. Jodie Turner-Smith's Queen said to be a lawyer during their date is the one pushing for the most extreme legally dubious path, implied that her knowledge of judicial treatment pushes her to these extremes knowing that the death of a police officer by their hands is essentially a death sentence. It would seem that the roles should be reversed; Slim, pushing for them to go on the lamb while Queen, a lawyer fighting to follow the law. Matsoukas has most of the film's structure follow these two souls learning about each other and developing a romantic connection but the pacing is so stop and start, needing to have the character's pullover between ever sequence and having a personal moment; like trying to ride a horse or some other event that undercuts tension. Just about every character they encounter is a stereotype but there is no commentary on this, it just feels clueless as soon Queen & Slim assume the roles of stereotypes themselves. Dressing as a pimp and prostitute after visiting Bokeem Woodbine's scene-stealing Uncle Earl, Matsoukas and Waithe never properly grasp control of the film's tone making this imagery feel superficial and reductive. Despite the production design work from Karen Murphy and costume design by Shiona Turini creating an immersive gorgeous visual experience.
Tense and stunning but in a way that doesn't serve its story, Queen & Slim just feels like cultural misappropriation as the use of stereotypes just presents an angry America with no sight of reason or solution. It feels real but there's something missing which in turn makes all the tragedy, violence, heartache feel exploitative, using real pain to bolster a film rather than speak anything meaningful about what inspired it. The editing of a sequence involving a riot between protestors and police over Queen & Slim's actions; the underlying racial tension boiling over against the images of the two fugitives making love for the first time envokes a bewildering connection between love and violence. Unlike a film such as Chi-Raq, which cleverly combines reality and fantasy to speak to harsh truths about race in America, Queen & Slim comes across as a person's vision removed from these truths. Matsoukas and Waithe presenting this fantasy of what racial violence inspires that just feeds into the pain rather than provide a powerful reflection of our societies own failings. Caught between two tones, Queen & Slim can't decide what if truly wants to say making its final messages on race, violence and love feel confused and aimless.
Director: #MelinaMatsoukas
Screenwriter: #LenaWaithe
Cast: #DanielKaluuya, #JodieTurnerSmith, #BokeemWoodbine, #ChloëSevigny, #Flea, #SturgillSimpson, #IndyaMoore
Release Date: January 31st 2020
Trailer:
Written review copyright ©CoreyBullochReviews
Images and Synopsis from the Internet Movie Database
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