Mark Schroeder’s Movie Reviews

If Beale Street Could Talk

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Mark

Grade: B

Barry Jenkins is the director of Moonlight, the movie that ended up winning the Oscar for Best Picture two years ago. I think they got it right the first time, personally. Moonlight did not have my vote for Best Picture, and was actually my least favorite of that category’s nominations. Pretty good year if Moonlight is the “worst” one, though. Now, Jenkins has a new one out called If Beale Street Could Talk. I liked it a little better. While Moonlight had a few sporadic individual moments that I thought were incredible, nothing really came together to make it great for me. If Beale Street Could Talk has a solid through-line and sustains it, and I could see shades of early Scorsese. It is a compelling crime drama about a newly engaged and pregnant Harlem woman whose teen sweetheart is wrongly arrested for rape. All performances are spot-on, especially Best Supporting Actress nominee Regina King.

It feels so silly to say it, seeing as how millions disagreed with me about Moonlight, but If Beale Street Could Talk takes the promise and potential that Moonlight showed and delivers on it. I hope Barry Jenkins gets more work. I have a feeling he will.

Grade: B

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3 responses to “If Beale Street Could Talk”

  1. Judas and the Black Messiah – Film Reviews by Mark

    […] two years ago, and is still in my phone’s auto-complete. I quite enjoyed Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk. I liked it better than Moonlight. Maybe I just don’t relish a 2+ hour historical drama. […]

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  2. Causeway – Film Reviews by Mark

    […] convenient end to that possibility. James is played by Brian Tyree Henry (Bullet Train, Joker, If Beale Street Could Talk), who has wonderful chemistry with Lawrence. This is where director Lila Neugebauer’s stage […]

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  3. Mufasa: The Lion King – Film Reviews by Mark

    […] the richness of the story that kept me watching and interested. Director Barry Jenkins (If Beale Street Could Talk, Moonlight) has so much he wants to tell us. Young Kiara certainly soaked it all in. I bet he […]

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