From watching the initial trailer, Queen & Slim looks to be an engaging black love story that comes with highs and lows. The highs are whether the couple in question can find love after a single date and the lows are consequences that ensue following an incident with a white cop. In director Melina Matsoukas’ feature debut from a script written by Emmy Award winner Lena Waithe and James Frey, comes a film that is visually striking with phenomenal performances but at the same time filled with some holes that will leave audiences debating the outcome long after the film’s conclusion. Nevertheless, it’s an extraordinarily, provocative, romantic, racial and at times flawed drama that serves a powerful message about love, trust and humanity.
Oscar nominee Daniel Kaluuya (“Get Out”) and newcomer Jodie Turner-Smith star as the couple in question. Set in Ohio, they meet in a diner after finding each other through the dating app Tinder. She’s a criminal defense attorney who recently lost a death row case and wanted something to escape to. In comes Daniel’s character, who is a retail employee, clearly attracted to Jodie’s character but senses tension in her life. As they leave in his car and try to find common ground, they are stopped by a white cop. Within a matter of minutes, the cop is shot dead and they choose to run, not realizing the whole incident was videotaped from the cop’s vehicle. The video went viral and there’s a massive manhunt for the two.
Now fugitives on the run, they seem to get the best of luck from all sorts of people, especially when they get to Louisiana and meet the uncle to Jodie’s character. Played by a scene stealing Bokeem Woodbine, Uncle Earl’s a pimp with a heart of gold, providing shelter, clothes, a place to rest, and other tools to continue their escape. He calls them ‘the black Bonnie and Clyde.” In between their travels, the two get to know each other a bit better while trying to decide what their next steps should be. For everywhere they go and as days go by, they become a symbol of hope and against the legal system from some as their faces are plastered everywhere. Will love and determination help them survive this?
There’s a lot to digest when watching this film. Best known for directing episodes of Insecure, and Master of None’s Thanksgiving episode among others, and music videos for artists like Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, Matsoukas’ transition and debut to the film world was never in question. She has the confidence to bring her vision to the screen. In a unique way, the rural scenes from the South serve as an unspoken character that adds to the story.
With this cast, you get powerful performances, starting with the two leads. With Daniel, he’s good at playing this good natured by naïve soul. With Turner-Smith, she’s flat out amazing as the take-charge, no-nonsense, I’ll handle it woman. Their back and forth banter seems like a scene from “The Taming of the Shrew” but then develops into something more. The rest of the cast from Bokeem Woodbine, Indya Moore, Chloë Sevigny, and Jahi Di’Allo Winston all give solid performances.
Now, when it comes to the script, Waithe has packed in a heavy dose of gut check moments, some that are questionable. Starting with race relations in America. When it comes to law enforcement, there’s a certain lack of trust from people of color which clouds the judgement of many characters. In one particular scene, the audience will have a “wtf” attitude that will determine if they are liking where the film is headed. There’s a point in the film where Daniel’s character says he’s a looking for a “ride or die” woman in his life. That’s a phrase probably how one can describe this film. One will definitely go on a journey in watching Queen & Slim.
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