Review: "If Beale Street Could Talk" Finds Power in Compassion

Scene from If Beale Street Could Talk

The world can be an awful place and it is only nature to retaliate with animosity in your heart. However, there's something even more compelling about the films of director Barry Jenkins. As a man of compassion, he has taken to exploring a more tender side of African American culture. It's something that seems revolutionary by virtue of simply depicting a group whose cultural relevance has only been to radical protesters or submissive in a way that is, for a lack of a better word, human. With If Beale Street Could Talk, he adapts James Baldwin's novel into a tale of love that doesn't ignore the violence but instead finds optimism around it. There's no rioting in the streets. It's a tale of being grateful for the love in your life even as the world knocks you down. It may not be the most inventive story, but what Jenkins has done is provide a warm optimism to guide audiences in a time where cynicism runs rampant, and that's all that's really necessary.

The First Trailer for "If Beale Street Could Talk" Finds the "Moonlight" Director Returning to Oscar Conversation

Scene from If Beale Street Could Talk

It was only last year that the Academy experienced one of the most exciting Best Picture wins in over a decade. Director Barry Jenkin's Moonlight was a film that undid a long pattern of milquetoast winners dominated by white leads and filmmakers. It was rejuvenating and just what cinema needed in 2016. So, what does Jenkins have in store next? He's returned with another film, based on a James Baldwin story, called If Beale Street Could Talk. With positive reviews swelling ahead of the film festivals, it's already an exciting time to expect another return to Oscar glory. If the teaser, released on Baldwin's birthday, is any indication, this is going to be another great turn for Jenkins and another impeccable cast likely to dominate the season.

The First "Chiraq" Trailer Shows Spike Lee in Top Form Once Again

Samuel L. Jackson

With Beasts of No Nation already proving to be a smart bet for Netflix, it's looking like Amazon is about to unleash its own major film. While the awards season has been focused predominantly on theatrical screenings, online streaming companies are trying to get in the game with high profile directors and casts turning in work as compelling as their other original content. In the case of upcoming Honorary Oscar winner Spike Lee's Chiraq, he brings Amazon's shot at something great. In typical fashion, the first trailer is loud, abrasive, and everything that the best of Lee has to offer.

The "Dear White People" Teaser Trailer is Ready for You to Reevaluate "Gremlins" and Tyler Perry

When I attended my first Sundance this past January, there was one film that stood out. It was a film that grabbed my attention and refused to let go. Mixing satire with humor and profound depth, director Justin Simien's debut Dear White People came out as a poignant, important film. As a result, I have been eagerly awaiting any potential news of the film's eventual distribution and release. Even if the film isn't likely to win an Oscar (though I wish I could be proven wrong), it not only shown the emergence of a talented new cinematic voice, but spoke to race relations in America in ways that have clarity. The incessant comparisons to Do the Right Thing are applicable. With the premiere of the teaser trailer, I now begin the more optimistic phase of my support as I eagerly await the October 17 release date.