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The Comedian (2012)
Just okay.
This movie has potential but it fell so short of itself. The way it ended so abrubtly made it seem like the filmakers ran out of time and or money, and just decided to hand in what they had already filmed.
Firstly the female character to me is under developed, the audience knows that she has ambitions to be a singer, but that's mainly it. She serves primarily to be the female love interest to the main guy. And speaking of which the main guy is not the most likeable, but that's not my main issue with him it's the fact that as a character we never get to seem him progress or develop, again vecause the movie ends before we get to see that happen. We don't know if he gets to brush up on his bad comedy or if by the end of the film he even wants to continue doing comedy; what is it what even drove him to persue it in the first place. The worst offence to me is there is a complete under utilisation of the talented actor Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, who I've seen in the show Misfits, the movie Femme and his brief yet memorable appearance in Simon Amstell's film Benjamin. Nathan, gives the best performance in this film by far. His relationship with the main guy is tender and warm and the two do seem to have romantic chemistry. Yet again the movie doesn't do enough to explore Nathan as a character either. There is so much potential here to explore his experiences being a gay black man, it is briefly touched on with quite a poignant scene where Nathan and Ed (the guy) are aggressively harassed by a group of women on the bus who yell homophobic slurs at them. The film doesn't do anything to further examin how this also racially coded experience of Nathan being targeted for being black and gay affects him, instead the movie focuses on how this painful experience culminates in Ed and Nathan breaking up instead. Sure their situation is sad and emotionally driven, but there is a complete missed opportunity to expand on Nathan as a character.
Towards the end of the folm, Ed leaves his dead end job and his flatmate asks him to move out. Soon after we get a scene where Ed is at home with his family members. Firstly, why is this scene even in the film if we don't take any time to get to know his family members as characters, no context as to what his relationship is like with those family members. I assumed that this scene was there because he had planned to move back in with his family (after essentially being kicked out by his flatmate) but then we see him getting in a yaci to leave afterwards, so what was the purpose of that scene then? That contained very little dialogue as well? Then the final scene is just the main character in the back of the taxi (going where? We as the audience don't know), he is told by the cab driver essentially "everything will work out", which is fair enough in terms of conveying realism I suppose. The film already does an okay job of conveying relatable themes, such as being unsure about what you want in a relationship, having trouble with career prospects, finding ways to support yourself living in London. In the end though though, as a viewer you kind of wonder what the purpose of this journey with main character was. The lack of an attempt to even create a fully realised ending really derailed a lot of the parts of film that I did like.
Exam (2009)
Okay, but weird?
Interesting enough premise.
My first primary issues is that the "White" character is a loud annoying walking stereotype of a misogynist and a lowkey racist, his character came off predictable and again annoying in a way that wasn't entertaining enough to justify his reason for being a character in this film. Also, you're telling me that each character is just happy to go along with being called a stereotype nickname? Erm ok I guess.
Unanswered plotholes here, so when the liquid was coming out of the sprinklers was it just water or something? If so what was the point of that scene? So you can only see the words Question 1 on the paper through a pair of glasses and a piece of glass, but two characters in the room had glasses?
They fumbled that ending lol.
American Animals (2018)
Such a fun ride the whole way through
I came in thinking that it would be a relatively simple heist movie with some themes of male friendship dynamics mixed in, but it was a much more fun ride of a movie than I anticipated. The real life interviews mixed in with the pacing of the movie added another layer to the to film, that made it interesting. The premise itself already sufficed, but the intergrated commentary from the people that the characters were based on made it that much more engaging. Evan Peters was brilliant, but I expect that as much from watching him in American Horror Story.
Bart Layton is such a great filmaker that I am a just anticipating what he will do next. Had a lot of fun watching this movie.
Mammal (2016)
I didn't quite get it.
The actors in this movie are good, from the lead actress to the guy playing her ex husband, and even the young men in the movie who are minor characters. The thing that didn't allow me to like this movie more is the fact that given that premise of the movie is so uncomfortable, I feel like the writing or the script could have done more to make me as a viewer, fully understand why the characters behaved the way that they did. I understand that some movies suffer when there is over explaining and too much exposition going on, but to me this movie did not do enough explaining.
For example, the lead character is tormented by loneliness and what appears to be guilt from not being a present or good mother to her recently deceased son. The movie never really gives us much of a clue or real reason as to why she was never a present mother? What was it about being a parent that she could not handle that made her abandon her son?
She meets and becomes overly friendly with a young man with an ambiguous troubled background. This woman never once as a responsible adult takes it upon herself to contact social services or the boy's parents, and if this were real life it would just be a terrible safeguarding issue, particularly because the boy never says his age outright so he could have been anywhere from 17 to possibly 19; and if he was underage it makes the premise of the film even more jarring. It is implied that she knows that he is stealing from her and she seems okay with that for some reason? Perhaps we're supposed to the believe that desperate loneliness is why she keeps this young man around who clearly needs better guidance and care. Because key questions like these are never properly answered you never quite feel like (or at least I did not feel like) you have a clear understanding of what the characters motives are.
The two lead characters sleep together. And if that had been the main character's intent the entire time, to have a sexual relationship; then one it does not make sense to me why she then later rejects his interest after they sleep together. And two, again if he is underage, it's probably not legal or ethical for her to having sex with a minor. I did like how the film explored the complicated relationship between her and her ex, and how he only really seemed to want to be around her recently in order to grieve their son. The ex beats up the young man, which did not make much sense to me either because the ex is upset with her, and the young boy is ultimately collateral in a situation where he is deals with the consequences of her irresponsible actions. The young boy is not a completely innocent party, as mentioned before he is troubled, however he is taken advantage of. My main gripe with this movie is that I don't think it presented the audience with fully fleshed out characters. The young man is sort of reduced to an angry juvenile, even though the actor playing him does allow him to have some emotional depth, you're never really given a reason as to why he is so angry. The main character is an unlikeable protaganist, but to me she does not have to be likeable for it to have been a better movie, I just never really got a full scope of why the character is the way that she is, what are the real underlying reasons as to why she does the things she does? So much of it is implied but not in away that makes enough sense to me.
Average Joe (2023)
Exceeded my expectations, I ain't never seen nothing like this on BET.
I do not know what I expected from this show, I hadn't seen any trailers or anything. All I knew was Deon Cole was in it and I had recently become a fan of his after I started watching Black-ish and I saw and enjoyed two of his stand up specials on Netflix. BET shows a lot the time for me have been hit and miss with some gems here and there. This show? Is most definitely a gem. It's a drama but it has an adequate mix of comedy in it for good measure, especially the character Leon he is a funny character. Everybody's reaction to the given situation feels natural and accaurate. My main critique however is that some of the action scenes felt a bit awkward, they could have redone some here and there. I had no idea Deon Cole had this level of acting range in him, he's really good as the main protaganist. If you liked those TNT crime shows like Claws or Animal Kingdom, you'll probably enjoy this show. Or maybe if you liked shows like Good Girls or maybe Ozark from Netflix, then you'll enjoy this.
Send Help (2022)
Its a hidden gem on the ALLBLK digital app. If you get the week long free trial just to binge watch this show it is worth it.
Jean Elie and Joseph Amin did such a great job with this series. Props to Amin specifically, the way that he delivered his dialogue as this character was stunning. Karen Obilom (who plays the main character's girlfriend), is also a stand out performer in this show. The main character's friends are hilarious too, the dialogue between them is well done. The only reason I didn't rate the show 10/10 is because I wish this season could be a bit longer.
Some highlights in the show are the very simple yet effective ways that it reflects on the immigrant experience. Specifically the experiences of the main character being first generation Haitian American. There are distinct differences between how his immigrant mother, and his younger second generation niece move through the world. Those differences are key to helping to get to know these characters in a fairly short space of time.
The comedy is fantastic, there are several points where the viewer is taken out of a seemingly ordinary to scene, so that they get more of the main character's perspective. These scenes are hyperexaggerated or cartoonish, but still feel close enough to the main subject matter that they do not feel out of place.
I always appreciate a show that has the ability to depict humour, with good comedic timing even where a character is dealing with major trauma. The trauma isn't ignored or downplayed for the sake of the humour, instead it is centred and it is still funny. A show writer's ability to skillfully balance those two things should not be taken lightly in my opinion. I also like how there was time taken out to reflect on how immigrant families from certain backgrounds may struggle to open up about mental issues, or seek help when dealing with symptoms.
The final part I wanted to add, was how I liked how relatable the show was, when it came to depicting how the main character who is between acting jobs, is struggling to get roles in a competitive line of work but is also trying his best to come across as doing well to others. The main character is flawed, but in a way that serves the show well because viewers are on the journey with him.
A Luv Tale: The Series (2021)
Good, but it deserved a second season.
I am a black queer woman viewer, so right off the bat I might have some bias due to being part of the target demographic, I appreviate some decent representation. But I am not going to rate a show high just because it has people I I have things in common with in it. I actually really enjoyed watching this show. I also just like a romance drama that shows the complexities of falling for the wrong the person, cos you can't always help who have feelings for. In this case you have two queer black women roomates in the begining stages of their professional careers, that always a relateable, grounding starting point. The male friend, develops feelings for a woman who is a lesbian, and he has to decide what to do with those feelings for a friend who he cares about. The biggest drama comes in because the woman who he has feelings for, is sleeping with and falling for his mother. Very complicated relationship dynamics going on here, but it has potential and its entertaining. You also have the storyline involving Amber's character and her mother, and how there is tension there. The disappointment comes where this is a good show that dies on the hill of potential. Its like because there are bureaucratic or financial matters going on behind the scenes ultimately the continuation of a good series is out of the viewers hands. And its a shame, because a second season could have meant larger sets, longer episodes and more subject matter to explore here, like why some women and men choose to stay in marriages that they are unhappy in, the premise is there, it just needed more time and money.
All the Queen's Men (2021)
An odd, unrealistic and messy drama. Its ok, if you like that sort of thing.
First of all Tyler Perry shows be weird, but I'm already invested. The way that some of these characters interact with each other feels so unrealistic, or confusing based on how their tone changes or relates the scenes that they are in. I'll give an example, the character Rayshawn is at first meant to come off as simply a young man in his early 20s who is a bit naiive yet eager. As you watch more scenes with him in them, it seems as though the writers decided to to turn that naiivite into showing him exuding behaviours that make it seem as though he is actually a child and not a grown adult, or perhaps he has some sort of developmental delay that they are alluding to but will not specify. And this isn't me trying to be harsh on the actor that played him, but I feel like there is a better way to express when an adult character has a level of innocence, or a lack of experience without it being so on the nose that the character simply resorts to having child like behaviours for an audience to poke fun at. And maybe this could also be me reading to much into it, but the trope of adult characters having actual developmental delays that is played off for laughs can be particularly insenitive to members of an audience who maybe themselves have developmental disabilities. (I myself am autistic, so maybe thats why I noticed it.) Just saying. Then there's Tommy, his character switches between being this very harsh firm tough guy henchman type and then being somewhat playful with Madame; his and her dynamic is strange enough on its own, but we as an audience aren't really made to understand why (besides his infatuation with her) he has his allegiance to her. Madame's father is a fomer gang leader, so was Tommy a part of her father's gang? Did she do him a massive favour now he is forever in debt to her or something? Is their relationship built on an unorthodox domination kink perhaps? I'm asking because its is never quite made clear to me from watching the show.
On top of that, what is Trouble's back story? I am all for some LGBT+ representation, in a way that challenges traditional expectations (as Madame says in the show herself, she represents a whole new kind of sexy) but this character has little to no real back story. We know she works out, has a muscular physique and she for some reason really wants to dance at Madame's strip club, but thats it. Does she come from money? Is she poor?
I did some internet searching for myself and from what I could find about the woman who plays Trouble, she is a personal trainer based in LA, which explains her body type. There's still not much of an explanation as to why she wants to be a dancer at the club so badly? Or why she insists on trying to earn the respect of the other dancers who clearly don't treat her that nicely. Her character is written to be annoying to the other characters on purpose so it works, but again, what is her backstory? Or the reasons for her motivations, aside from some lack luster, tick box representation.
Another character who's motivations I don't quite understand is Babyface. How did he go from being a relatively harmless pretty boy gigalo, to being somebody who is willing to pimp someone out for his own personal benefit. The switch between those two characterizations felt either unearned or out of nowhere, like there was no build up. Was that plotline placed in there just to cause extra conclflict? Cos if so it didn't feel necessary.
And finally my biggest and most glaring gripe with this show, is the fact that not only are there scenes where male characters are r*ped/sexually assaulted in this show (it happens once in the first season and twice in the second season) its the fact that those assualts aren't quite treated with level of seriousness that they deserve. Keep in mind the first time it happens, it happens off screen, so kuddos for not being gratuitous about it I suppose (thats me being facetious), but it was still uncalled for.
To name some good points about the show, Madame's different outfits from a fashion standpoint are nice. I like how her locs are styled in different ways, I like her makeup, her accessories and her many suits, I would give the onset stylists for her character a raise.
Dime is an enjoyable character to watch, I'd like to see more of a backstory from her as well.
Boomerang: Feels Like Heaven (2020)
My favourite episode of season 1
The dialogue was hilatious yet relateable. I like that the entire episode took place just at David's house. It was interesting to watch his spiritual journey and see how it clashed with his friends point of view and their lifestyles. I also like that it was an episode that focuses primarily on male friendship in particular, with song great songs playing in the background. The charaters had good on screen chemistry, David's friends are supportive of him even if they aren't in the same headspace as him. Watching Ari struggle to make his personal connections work in order to further himself in his career felt relateable and it was translated well in this episode through dialogue alone.
First Wives Club (2019)
I'm actually glad that I gave this show another chance. It gets better from the second season.
This is actually one of BET+'s better shows. The show starts to pick up more in the second season, the sets look a lot nicer and the episodes are more fleshed out. Jill Scott, Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos are all funny. I like that Bree and Gary's story ark shows how complicated trying to sustain a marriage can be when there has been infidelity. If you enjoy shows like Run The World on the STARZ network or Harlem on Amazon Prime (like I do) you may enjoy this as well. Its an easy show to binge watch, I also like how some of the moments in the show feel authentic to certain adult's experience such as balancing career opportunities alongside relationships.
Boomerang (2019)
I really enjoyed it
I really liked following this group of friends, they had great chemistry with each other. The soundtrack is stellar a lot of nods to some classic '90s RnB. My favourite part of the show was the imaginary sequences and scenarios especially in season 2, they added some fun and humour to a show. I feel like the show was under promoted and mis advertised as a "reboot" to the original movie from 1992, that it is loosely connected to. It could have stood just as strong and found the right audience on its own grounds. A light hearted yet sincere show about friendship, figuring out identity and romance. Would have loved a 3rd season. Hope the show receives more love in the future.
The Crossover (2023)
I like it. Its a nice easy watch.
I like it. Just watched it. I'm in my 20s so I haven't watched Disney Channel shows in years. Its definitely more family friendly then what I tend to watch nowadays, thats not a bad thing at all. In my opinion some of dialogue falls flat at times, also the kids in the show from what I understand are 13, but to me they appear closer to 15 maybe kids in the US just look older these days. When I was watching disney shows back in the day there weren't too many black shows, it was Thats So Raven, then later on Ant Farm and by the time KC Undercover came out I was "too old" to really enjoy it and my niece was watching it at the time. Then there was Let It Shine (which introduced me to Coco Jones and Trevor Jackson whom I love), Let It Shine was likely the only black show/movie on disney that felt like it had overt references to the black american experience while having a predominantly black main cast. I liked hearing a Duckwrth song in episode 4, that was a personal touch that I liked cos he's one of my favourite rappers.
The two main leads in the show are decent, they have an emotional range that is delievered with sincerity and feels true to the experience of growing pains and coming of age. I also like the addition of the thesaurus words and definitions in most episodes. The narration did get annoying at times, it felt less like it added to carrying the story forward and it was just a way to have a voiceover reading threw hyperbolic poetic dialogue in the background just because. Phylicia Rashad comes through in episode 5 and teases the mum about using too much seasoning in her food, that was funny lol. For me personally, I am not too sure if the flash foraward sequences at the begining of each episode were necessary, I feel like the story that takes place in the present day stands well enough on its own. Overall its a nice easy binge watch, and the whole family can enjoy it.
The Chi (2018)
Biased Review
From season 3 onwards it becomes a different show, and it lacks the realism and the emotional and social range that it had in the begining. One of the main cast leaving the show was inevitable due to the circumstances that no one really saw coming. My review is biased because as much as the show has changed and some of the plotlines that open don't always seem to come to a satisfying close, for me it doesn't matter how drama driven the show has become, I have grown to care so much about these characters and what they are going through. I might need to suspend certain elements of realism to follow the show and some its questionable writing choices, but I love these characters. I like seeing Shaad try and put his life together after being in prison, and seeing him try to have that same positive impact on other young men in the area like Bakari. I care so much about the kids and they have from the begining been one of the most high points of this show. I am looking forward to watching the sixth and final season. I really want to see if the writers allow space to see these kids get help with processing the traumas that they have had to endure in a way that is effective, we've seen Kevin go to therapy only a few times in the first season and so much has happened since then. I want to see the show end on an overall positive note.
Bigger (2019)
Funny, light hearted with just the right amout of drama mixed in
Great chemistry between all of cast. Relatable and funny, would recommend. The scenarios that each character goes through feels genuine, it has the right amount of seriousness whilst still being funny. You grow to care about each of these characters and hope that they make the best decisions for their lives because they are truly going through things that most of us can can relate to in our 20s and 30s, and you get a birds eye view that can lighten your mood and make you laugh. The story lines about the progression of romantic relationships feel particulary real because they show case not only some of the reasons why adults stay in relationships that are unfulfiling, i.e. Its comfortable, its familiar, its provides financial stability, the people involved have history etc, it also shows the audience that relationships can still work out even through times on uncertainty.