If Beale Street Could Talk
A Harlem woman scrambles to prove her fiancé's innocence while carrying their first child in this drama from Oscar-winning Moonlight writer-director Barry Jenkins, based on the novel by James Baldwin (whose observations on civil rights and American racism formed the backbone of Oscar-nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro).
Co-star Regina King picked up an Oscar and Golden Globe for her supporting role, and is nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar along with the film's other potential Academy Awards, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score.
"Tish (KiKi Layne) and Fonny (Stephan James) have known each other since childhood, but only latterly discovered that the safe, easy familiarity between them has bloomed into a love so intoxicating it promises everlasting joy and happiness. But life is not destined to be so easy for a young black couple living in 1970s Harlem. Fonny is falsely accused of a rape and an unjust judicial system refuses to acknowledge the impossibility of his having committed the crime. Tish and her family struggle to exonerate him." (London Film Festival)
- Director:
- Barry Jenkins ('Moonlight', 'Medicine for Melancholy')
- Writer:
- Barry Jenkins
- Cast:
- KiKi LayneStephan JamesRegina KingColman DomingoTeyonah ParrisMichael BeachAunjanue EllisEbony Obsidian
Reviews & comments
Baldwin will be spinning in his grave
An over-rich, sentimental telling of an ugly tragic story. It lacks Balwin's acid irony - the film only comes to life when he is directly quoted. It looks gorgeous, the cinematography faultless, the soundscape is brilliant, the acting committed but whereas I wanted Moonlight to go on forever, I just wanted this to end.
A film that resonates with such clarity and beauty.
A film about love and kindness and hate and evil that doesn't manipulate or talk down to the audience. So much unspoken, plenty unseen. Barry Jenkins knows how to film love using all of the cinematic elements available to him. Once again a pitch perfect score that doesn't dominate but perfectly accompanies the beautiful cinematography and gentle acting....
Variety
pressA work of social realism elevated to poetic heights by the sheer beauty of its voice and the humanism of its spirit...
Vanity Fair
pressThe strength of KiKi Layne's performance is in how wonderfully it toes the line between youth and wisdom, helplessness and self-determination.
The Times
pressIf Beale Street Could Talk becomes a chronicle of crushed innocence and systemic injustice, but also a poetic paean to the healing power of love.
The Guardian
pressIt's a film with love at its root, both familial and romantic, and Jenkins fills so much of it with a radiating warmth.
Stuff
pressStrip away the stylistic flourishes and the result is a familial and political drama that's dramatically the equal of Lee Daniel's Precious or Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit.
Los Angeles Times
pressAre you in the mood for love yet? Jenkins' movie will put you there.
Hollywood Reporter
pressIf the movie's slow burn seems to build toward a powerful release that doesn't materialise, the sheer beauty of its craft and the heartfelt feeling behind every scene nonetheless command attention.
Collider
pressYou can see the broad outline of what Jenkins wanted to accomplish with If Beale Street Could Talk, but the inside is hollow.
Variety
pressA work of social realism elevated to poetic heights by the sheer beauty of its voice and the humanism of its spirit...
Vanity Fair
pressThe strength of KiKi Layne's performance is in how wonderfully it toes the line between youth and wisdom, helplessness and self-determination.
The Times
pressIf Beale Street Could Talk becomes a chronicle of crushed innocence and systemic injustice, but also a poetic paean to the healing power of love.
The Guardian
pressIt's a film with love at its root, both familial and romantic, and Jenkins fills so much of it with a radiating warmth.
Stuff
pressStrip away the stylistic flourishes and the result is a familial and political drama that's dramatically the equal of Lee Daniel's Precious or Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit.
Los Angeles Times
pressAre you in the mood for love yet? Jenkins' movie will put you there.
Hollywood Reporter
pressIf the movie's slow burn seems to build toward a powerful release that doesn't materialise, the sheer beauty of its craft and the heartfelt feeling behind every scene nonetheless command attention.
Collider
pressYou can see the broad outline of what Jenkins wanted to accomplish with If Beale Street Could Talk, but the inside is hollow.
Baldwin will be spinning in his grave
An over-rich, sentimental telling of an ugly tragic story. It lacks Balwin's acid irony - the film only comes to life when he is directly quoted. It looks gorgeous, the cinematography faultless, the soundscape is brilliant, the acting committed but whereas I wanted Moonlight to go on forever, I just wanted this to end.
A film that resonates with such clarity and beauty.
A film about love and kindness and hate and evil that doesn't manipulate or talk down to the audience. So much unspoken, plenty unseen. Barry Jenkins knows how to film love using all of the cinematic elements available to him. Once again a pitch perfect score that doesn't dominate but perfectly accompanies the beautiful cinematography and gentle acting....
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