"If Beale Street Could Talk" Review - Spoken Like A True Visionary

I knew Barry Jenkins had it in him. While I wasn’t a fan of Moonlight beating out all of my favorite films of 2016 two years ago, I did love a lot about what Jenkins had to offer to the big screen.

It’s surprising to me that no James Baldwin books have been adapted to movies until now, but thank the stars the first Baldwin Book ended up in the “Moonlight” director’s hands. “If Beale Street Could Talk” is simply astounding. I could give more words to it because that doesn’t really cover it. Breathtaking, beautiful, powerful, sad, creative all around.

The movie is told like a novel, but shot like a painting as a terrific screenplay that’s encompasses both Baldwin’s and Jenkins' words into a mash-up of beautiful language is combined with the colorful, unique, perfectly lit cinematography that captures both New York and the two lovers as gracefully as meteors flying across the sky. It only gets better with the performances by Stephen James, Kiki Layne (DePaul alum, woo!), Regina King, and everyone on the endless list of talent. Plus, the score is simply perfect, filled with haunting classical compositions combined with jazz undrertones that set the mood of every single scene in the most perfect way every single time. I know it'll probably lose the best score Oscar to Mary Poppins, but "Agape" deserves an Oscar alone.

The story is simple, yet powerful, even for the source material taking place in the 1970s. The topic of racism is only one of the many topics explored in this masterpiece, and much like Green Book, it’s in the back seat of the screenplay most of the time. The true focus is on family, relationships, and the exploration of being optimistic and in search for as much love in the world as possible; even in the darkest of times. The writings of James Baldwin are something we all can relate to, no matter what race or gender you may be.

Beale Street didn’t have to talk this loud, but thank goodness it did. I hope this film is remembered for a long time, as long as the writings of James Baldwin are relevant, and as long as the talented Barry Jenkins’ is alive and even beyond his time on this planet.

Two Nebs Up!