Movie Review: If Beale Street Could Talk

This Sunday, I ventured to see If Beale Street Could Talk at my local cinema. In my eyes, the movie was nothing short of amazing. I was moved to tears by not just the story but the way it was filmed, the emotions the characters gave and its overall message.

Throughout the movie there were several themes present. The main ones present being the strength of the black family, the importance of a strong male figure head and unfortunately, the cost that is associated with being black in America.

If Beale Street Could Talk is a powerful onscreen adaption of James Baldwin’s 1974 novel, “If Beale Street Could Talk”. The quote, ““Every black person born in America was born on Beale Street, whether in Jackson, Mississippi, or in Harlem, New York. Beale Street is our legacy.” Is displayed immediately at the start of the film.

The film is presented much like a novel and told through the eyes of main character, Tish, a 19-year-old woman who has fallen head over heels for her childhood best friend, Fonny. The movie follows Fonny and Tish on their journey through life focusing in on their unbreakable love and the pain of being black in Harlem in the 1970s.

I won’t give the movie away, but it is a must see. My favorite aspect of the movie is the way the black family and the black male is portrayed. They are strong, they are resilient and there are no limits to the things they will do for each other. Another prevalent thread throughout the movie is Fonny’s power and the way he leads Tish, even when he is behind bars.

Fonny and Tish’s love for each other is extremely evident throughout the film. It radiates in the way the movie was told and camera selections. The character choices were perfect and added more depth to the story line.

Throughout the movie I was constantly moved to tears out of happiness, anger and even sadness. After seeing the movie, I will most definitely be purchasing and reading the book.

Overall, I would give it 5 stars and wouldn’t mind seeing it again. If you're anything like me, you are always looking for something fun to do. Although I generally gravitate to bars and restaurants, I had been wanting to the see this movie for a while. This was not only an opportunity to see a great movie but to also a chance to spend some non-glamorous time with my girls.

Have you seen the movie? How would you rate it? If you haven't seen the movie, check out the trailer below.