Yes No Maybe So: If Beale Street Could Talk
Friday, August 3, 2018 at 1:22PM
NATHANIEL R in Barry Jenkins, Best Actress, James Baldwin, Kiki Layne, Oscars (18), Regina King, Stephan James, Supporting Actress, Yes No Maybe So

by Nathaniel R

James Baldwin's "If Beale Street Could Talk" was published in the summer of 1974, forty-four years ago. It feels like we've waited about that many years for any hint of what Barry Jenkins film adaptation might look like since he announced his intention to film it, a year or so ago. The trailer has finally arrived, temporarily satiating our curiousity. Temporarily. It's the type of trailer that relies extensively on moodiness rather than what-the-film-is-actually-like reveal. Let's break it down after the jump with our Yes, No, Maybe So system...

THE TRAILER

YES


• Very excited about the film's visuals which look rich and colorful and textured. Jenkins stuck with the cinematographer James Laxton who shot Moonlight and it shows.
• As someone who has lived in Harlem for 13 years now, it's a thrill to see it represented onscreen... complete with subway scenes even. Seeing recognizable Harlem streets was even a thrill in the Marvel series Luke Cage and it will likely be even more beautifully designed here (one of our favorite production designers, the bizarrely never Oscar nominated Mark Friedberg is on board, one of the only newbies since most of the Moonlight team transferred to this one.) 
• This movie gives a plum supporting role to the great Regina King and we've been predicting her for a Supporting Actress nomination since April. Come through, Regina! 
• The supporting cast is crazy good in this movie. First of all there's the suddenly hot and very talented Brian Tyree Henry (he's glimpsed briefly smoking) who has in a single year been Emmy nominated (Atlanta) and Tony nominated (Lobby Hero) and has not one but four possibly Oscar-nominatable movies in the fall (Widows, If Beale Street Could Talk, White Boy Rick, and the animated feature Spider-Man Into the Spiderverse.) The cast is filled with other familiar talented faces, too, including: Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis, Diego Luna, Finn Wittrock, Ed Skrein, Pedro Pascal, and Teyonah Parris. 
• This looks like a period piece that isn't leaning heavily on period signifiers which might be interesting.
• The artful construction of the trailer is moving, framed around Tish (KiKi Lane) trying to tell her mother (Regina King) something but not finding the words, and staying mostly in silence throughout. However... well, we'll get to that in the 'maybe so' section.  

NO


• I will admit to feeling dread about the forthcoming internet hot takes on this film. So many people like or hate things solely on principle / politics without considering the nuances that come with POV, mode of expression, depiction vs endorsement, and so on. On the one hand everyone (including us) is rooting for Barry Jenkins, since diversity behind the camera is so important and he's a bright light in cinema. On the other hand, the story centers around a false rape accusation, so the movie could have instantaneous trouble given the popularity of #BelieveAllWomen.

MAYBE SO


• The movie probably lives and dies on its lead performance by newcomer KiKi Layne. We have nothing to go on here given that it's her feature film debut (we haven't seen her Chicago Med guest spot) and she has to carry a whole movie. The trailer's evocative moodiness also favors silence so it only gives us a glimpse of her work. If she's sensational, you can probably ink her into the Best Actress race even though the year is looking competitive. If she's less than that, an awards run is still possible if the film itself is well loved. Regardless, like most new actresses getting their first plum headlining gig, she'll have a few other opportunities to make a big mark (as Hollywood often doubles done on promising newcomers, at least for a year or two). She's already completely her two follow up pictures, the sci-fi film Captive State and another literary classic adaptation in Native Son
• I'm a teensy bit worried about all the center frame closeups, which looks a little too-Moonlighty, given that we're not dealing with three actors mirroring each other this time in the same role.  

I'm a yes, wholeheartedly on love for Barry Jenkins and James Baldwin (though I haven't yet read this particular novel of  his). How about you?

Even if it doesn't live up to Moonlight (that's a very very high bar so we shouldn't expect it to!), it's still the follow up feature of one of Hollywood's most promising and gifted young auteurs with an impressive cast. We should all be following his career closely... and hope that he's afforded many opportunities to experiment, triump, and even fail... like any other major director. 

Article originally appeared on The Film Experience (http://thefilmexperience.net/).
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