If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

Director: Barry Jenkins
Stars: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King
Runtime: 119 minutes

Synopsis: A woman in Harlem embraces her pregnancy while she and her family struggle to prove her fiancé innocent of a crime.

Performances: 8/10
Screenplay: 7/10
Costumes/Makeup: 8/10
Editing: 9/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 10/10

Verdict: After the consecration, the confirmation. Fresh off his (very theatrical) Oscar win for "Moonlight" two years ago, Barry Jenkins once again proved that he's a force to be reckoned with when it comes to dramas that deal with sensitive issues.

Because "If Beale Street Could Talk" is not a movie. It's cinematic poetry.

Based on James Baldwin's novel of the same name, Jenkins' adaptation almost hits all the right notes to make it one that will be remembered for years to come. Elevated by last year's best score in my opinion by Nicholas Britell, "If Beale Street Could Talk" is both beautifully shot and magnificently acted. Every single actor had his/her time to shine in a movie that saw Regina King deservedly be rewarded with an Oscar. The setting of the film was also admirably captured thanks to a well composed jazzy soundtrack and breathtaking costume and production design.

Told in an extremely well fitting non-linear narrative, this adaptation also tackles sensitive themes such as racism, police brutality, and rape in a manner that never felt forced.

Apart from a few cheesy lines of dialogue that only momentarily took me out of the film, I can safely say that "If Beale Street Could Talk" is a work of art to say the least. Barry Jenkins truly crafted something special that is the perfect follow up to the award-winning "Moonlight".        

FINAL GRADE: 8/10