Queen & Slim: Keep Running

Queen & Slim is one of those rare things - a film based on a wholly original screenplay. Written by Lena Waithe and directed by Melina Matsoukas (in her feature film directorial debut!), it feels like a breath of fresh air, a new perspective from new storytellers rather than tired old tropes from the people who tend to dominate cinematic storytelling.

The movie is the story of a black couple (whose real names you never learn until the end of the movie, but we can refer to them as the eponymous Queen and Slim), who essentially have the worst first date ever. They meet on Tinder, have a somewhat awkward dinner, and then, on the drive home, get pulled over by a white cop. This cop is not one of the good ones. He is spoiling for a fight and when he unnecessarily escalates matters and pulls a gun, Queen, who is a lawyer, gets riled up and tries to defend Slim. This only leads to a further breakdown in communication and culminates in shots fired. The cop is killed, and the couple are now on the run from the law, because after all, no one is going to believe two black people acted in self defense against a racist cop.

The movie unspools in a series of vignettes as they meet various people across the country while they try to figure out their next steps. No spoilers because the journey is the destination. You need to watch the growing bond between these two strangers who have been thrust together in such violent circumstances and also watch how the world around them reacts once the news goes viral. This is certainly a #BlackLivesMatter movie, but in a wonderfully nuanced way. There are black people on various sides of the issue: those who think the couple did the right thing and those who think they are glorifying murder. There are white people who are blindly racist, and then others who are willing to empathize with their plight. Lena Waithe's script explores all the gray areas of what is oftentimes portrayed as a very black-and-white issue and it makes for compelling and thought-provoking cinema.

Of course, it helps if your leading man is Daniel Kaluuya. This is a man who was born to be an actor. Every time the camera lingers on his face, you will find it impossible to look away. And relative newcomer Jodie Turner-Smith is a perfect counterpoint. She is a cool, statuesque woman and it's refreshing to see a movie where the leading lady can wear heels and tower over the man when ordinarily you're always hearing stories of how actresses have to stand in holes so the leading man can look taller (yes, I'm looking at you, Tom Cruise). Slim is all emotion while Queen is all logic (another interesting reversal of traditional gender stereotypes) and the two actors work in perfect harmony. These characters start off as two very different people in overwhelmingly complicated circumstances and it's a fraught and epic romance. Also, despite the very dark and dramatic elements of this story, there are some wonderfully light flourishes that remind you that Lena Waithe is also an accomplished comedy writer. This is a serious film, but you will still chuckle at certain moments. Because that's human beings for you - even in the midst of tragedy we can find something to laugh at.

Queen & Slim is a fascinating movie for our times. It is viciously current and relevant, features great actors, and has a brilliant script executed by a brilliant director. It makes perfect sense that it feels so fresh and new; it is written and directed by fresh and new (and female!) filmmakers. This movie continues to be an argument for why it is so important to bring more diverse voices into Hollywood. Big surprise: when new people come in, they tell new and exciting stories that make it a joy to go to the movies.