The Photograph

Starring: Issa Rae, LaKeith Stanfield, Chante Adams, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Rob Morgan, Lil Rel Howery, Teyonah Parris, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Chelsea Peretti, Courtney B. Vance
Directed by: Stella Meghie
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Romance
2020

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A reporter (LaKeith Stanfield) doing a story on a deceased artist makes a powerful connection with her daughter (Issa Rae).

Review:

Tim: I enjoyed Stella Meghie's The Photograph. It made me realize we don't get as many of these romantic dramas as we used to. This film tells an interesting, entertaining story. It features believable characters brought to life by an impressive cast. It makes us feel at least something for these characters and their stories. It's a good movie.

You have to start with the cast when talking about this film. I've become an increasingly big LaKeith Stanfield fan in recent years. The guy can do absolutely anything and I loved seeing him step into a leading romantic role here. Think about how different this is to his hilarious role on Atlanta, for example. Stanfield is great in this part. He's intelligent, kind, but has his own history and failures to contend with. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance here. I was also really impressed with Issa Rae. There were a few times when I wish she would show more emotion in her face- her stoicism didn't always serve the role well. But, outside of that, she was incredible. The way she used her eyes to tell her character's story, the connection and sparks she has with Stanfield, the way she brought this strong, powerful character to life- her performance is excellent. It's so good, I immediately recognized we'll be seeing a lot more of Rae. The pairing of Rae and Stanfield works so well, it's a major reason why this movie succeeds.

The supporting cast helps a great deal. I'll always say I'm not a fan of Chante Adams, but she was okay here. I don't think she did anything remarkable, but she didn't detract from the film, either. She was fine, but unremarkable. Kelvin Harrison Jr. was solid in a small supporting role. I really thought he'd have a bigger career at this point- the "best friend" role felt too small for him, although he delivers it well. I always love seeing Rob Morgan and he managed to give one of the best performances of the film. His performance felt smoldering, yet sympathetic. I loved his performance in this movie. Likewise, Courtney B. Vance will always make every film better. While he doesn't get much screen time, he improves this film. It was nice seeing Jasmine Cephas Jones and Teyonah Parris, but I wish they had even more to do on screen. I also always love seeing Lil Rel Howery. He's such a unique individual and he brings overflowing energy into every role he plays. Howery absolutely makes this movie better. The Photograph benefits substantially from the excellent cast.

The film's story is a good one. I enjoyed how it weaved together several interconnected stories to tell one larger one. The main love story between Stanfield and Rae is compelling, but we also get this side story about her artist mother and the love affair of her youth. The movie delivers these stories well- they're interlocking and interweaving and as one story progresses, we learn more about the characters in the other story. Meghie wrote the screenplay in addition to directing the film, and I have to admit I'm impressed. It's not the most audacious film I've seen, but her fourth film suggests a budding talent for sure. I'll be curious to see what she does next. Now, I'll admit that nothing in this film feels particularly new. Meghie isn't trying to subvert the genre, she's trying to tell a story that means something to her and as the audience, it's easy to connect with that story and her characters.

I also appreciated the cast was nearly all black. We need more movies like this. I think Chelsea Peretti (9-9!) was the only white cast member who had significant screen time. These characters, their culture, their relationships, it all felt so interesting and entertaining. I wouldn't say this movie does anything exceptionally, but it does everything well. That translates into The Photograph being a good movie, a worthwhile one. It's a movie I would unhesitatingly recommend.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



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