I didn't hate the movie. I also did not love it and probably wouldn’t watch it again. I recommend that everyone sees it for themselves and forms their own opinion. If you didn’t already know, some people felt very triggered by this film and the trauma that it depicted. Other people enjoyed the unapologetic Blackness of it and were captured by the story. Again, please go watch it for yourself. Below are my opinions that are broken into pros and cons because this film does not deserve a complete drag. Art is meant to be critiqued. Beware, spoilers ahead.

Art and life are subjective. Not everybody's gonna dig what I dig, but I reserve the right to dig it. —Whoopi Goldberg

Pro: Casting

I'm sure by now we have all seen the horrifying casting call for the role of Queen. Aside from that, I think that the casting and the actors were outstanding. I want to highlight Daniel Kaluuya for his portrayal of Slim. His ability to emote so much through a simple stare or a glance gave me goosebumps. His performance translated extremely well. Indya Moore also shined as Goddess. It was refreshing to have such a genuinely caring and gentle character in such an intense story. I am also an Indya Moore stan so I loved seeing them on the silver screen. Last but not least, Bokeem Woodbine as Uncle Earl was a standout for me. I was blown away by how authentic and relatable his portrayal of Uncle Earl was. I think we all know someone like Uncle Earl. He was truly the best.

*Bokeem Woodbine and Indya Moore in ‘Queen & Slim.’*

Pro: Music/Cinematography

This was a Black movie. It was truly for us and by us. This could be heard through the music. The soundtrack featured music from soul to hip hop and it reflected the Black experience. It especially was evocative for my generation that grew up listening to soul and R&B music with our parents but now plays Megan Thee Stallion in the car at maximum volume. Shout out to Melina Matsoukas for the beautiful cinematography and attention to detail. Coming from a music video background, I had no doubt that her shots would be expressive and breathtaking and they lived up to my expectations. Now, on to things that did not live up to my expectations…

Cons: Movie’s Purpose

Ms. Lena Waithe said this movie was "a love letter to my people." If that is the case, please return to sender. I appreciate that this movie did not tell me exactly what to think but the conclusion I came to was disappointing. To me, this movie served as a harsh and triggering reminder of the plight of Black people in America. But this is nothing new. I know not every movie has a happy ending and I did not expect one from this movie. However, I did expect an empowering ending to a movie that was supposed to be about flipping the police brutality narrative on its head. I would have been satisfied if they killed themselves just because it shows that they are choosing their own fate. We, your intended audience, already know how it feels to live in an unjust world. This movie simply reminded us of how inescapable our suffering is. Then the end just offered being immortalized and having a legacy as a lackluster resolution.

If you are going to have a movie the begins with something as relevant and painful as police brutality, please do it with a purpose. Queen and Slim were able to protect their Black bodies only to die days later at the hands of the police. If this is a movie for us and by us, why is the ending so painful and downhearted? Some people say to take the movie for what it is. To those people I have to ask, what was this movie to you? To me it represented the hopelessness of being Black in America and if our community needs anything, it’s hope.

Cons: Puzzling Story

When the credits rolled, a wave of confusion washed over me. I had a long list of questions about everything that just happened. Afterwards I listened to a podcast that helped me make some sense of the movie and THAT emphasizes the failures of the script. I should not need a whole podcast to help me understand basic events that happen in a movie. I should not be out here doing research to understand the characters’ choices.

Ms. Waithe, please explain yourself. You made Queen a defense lawyer but she never even had one Annalise Keating moment where she used her knowledge to help them, why? You made Slim a Christian man then he commits a murder and afterwards barely mentions his religion, why? You made Queen so cold and mysterious but barely scratched the surface in terms of her backstory, why? You had a troubled Black boy shoot a cop in the face, why? You had Queen and Slim having sex right after visiting a graveyard, why? Most importantly: you had the main characters get violently killed by the police in the end, why? The list goes on. This film could have really been outstanding but it honestly fell short and left me with too many questions.

Overall tea:

6/10—Ms. Waithe, you had the opportunity to do something empowering and profound with this film. But instead, you gave us Queen & Slim. I am not sure what I was expecting but I was disappointed.