If Beale Street Could Talk

Name: If Beale Street Could Talk
Genre: Drama, Romance, Crime
Released: December 14, 2018
Duration: 119 min
Rating: 87
Cast: Aunjanue Ellis, Brian Tyree Henry, Colman Domingo, Dave Franco, Diego Luna

2018

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 53 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 162 Ratings

See All

7.1

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.1	Your Score
7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 162 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

If Beale Street Could Talk

Now Playing: If Beale Street Could Talk

Movie Details & Credits

Angel Films | Release Date: December 14, 2018 | R

Starring: Aunjanue Ellis, Brian Tyree Henry, Colman Domingo, Dave Franco, Diego Luna, Dominique Thorne, Ebony Obsidian, Ed Skrein, Emily Rios, Finn Wittrock, KiKi Layne, Michael Beach, Pedro Pascal, Regina King, Stephan James, Teyonah Parris

Movie Facts:

Winner of three Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Picture.

Summary: Set in early-1970s Harlem, If Beale Street Could Talk is a timeless and moving love story of both a couple's unbreakable bond and the African-American family's empowering embrace, as told through the eyes of 19-year old Tish Rivers (KiKi Layne). A daughter and wife-to-be, Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that haveSet in early-1970s Harlem, If Beale Street Could Talk is a timeless and moving love story of both a couple's unbreakable bond and the African-American family's empowering embrace, as told through the eyes of 19-year old Tish Rivers (KiKi Layne). A daughter and wife-to-be, Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny (Stephan James). Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit. Tish knows that Fonny is innocent, and is mindful that his good friend Daniel Carty (Brian Tyree Henry) has only recently been freed after an unjust incarceration. While Fonny's mother (Aunjanue Ellis) clings to piety and his father (Michael Beach) grapples with feelings of powerlessness, Tish's earthy father Joseph (Colman Domingo) and fierce older sister Ernestine (Teyonah Parris) are unwavering in their support. Even more anxious to clear Fonny's name is Tish's deeply compassionate mother Sharon (Regina King), readying to put herself on the line for her daughter and future son-in-law's happiness...and for the couple's unborn child, whose arrival will herald new joys and challenges. Facing the unexpected prospect of parenthood and holding down a job without her partner at her side, Tish must adjust her perspective on the realities of her existence. She visits Fonny regularly, trying to shore up his spirit even as prison takes its toll. As the weeks turn to months, Tish reaffirms their hopes and resilience, relying on familial and inner strength. [Annapurna Pictures]… Expand

Director: Barry Jenkins

Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 119 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Sarah Kurchak

Sep 11, 2018

Weaving together the past and the present, masterful interpretations of Baldwin’s incredible prose, gorgeous visuals, and a sweeping score, If Beale Street Could Talk draws audiences into its overwhelming mix of emotions all at once. Read full review

100

Vince Mancini

Dec 13, 2018

Its power is in the way it says that injustice isn’t out of place in a heartwarming family drama; it’s part and parcel to these characters’ experience, to being black in America. Like the blues, Beale Street can soothe even as it tells a disturbing story. It’s easily one of the best of the year. Read full review

100

Mark Kermode

Feb 13, 2019

The result is another mesmerising and wholly immersive experience from a film-maker whose love of the medium of cinema – and fierce compassion for Baldwin’s finely drawn characters – shines through every frame. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Jan 6, 2019

For all the resilience Baldwin and Jenkins show us here, it is the poet Langston Hughes’ line about “a dream deferred” that comes most easily to mind. Read full review

Leah Greenblatt

Sep 10, 2018

In some ways Beale feels less like a movie than a well-staged, meticulously shot play; a period piece that floats beyond its specific time and place and into the realm of allegory. Read full review

Alissa Wilkinson

Nov 18, 2018

Elegiac and lovingly wrought, If Beale Street Could Talk is darkness laced with light, a story that has not stopped being true in the years since it first was told. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Dec 20, 2018

Perhaps because Jenkins can’t translate to the screen the incisiveness and music of Baldwin’s prose, he brings on real music from other sources. Over and over, and increasingly as the movie wears on, Jenkins drowns his film in mirthless jazz and pop interludes to the point that the action feels stuck in cement. Read full review

SEE ALL 53 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

alejandro970

Jan 31, 2019

A compelling love letter from the homeland of Jazz. A love story above justice, walls and bars. Remarkable performances and endearing OST. The unanswered finale is a good detail in some way. A must to see.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

GreatMartin

Jan 11, 2019

Start off a movie with a strong love story with two new young stars, KiKi Layne as 19-year-old Tish and Stephan James as 22-year-old Alonzo 'Fonny' Hunt who share strong on-screen chemistry, and you have got me! Add an interesting, oft-told but never a boring story that is as true today asStart off a movie with a strong love story with two new young stars, KiKi Layne as 19-year-old Tish and Stephan James as 22-year-old Alonzo 'Fonny' Hunt who share strong on-screen chemistry, and you have got me! Add an interesting, oft-told but never a boring story that is as true today as when it was written about in 1974 by the brilliant writer James Baldwin. Top it off with Nina Simone on the soundtrack there is no turning back.

After winning an Oscar for writing, and directing, the award-winning "Moonlight" Barry Jenkins returns with "If Beale Street Could Talk", a story of a Black boy wrongfully accused of rape who, after being jailed, finds out the girl he loves is pregnant. From that point on we are steered into different angles but the love between Tish and Fonny is always strong even, when not thinking, he says something to her that is cruel and wrong. They hadn't married yet not because he didn't want to but her parents and sister, along with his father, strongly support the couple and, without hesitation, offer their help with the new baby. Colman Domingo as her father, Teyonah Parris as her sister and Michael Beach as his father are very strong on screen, especially with the ways the older sister shows Tish her love. Domingo and Beach have a mesmerizing scene in a bar where they discuss what Black fathers have to do to help their children.

On the evening when she tells her family that she is pregnant her father calls Fonny's family to come over and that is when we meet his father, mother and 2 sisters. Aunjanue Ellis, playing the mother, is an overzealous Christian with 2 daughters, Ebony Obsidian and Dominique Thorne, who are not only taking after their mother but get their comeuppance from Tish's sister. There is also a very unexpected moment in the scene that made most of the audience gasp.

Regina King is very strong as the mother who knows the woman, Emily Rios, who pointed the finger, via the racist cop, Ed Skrein, was put up to it and faces up to her. There is a scene just before the two women face each other where King, alone, spends time looking in a mirror putting and taking off a wig that is very intense but runs just a bit too long, not that it isn't interesting just delaying the story.

There is a scene between Fonny and his old buddy Daniel, played by Brian Tyree Henry, where the latter talks about being arrested and having the 'choice' of admitting to stealing a car, though he doesn't know how to drive or carrying marijuana with the latter being a lighter sentence which is the one he chooses. Unfortunately Henry speaks too softly to be completely understood though what he has to say is very important.

Barry Jenkins does an excellent job bringing Baldwin's writing to the screen but makes a few mistakes consisting of running 3-4 scenes too long slowing the film down, not following up on 2 points made earlier in the film and jumping back and forth in time though it can be followed if one watches closely regarding the love between the leads and her figure! He, also, has added an excellent score to the movie.

I don't particularly like sex on screen but leading up to Tish losing her virginity and the actual act is one of the most lyrical love scenes ever seen on film and while the director is responsible for placing the camera it is the faces and the way they hold, use their bodies, of KiKi Layne and Stephan James that raise their love to a higher level.

"If Beale Street Could Talk" is an excellent film just short of being a classic strictly due to the director's missteps but Jenkins takes credit for all that is right about the film. It is the best genre film I have seen since "The Hate U Give" and Kiki Layne's film debut is as impressive as Amandla Stenberg was in that film.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Brent_Marchant

Dec 29, 2018

Director Barry Jenkins's followup to his Oscar-winning masterpiece "Moonlight" comes close to matching its predecessor in many respects, though it doesn't quite equal its forerunner. With fine performances, beautiful cinematography, genuinely evocative emotion and a skillfully craftedDirector Barry Jenkins's followup to his Oscar-winning masterpiece "Moonlight" comes close to matching its predecessor in many respects, though it doesn't quite equal its forerunner. With fine performances, beautiful cinematography, genuinely evocative emotion and a skillfully crafted ambiance, "If Beale Street Could Talk" effectively draws viewers into a world characterized by heartfelt love and ugly injustice. However, despite these many attributes, the film is somewhat bogged down by excessively lingering imagery and protracted dialogue that both go on a little too long, needlessly slowing the narrative's pace. What's more, in an attempt to avoid being too heavy-handed, the director at times uses a little too much restraint in his storytelling, keeping the picture from having an impact as strong as it might have been. In all, a fine effort in many regards, though one that I wish could have been a little better. But, considering what it had to live up to, that would have been a tall order for any filmmaker.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

JLuis_001

Feb 18, 2019

I liked it a lot and Barry Jenkins deserves a lot of recognition because he managed to do a very good job considering that he had to follow up what he achieved with Moonlight and that's not easy.

The only problems and reasons why I don't give it more stars is because I didn't like theI liked it a lot and Barry Jenkins deserves a lot of recognition because he managed to do a very good job considering that he had to follow up what he achieved with Moonlight and that's not easy.

The only problems and reasons why I don't give it more stars is because I didn't like the narrative rhythm and this is due to the second problem and that is that the performances feel too controlled and to some extent overreacted and that didn't really felt quite right.
But beyond that, it remains a solid option.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

richardrad

Jan 6, 2019

"If Beale Street Could Talk” grabs you by the throat and never lets go. And that's a problem. The film is about 30 minutes too long. The music, which could have been terrific, was surprisingly pedestrian. That said, the acting is first-rate and story is deeply compelling. A young"If Beale Street Could Talk” grabs you by the throat and never lets go. And that's a problem. The film is about 30 minutes too long. The music, which could have been terrific, was surprisingly pedestrian. That said, the acting is first-rate and story is deeply compelling. A young African-American man is convicted of a crime he didn't commit in Harlem, New York during the 70s, while his pregnant fiancee and her mother fight fiercely to prove that he didn't do it. Sadly, there is no nuance here. We are commanded by the director to be outraged, and we are. But where is the dance of life and the mystery of what brings two souls together in such a passionate embrace. I want to read James Baldwin's novel. I'll bet it's a lot better than the movie.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

D_M_Nonce

Nov 9, 2019

Proposal
---------
a) Read Baldwin's novel;
b) Watch Jenkins' film;
c) Judge for yourself how well the film translates the novel.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Time4Movies

Jan 15, 2019

save your money,drawn out and very hypocritical, Good start but 15 min in started to drag out storyline in my opinion. Double standards on language used.

4 of 10 users found this helpful46

SEE ALL 36 REVIEWS