A THOUSAND AND ONE Movie Review **SPOILER ALERT**

[@kumaridesilva3992]

I thought of something else: in the scene in the hospital when Terry says "Why do you keep leaving me," we as viewers are stilling thinking Inez is his mom and we're assuming she keeps leaving because she's got addiction issues or because she's been incarcerated - - but in fact she's **never** been "leaving" the kid. What has actually happened is that ever since he was 2, when he was abandoned and she found him, she keeps trying to find him again as he's placed through the foster care system. It also explains why he's a little stand offish to her at the beginning of the movie - - she's not his mother. She becomes his mother.

[@Milksnobb]

In hindsight that was the meaning behind her teaching him how to read using the book “are you my mother?” It was a foreshadow we didn’t know. That’s why she was so happy and celebrated when he read the last sentence “and you are my mother”. That was probably the first time he called her that.

[@jlove2789]

Any african american from new york can relate to this movie. Impacts of crack epidemic, colorism, gentrification, foster system, police brutality, stop and frisk, and issues of men staying in one household. So many crazy things happened in harlem in those days. Let’s be honest new york women had to be hard or protective because most don’t feel protected. Man this movie showed all the layers of what people went through especially as a single mother. It was obvious that it was not by choice. She always wanted to give Terry the life she never had.

[@3mshaw]

An important correction/distinction, I think, is that Inez didn't abduct Terry when he was 2. His birth mother had abandoned and left him on the street. Inez is the one who found him when he was abandoned and they became attached. Then years later when he was 6 she abducted him from Foster Care. I really enjoyed this film (and your review)!

[@shaneecuevas7990]

Also, she finds him in Brooklyn not Harlem! They moved to Harlem!

[@djplasticvibez5581]

Exactly she didn’t abduct him she saved him from foster care

[@damonscarface2063]

@@djplasticvibez5581 yea but in the end she messed his head up I mean the issues this guy go have, why didn’t she just adopt him?why she didn’t have her own kids?

[@damonscarface2063]

I will never shit on a black movie and the story was good the acting not so much I would give movie a solid 6

[@jlove2789]

@@damonscarface2063with her criminal record, the system won’t allow her to adopt him. People this movie is reality for some.

[@diademy]

There’s “a lot” going on in the film because there is genuinely a lot going on in black women’s lives. If the story felt chaotic and suffocating to you the director did an excellent job.

[@MelissaLona]

I grew up in NYC during this time. The movie is spot on. Although I didn’t grow up in foster care. I went to school with kids that lived in the shelter. I had cousins that were in foster care. I was a witness to those experiences. This was sooooo authentic to what it was like living in NYC at that time. Especially the gentrification. I don’t think people realize how strong the push was to move black people out of their homes. The tactics landlords used were devious. This is all too real. It might’ve been too much but I think the writer of the movie didn’t want to miss anything. This was definitely the black experience in NYC from the 90s to the early 2000s.

[@alliereed4247]

Teyona Taylor can do anything! I don't know why she hasn't blown up ?! Her music is awesome, acting awesome , dancing awesome AND she had a baby at home with a little help from her husband! And her body is ridiculous, if I had three wishes , one would be to have a body like her 😂

[@ManyGods]

Why did she smirk at the end when the cab driver asked her where to ?

[@KayTee-pp4di]

That’s what I wanna know

[@BeautyLoves88]

i been watching reviews trynna find people who might have a theory 🤣🤣😩😩 the smirk was DEVIOUS to me, but i was wondering how it hit other folks

[@mirandaholley9797]

​@@BeautyLoves88Yes it looked devious rather than content.

[@BeautyLoves88]

@@mirandaholley9797 yeah her smirk at the end gave me like the chills in a bad way actually.....i still can't figure out what it was SUPPOSED to mean though!

[@SweetUareDesi]

She “won”

[@kumaridesilva3992]

I think two things are explained by Inez' foster care past: 1) Lucky being much older. Young girls without fathers are often attracted to older men. The girls crave someone who will take care of them. Unfortunately the kind of older man who usually hooks up with a 20 year old is often, like Lucky, not that stable and 2) I think her character is always eating or making food because she might have unresolved food insecurity. I don't think Inez kidnapped Terry at two, she found him when he was abandoned and bonded to him. I loved this movie. It was sad, but good

[@Thewu168]

Taking him from the hospital is kidnapping

[@kumaridesilva]

@@Thewu168 right, she kidnaps him then, but he’s older than 2. I think at 2 she found him and bonded to him and then later because she kidnapped him that’s why she’s gotta run at the end

[@kaytiikaboom702]

I mean she said that to him n the movie how are people missing that 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@SweetUareDesi]

They aren’t attracted to older men.. older men groom them She is an empty vessel… she just consumes

[@PacificMoceans]

As a former foster youth, I couldn’t stop crying throughout this entire film. When Inez said that she saw herself in Terry, ugh! I saw me in them both ❤❤❤ So many bittersweet moments yet such an impactfully beautiful film 🎉so much flavor 🥹

[@fmstori]

I was in Foster Care T. T. also she is a phenomenal actress. .... That smirk at the end makes me think she is going to do it again I try to high light positive storylines on my podcast cause i hear too much of the negative

[@allthingsnene]

I was a former foster child, so I totally related to the son at every age. This movie made me cry because it brought up so many past memories and the acting was superb!

[@Honeybee-cy9gc]

I wish I would have known more about foster youth during the course of my career. Maybe I would have been more sympathetic (not that I wasn't) and learn to approach dealing with them in a different way.

[@nienielouis6623]

@@fmstori yes, thats what i was thinking the smirk in the end made feel like the next place she goes shes going to do ir again.

[@HerbnAura]

So since this took place early 90s in NYC, you can assume that Terry was abandoned possibly due to how the city was affected by the crack epidemic. Either his mother was an addict or was put in jail during neighborhood sweeps. Inez breaks down and says her family is “gone” suggesting the same might have happened to her family. She was his only way out. She needed to see him succeed to vicariously live through him. She also smiled at the end because she “won” and she beat the system. Love this movie so much! 💞

[@carlao7157]

I grew up in that era and I think I had all the outfits. They did the hair, makeup and clothes so well The amount of colorism was 💯 correct and words were literally exactly the same as what used to said I think we have a tendency when looking back on thinking things were better than they were

[@hereisayana8207]

Yes they even had an avirex jacket ...lol

[@bluescat59]

EVERYONE should see this brilliant and emotional film. Taylor is a force of nature

[@memibrowne1945]

Lucky played by Will Catilet was necessary and beautifully so. Everyone did an amazing job.

[@krystal9375]

I see your point of her character constantly eating throughout the film. However, I think the type of food/snacks she was eating, how it was being prepared, and it being purchased from bodegas or corner stores helped resonate with the audience; many who may have grown up in similar circumstances or areas. It was genuine & made the film that much more relatable(:

[@memibrowne1945]

Agreed!

[@BeautyLoves88]

🎯 ESPECIALLY the seeds!! 👏🏽👏🏽

[@handsomeX]

Joseph is great at breaking down the plot synopsis of movies. It's always so detailed, that it feels like I'm watching the movie through his words.

[@jayblaqk]

I thought Taylor was flawless in Hit The Floor, so I love that she is still shining as an actress 🌟

[@waliyahw1]

Teyana Taylor is truly a triple threat. I remember her as this nepo baby who could barely hold a note at 16. To see her perfect her craft weather it’s music, dancing, or acting is truly inspiring. She’s the epitome of having a dream but dreaming BIGGER ❤🎉 “You thinking small, you got to think BIG BYTCH” 😂

[@angellesymone3239]

Lol .. right

[@nancykerrigan]

What is the nepo connection? I Google and didn't see anything of significance about her parents.

[@waliyahw1]

@@nancykerrigan Watch her Sweet 16 Episode ❤️

[@ke6264]

Nepo baby? Can you elaborate.

[@waliyahw1]

Y'all need to look up the definition of nepotism. It does not require your parent to be a celebrity to be a nepo baby...

[@simplytina5627]

Noo she didn’t induct him at 2. She said that his mom abandon him in front of the shelter at two and she found him there. That she waited with him for hours and hours but no one came to pick him up. That’s how he ended up in Foster Care and she would always check up on him because she saw her self in him because she was in foster care. Mind you when she abducted him. She was 22 years old and he was six.

[@BryantDevon]

I agree and disagree with the point that this was too much for the screen. It's like yes, it's really heavy and maybe this was best fit for a series but I think that it truly spoke on some very complicated and unfortunate situations that people of color, especially people of color in low-income communities, face daily against a system designed against us. It's like every other moment, it's something else. I think the movie was beautifully tragic but also relatable. When Inez said, "I won because I know that you will go on to do great things" I celebrated because she was right but also my heart broke because I knew that their relationship and the life they knew would never be the same. I wish she had told him when Lucky suggested it. I loved your review!

[@phyllisalexander1204]

I completely agree with you. The movie is a lot, because our lives are a lot. Many of us would like less "drama" in our lives, but this movie stayed true to the reality of many. And on another note, I didn't need to know more about Teyana - I feel I learned a lot from the nuggets that were shared with us.

[@ChuckMothaEfenNorris]

The system was not keeping us down we were keeping us down. You don't miss the light if all you've ever know is darkness. It's like thinking your entire life that you were drowning and one day you put your feet down and touch the ground. You realize that you weren't in the deep end of the pool but only a few feet , and could have walked out anytime.

[@cynthia98]

Loved your review. Just a few thoughts: i didnt think it was too much personally the whole realization of the abduction at the end. And I think Inez *is* Terry's real mom, just not his biological mom and maybe thats the point the movie was trying to make.

[@natalierose1072]

TT is a very talented woman and I'll always remember her Super Sweet 16 episode. I thought she was the coolest haha

[@blaqpirate]

She blew up so much from her first tv appearance on MTVs sweet 16 tv series!!

[@reedykat30]

Saw this morning and it gave me an authentic Claudine type of vibe. I’m so here for any Oscar buzz.

[@cshell2001]

I loved this film. I didn't feel there was too much going on... life is multi dimensional and the film carries it well. The End felt a little rushed, but film made me pause for reflection at the end.

[@kikiiza3379]

Me too it was successful at that.

[@IllusiveBunny]

The trailer did not make me want to watch this movie, but this review did!

[@avd831]

Exactly 💯

[@TechnicJunglist]

Wow. This reminds me of that true case where that woman did the same to a child she took at a very young age, the child was reunited with her birth mother in her late teens, yet still had a relationship with her kidnapper in prison. I'm def interested in seeing this. Thank you guys.

[@krystaln7455]

I thought about that, the only thing was that lady took that girl from her actual parents. Terry probably doesn't even know his birth parents and Inez is all the "mother" he's known so I gave her a pass.

[@phatjazzyj]

I remember that case but she stole her from the hospital when she was born her parent were 2 teen from Brooklyn I think. Kids being stolen from hospital are the reason the baby has a bracelet that sounds off if anyone tries to take them out the infant area

[@adrina911]

She didn’t aduct him she found him on a street corner in the dead of night. Terry birth mother left him on the corner, Inez found him and waited for four hours to see if somebody was going to come back and claim him, and they never did. So was she suppose to just leave the baby on the streets? She raised him as her own.

[@ThatCaliCrys]

If you have an AMC Stubs account, AMC is like $8 on Tuesdays, no matter the time/movie. Just spreading the word for fellow movie-buffs on a budget!

[@avd831]

It Was $6.50 before

[@carlao7157]

It is $5 by me 👍

[@tamikawoods2236]

You guys review makes me want to watch this. Sounds like a good one! And side note, she had a breast reduction, those are natural. She talked about it before.

[@librarose319]

Can someone explain her expression In the end she goes from crying and to smiling in an instant

[@Iammartineb]

Yes. I want to know

[@serenagutierrez395]

That's why I'm here .. I'm with ya on this one too????

[@theadventuresofozzyandbrib813]

I feel that she felt she got him to 18 and going to college. Like that was her goal all along

[@librarose319]

@@theadventuresofozzyandbrib813 right cause my mind was thinking the sneaky smile meant was gonna go find another kid 😭

[@theadventuresofozzyandbrib813]

@@librarose319 now that's funny 🤣 could be also

[@123paramorefan]

Wow the twist ! That’s a gag!! Y’all actually made me wanna watch this movie I gotta prep myself

[@simplytina5627]

My thing is why did teyana taylor smirk when asked where to next

[@Trkstar831]

My question was, could Inez not have children? I wish the story delved into that more. Bc why didn't she and Lucky have children? He went across the street and made a daughter with the neighbor and once Lucky passed, Inez seems to acquiesce to the fact he was indeed a father and allows the lil girl and child's mom to grieve his loss with them, but without inez bc she went inside and instructed Terry to make them a plate.... Also, I wondered, given that seemingly menacing look at the end, did she think she had another 15-16y in her to steal someone else's kid to raise? I mean, is she going around being a serial good mom, raising left behind black boys/ girls all over the world? Like a remix version of mother Teresa? 🤷🏾‍♀️ I have questions. I thought Teyana did awesome acting though. Raw. Emotional. I felt her. She can over do it sometimes but she was right in the pocket in this role. Also, I don't believe TT has breast implants. On her reality show on E, there was an episode where she was concerned about a lump found in her breasts and how she needed to slow down to take care of herself and she discussed her 32DDs were natural. She's just got such a small frame. And she's in the industry. I get why ppl would assume she had work done. I just don't believe she has... at least not yet or thus far.

[@Chrissy213]

I can’t wait to see this. Teyana is so talented. Great review!

[@tigerlilly9038]

Thank you Boos I'm going to see because of you both ❤...I DID NOT expect Taylor to be able to act

[@MrPatrice637]

Wow, this movie sounds depressing and yes, I'll check it 😂 I think Teyana Taylor is a multi-talented person and it's good to see her in a lead role. I wonder if it's called 'A Thousand and One' because that's how many issues were in this movie; motherhood, kidnapping, poverty, NY politricks, gentrification, abandonment, finding family/community, fairweather husband, etc. The ending sounds abrupt because Terry is left behind AGAIN with so many questions unanswered. Like yeah, you did raise him to be a good one but now he's got no one. Damn, Inez is trash 😂 As always, thank you for spoiling this movie so I'll be ready to get in my feels when I see it!💕

[@valeriecomplex9685]

Its not what you think. Its not sad like that. No one dies

[@123paramorefan]

@@valeriecomplex9685 yeah the title of the movie is fitting

[@crownjewel832]

@@valeriecomplex9685 but there’s so many layers of trauma that are as tragic as death

[@js7dragon]

GAGGED at the ending!

[@ANT_KNOX_EL]

This movie displays what we need more of. Growing up in Newark, NJ it's almost a mirror image of what our sister City went through in the 70s, 80's and 90's. Children in and out of detention centers and foster / group homes is a constant issue. Parents are often addicted to drugs and alot of times abandoned their children. Our community needs more people like Inez and Lucky however it may look.

[@domwalker6526]

Watched this last night I enjoyed it, the end kinda threw me but t Taylor was amazing. I listened to her whole album after, what a talented woman

[@magical2022]

Thanks guys so much for your review of this movie I just watched this movie and damn it was amazing!

[@jay-dubb.dubb.68]

I just looked at my local movie showtimes for a matinee, but it's not showing til 7pm, so unfortunately I am not gonna be able to see it til Monday. Dagnabbit! I definitely plan on checking out this movie out though... It sounds like a heart-wrencher (but, in a good way)!! 😉 Thanks gents!! 😍

[@brittanyk675]

Didn’t like the ending. Like, what happened to him? Why she starting smiling when asked, where to?

[@hopes9467]

She smiled because she had finally did something right meaning she knows she did right raising terry and he’s gonna be successful. Now as for the other questions, no clue😅basically open ended movie

[@jpdaboss626]

Been waiting for this review!

[@Tra_C]

Wow, I've never seen Teyana in a movie before. Will definitely check this out.

[@mrs__hines]

She has been in multiple movies before this Madea's movie and countless others

[@puspavelai8353]

Oh wow! From your description of this character's 'journey' and altruistic actions, sounds like it demands attention! They really did want to 'pile on' the rocky road to survival, warts and all too! Hope, it does get, for what you've considered a worthy performance, an award nomination, or two😉😊

[@АНТОНСМОТРИТФИЛЬМЫ]

So guys, you gave this movie three and a half, saying that it's so good. So my question is, what is 5 in your opinion?

[@theodoretwombly56]

I would say look at their best of 2022 movie list and you can gauge what they deem a 5 star worthy movie

[@cheykha7]

They gave everything everywhere all at once a 5

[@hattiesallie2622]

I would give it a 2. It was very hard to watch because at the end I asked myself what was the point of this movie?

[@teonnaweakfall1606]

@Fish Jelly Film Reviews loved that you guys enjoyed this movie. I'm a have to watch this😊.

[@whitneybrown4067]

This is 4 Sure Gonna b so Insightful🔥🔥🔥👍n Happy Sunday/ Palm Sunday😀….

[@veganpeace7890]

I really want to see this and have a good cry!! Thanks!

[@sweetnovember7925]

I just saw the commercial for this movie I love Teyanna Taylor

[@coralraeartandthings]

I was in shock. This was a great story! Its so sad. I feel Terrys character would make it because of her and bits of Lucky. I liked it enough to come here and see how you guys felt. Lol

[@moviefan700]

glad you credited the score. the score definitely contributed to the movie. great review!

[@jadaaleeshamindexpert7365]

I saw that her performance was good from the trailer... Amazing talent

[@nienielouis6623]

In my opinion she had good intentions, but in the end it left the boy without a home and left her with idk having to leave the boy she raised for so many years truly sad. They're both prbably going to have to start all over again.

[@jayg7775]

Also the time period is very important here this is the crack era or the effects of the crack era had on the community a lot of broken Holmes a lot of poverty a lot of foster children (Brenda had a baby vibes) so that’s why it seem like alot was going on because it was a lot going on especially in nyc gentrification colorism racism prejudice police stop and frisk magnet schools was apart of gentrification as well

[@hattiesallie2622]

I have to say I did not like this movie at all. Beautiful film, very unbelievable Teyana being the mother and not aging. That was a small issue. The biggest issue was the story, it felt like a rip off of moonlight and it never explained anything fully. It did too much. The way they handled mental illness and mental health was annoying. Terry clearly on the spectrum but nobody care lol what?

[@BeautyLoves88]

i thought maybe terry was on the spectrum….but i feel like he could just genuinely be undersocialized

[@METALFACEDOOMXXXX]

You obviously have terrible taste in movies..... be gone 304

[@ninadanne5867]

I think it didn’t matter about her aging because for 1 she was young when she got him and most black women look really good for their age

[@squeaky82SP]

@@ninadanne5867 I agree. I felt that she appeared to age lol. It didn’t even cross my mind he was on the spectrum either…just a product of the system

[@mrs.deeduval9265]

More simple plot? This is real life! I absolutely loved this movie.

[@enicole811]

Why did she smile at the end when the driver asked her where to?

[@bmck-8400]

This movie sounds amazing

[@calvinitabrooks8481]

Can some explain the ending for me I was lost. She smiled at the end and it cut off help

[@phyllisalexander1204]

I think she smiled, because in her opinion she won - her "son" had a future - assuming he heals sufficiently from the trauma.

[@hereisayana8207]

So she won't go to prison for kidnapping... they split up, but will meet again in the future

[@BeautyLoves88]

yeah i been wondering since i saw it lol….the smirk seemed sinister but idk if it was MEANT to come off that way; i took it as like “i got a way w that, lets see what other crimes i can get into next” but idk!

[@CATA512]

Look like its gonna be a part 2

[@Arizona_lilly]

He can always get his paper work etc …. What that’s the ending ???

[@Honeybee-cy9gc]

I loved the movie. I watched it twice, and both times I cried.

[@Arizona_lilly]

I don’t think the foster system would approve her u can’t be broke homeless and a janitor in 90s

[@knv1979]

So, was Inez in prison for the initial kidnapping, got out, then kidnapped Terry again? Also, did they ever reconcile who his real mother/parents were?

[@Channnelname]

To the first question: yes, this is the implication.

[@valeriecomplex9685]

She isnt in jail for kidnapping she in jail for stealing

[@zymarimiddlebrooks2691]

No, she was in jail for “boosting” which means stealing essentially.

[@lexidzink]

​@@Channnelnamewrong, she says she was in prisom for stealing

[@Channnelname]

@@lexidzink honey, stealing the child…

[@PacificMoceans]

The movie was sooooooooo good 😢❤❤❤❤

[@MsEriKaT]

Why does Ines smile at the very end??

[@justlee4now449]

O.k., I have to watch this. Typically, I don't like movies which is seem too close to home.

[@adriennepixley9945]

I didn’t like it. It started off sad and ended sad. I was surprised he wasn’t her son though.

[@kellykelley2649]

Great review! I am going to watch this film.

[@Arizona_lilly]

What ????? He went back to foster care!??

[@Darkanent]

The smile she gives at the end is a tad bit sinister. Confused me some. It could’ve been left out.

[@badkittykatt130]

Correction:Taylor had a breast reduction lol!!!

[@Ricardodiaz17762]

Why is it titled A thousand and one?

[@fishjellyfilmreviews]

Their apartment number was 1001.

[@Ricardodiaz17762]

@Fish Jelly Film Reviews Oh, thank you. 😊

[@amywilder6330]

Whoa, that is a cool twist at the end. Definitely putting this on my IMDB watchlist. Thank you for your review 😊

[@jadaaleeshamindexpert7365]

Are you coming to Orlando to see Janet in April?

[@Arizona_lilly]

She looks tough and manly is why we don’t look at her body …. She’s crazy looking 😂

[@latoshaadams3828]

I'm lost

[@latoshaadams3828]

What happened to terry

[@Iammartineb]

She didn’t abduct him at 2 pm

[@kingkai4004]

What about the smile at the end?

[@latoshaadams3828]

Where did terry go at the end????

[@Honeybee-cy9gc]

With his girl friend that worked at the eatery

[@kitchenskills5427]

I have to be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of this movie. The acting was good, but I am tired of this same angry black woman meets poverty, constant tragedy and poor choices plot. It is depressing and I am not sure what message this is constantly sending about black women.

[@mrdeebo313]

This movie is about what family really is. This wasn't an angry black woman, this was a woman who cared enough about this young boy to save him.

[@latoshaadams3828]

I feel like they leave stuff out why was he in the hospital

[@ieshawarren9587]

The lil boys say in the beginning that he tried to run from foster woman and fell out the window or sun like that

[@pay4739]

it was terrible, lifetime movies are better. sorry. love y’all, though!

[@hattiesallie2622]

Thank you!!!

[@Arizona_lilly]

Of course she’s brings in a man this one mistake but doesn’t always end this way sometimes theirs many men so many … and their sons see this like it’s cool to have tons of woman tons of people

[@Arizona_lilly]

Pregnant and cancer wow

[@nancyleahy2664]

You guys rave about how good it is yet don't give it at least a 4...

[@jujutaylor2186]

They say the performances are great. The convoluted plot prob detracted points from the overall score

[@jayblaqk]

I recently watched the video where 3.5 was given to The Woman King, which they thoroughly enjoyed. That is their 5 & a high recommendation 💯

[@hieronymusesquireiii380]

PLEASE put a spoiler warning on your next videos!! Other than that I enjoyed your guys’ takes

[@kumaridesilva3992]

Respectfully, literally every title they do includes the words **SPOILER ALERT**

[@latoshaadams3828]

Why he sweat so bad

[@kingdombeauty9174]

❤❤❤❤

[@asan1050]

Always both give the same score, NOT GOOD!

[@iamHispen]

I give this movie 2 stars, and that's generous. It needed better writers and better actors.

[@bisharrykatz59]

First time a spoiler has actually spoiled a movie for me. I was definitely going to see this till I found out the main character KIDNAPPED someone else's child. I'm thinking now, they needed to put this menace under the prison. Think this is going to be a must miss because I know all I'll see is the desolation of the boy's mother and family, even though she's not in the movie at all.

[@3mshaw]

That's not exactly right. Joseph misspoke she didn't abduct him when he was 2. His birth mother had abandoned him when he was 2 years old and left him on the street. Teyana's character is the one who found him abandoned on the street and they became attached. Then years later when he was 6 she abducted him from Foster Care after he got injured and was in the hospital.

[@nomaam2159]

This movie sucked, you kidnap a kid. Nothing happens to her no accountability. Then you lie to him his entire childhood, I kept waiting for something meaningful to happen. Pretty cliche there are no positive black women in this movie most of them have emotional issues. Back in the 90’s if you put your hands on a a black girls mom like Inez did you best believe. That was an ass whooping really was boring movie. Pretty predictable as well