Malcolm & Marie is a film for the moment. Unfortunately, this moment sucks.

[@ForHarriet619]

HELP ME MAKE MORE VIDEOS ▶︎ patreon.com/forharriet​

[@rooboatdeer22yu51]

I love the way you talk about things so much when I take my news breaks and come back I love to see your face

[@phedreBiOn]

I like the directness of this call to action

[@wuraolaolagunju]

This film is just the angriest Calvin Klein ad ever

[@ItCantRainAllTheTime_90]

🤣🤣🤣

[@joslynnthomas3086]

This is my favorite comment!!!! 😆 🤣 😂!!!!

[@harlemw651]

underrated comment! 🎇🎇🎇

[@gentryglenn]

Haha 😂

[@louisenairpyc6813]

Exactly. You win🏆!

[@excellentttt]

"people want art to do what only therapy can do". a WORD.

[@taylorspastpresent1014]

DEEP

[@pb.j.1753]

She said something similar regarding Queen & Slim in that art can't do what public policy is supposed to do. TRUTH!!!!

[@soaribb32]

To that I say: Let's make health insurance more affordable. I mean, me? I can't pay for therapy.

[@imlookingforthetoweroflear7871]

art therapy is a thing, too. but yeah, message received and acknowledged.

[@JustJRR]

I HAD TO PAUSE THE VIDEO AND CATCH MY BREATH 😂😭❤

[@mitchellthegirl]

Agree with your comments here about how watching yelling for most of a film’s run time is just a really emotionally exhausting experience. Also, I think this movie would’ve benefitted from having a more concise and nuanced script as well as much older actors (like 45-50+). Both actors are giving their all here, but a plot of this nature really needed two people who could conceivably look like they’ve been together for a long, long time. It would’ve been more interesting psychologically and emotionally.

[@iwasbornunderwater]

Yessss I just couldn't buy or settle into it.

[@nora-e6120]

Interesting point about the age

[@beguiled10]

The age disparity was a major problem for me as well. Zendaya's words sound like they would come from someone much older. I don't doubt that she has the intelligence to come across as someone who could generate the dialogue she does, but the optics of it was not convincing ultimately.

[@garrulus3399]

I have been looking out for this comment everywhere; I didn't comment myself for several reasons. But I totally agree (and it's definitely not against Zendaya whatsoever or her acting).

[@mermaidtingzzz]

From the trailer alone all I could see was 2 ppl who talking about things beyond them lol. Older ppl argue different too.

[@MsEriKaT]

My summary of the movie: "MARIE! MARIE! MARIE! MARIE! MARIE!" -Malcolm That's it.

[@chilln2009]

🤣

[@CassieTranthesuperfitbabe]

Don't forget that some of those "MARIE!'s" would also be proclaimed through a mouth full of mac n' cheese or after smoking a cigarette!

[@MsEriKaT]

@@CassieTranthesuperfitbabe FACTS!!

[@candybroughtitup]

😭

[@SoWhosGae]

I honestly love the name Marie (along with Maria) so much ngl lol. It's kinda one of the most common names in centuries and yet here I am still loving it.

[@sarahschwartz6657]

It felt like Sam Levinson thought "I want to make a great movie, now I just need an idea..." instead of "I have a great idea that I think I could make into a movie." Like when you set out to get accolades and have a moment, instead of focusing on telling a good story, it can show. and it shows here.

[@marier1542]

Exactly!

[@breannajoseph2018]

thiis

[@naimah2511]

FACTSS

[@10Vernonplace]

Yes!

[@ashlinluvsaries]

This is a prefect summary!

[@SamMKKK]

Waking up to Tee Noir’s analysis of this movie and going to sleep to For Harriet’s?! A blessing.

[@existentialmel]

YES !!!!

[@cynthiahoward2285]

Yes!! me too!

[@chrisholmes3791]

Same

[@CameliaWiliams.]

Exactly!

[@cinnamoroll740]

yessss same

[@Iamjustherek]

Can we stop putting all our hope and dreams on the shoulders of the few black actors/actresses that we have in the mainstream? Can people be allowed to be bad in a movie without excommunicating them from the culture?

[@BellesView]

I agree. I feel the same way about Black writers.

[@lisacox3750]

Thank you!!!!!

[@2120musiclover]

The criticisms haven’t really been about the acting; just more about the writing. At least the reviews Ive read.

[@iwasbornunderwater]

They are being excommunicated from the culture? 😳 I missed that.

[@AndSoWeLaughed]

We need to, you are right! But Tyler Perry- that’s a whole other story. He annoying. And I agree with the comments made in this video. All Black things don’t have to be good! I want them to be. I do. I always remember “you have to be what Olivia?! TWICE AS GOOD” I’m tired of us having to do be twice as good when Emily in Paris can be a shit show (or just a bad but fun tv show) and when we are better we don’t even get the awards and compensation. It’s just in my own head - I don’t want them to be bad. Another example is Girls Trip. That movie was awful in my opinion. It was not as funny as Bridesmaids (in my personal opinion) but still sat up their in terms of comedy thanks to miss Regina hall. But some people were annoyed we would even do a movie like that - why not? (Although I think it’s annoying when we do shit comedies for white people to laugh at us and enjoy ew)

[@MsLazykat]

This movie is what happens when Hollywood friends make something that their friends can be in. They create the characters they want to be, not the ones they’re suited to play

[@a.h.2667]

Yes, I liked when actors had to actually audition for roles.

[@Udontkno7]

i think that’s a good thing, a chance to experiment without outside influence. but it does mean you’re gonna get a lot of subpar pieces

[@kimberlyrussell3111]

Exactly! I knew it was going to be messy when Zendaya described how she bored with nothing to do because of CV-19. She said she talked to Sam Levinson almost daily, and during one of their conversations, they came up with the idea for “Malcolm & Marie” for Zendaya to be able to work and get free from the boredom quarantine.

[@matxalenc8410]

You know what, I don't blame them. I see a lot of actors and actresses do this. If you're in a position where you can make something for yourself, and not be stuck playing limited characters (even if you're not the best), do it. At least they can always rely on themselves to not be typecasted.

[@syntext]

Agree 1000%. I love seeing some of the projects that actors come up with when they switch to roles as producers, but if they're just having them written to stick themselves in those roles and aren't really that passionate about the subject matter beyond a passing fascination, it tends to fall flat.

[@thetownshipfeminist6241]

I don’t know... part of me feels like this would’ve come out better if it was a play not a movie

[@JessMahogany]

Now this is something I can get down with. That makes sense to me as a thespian!

[@lp9716]

Yessssss....exactly!!

[@faithfm1]

I can def see that

[@tamaral2520]

I thought the same! The excessive dialog in one place.. better fit as a play

[@ninlynja]

Yeeeeeezsssssss when she said ‘it’s an hour and 40 minutes of an argument’ I was like ‘oh an Edward Albee play then’

[@lukesguywalker]

i think "undercooked" was a good word for it. there are moments where i can see where this film wanted to go, and what levinson was trying to say, but it always felt just off enough to feel like a rough draft of a film

[@missy_elephant1999]

So true. If this film was released in 2022 with more editing and pacing (and maybe recasting) this film would have Oscar potential.

[@nazarisreyes6037]

I feel like he should've gotten more, if he git any, notes from some editor, take more time to go back and feel them after the high

[@rentok1739]

That’s a great icon, Michael Burnam!

[@kurlykayla9013]

@@missy_elephant1999 I’m glad you said the casting part. I love Zendaya and JDW, but there was something about the performance, particularly Zendaya’s that didn’t feel genuine. It felt like they were themselves reading off the bullet points Levinson wanted them to touch on. They didn’t...feel like real people. Especially Zendaya, maybe that’s on me for associating her with young characters, but she didn’t feel like a jaded wife/girlfriend

[@missy_elephant1999]

@@kurlykayla9013 exactly! Levinson tried too hard in this film to create “moments” rather than air tight plots or characters. I’m not on the Zendaya hate train either (I actually really love Zendadya). She is an amazing actress but for her roles so far she have being dealing with pain (addiction family and relationships) from the perspective of a teen/ young adult . As they should, considering she hasn’t got the life experience yet to give us a Viola Davis performance. I feel like this character was suppose to get the perspective of a person with at least a decade of struggles . Producers need to release we don’t need to see a celebrity We know on screen to be invested in a movie.

[@cassanix9093]

Your critiques of Zendaya's adolescent aura in comparison to Washington's physical maturity represents the majority of relationships in Hollywood. So their cast pairing may be on purpose to reflect Hollywood relationships!

[@myhappyplace5807]

I was thinking the same thing because there is ALOT of Hollywood relationships that look like Malcolm and marie and it’s lowkey scary.

[@jillianmoore4861]

You may really have a point with this. Yes, by age Zendaya is an adult and yes she has the right to play roles that help to transition her from child star to adult actress. However, seeing them together was super cringe to me. I felt almost uncomfortable watching them be physical with one another.

[@farkaslukrecia]

Still disturbing as she can pass as a 17 year old teengager.

[@AikoSilver]

@@jillianmoore4861 YES! She looks like the type who would play Malcolm's younger sister. Not lover. It doesn't help that Zendaya is currently in the MCU Spiderman and is obviously playing a teenager (like wtf peter parker is like 15 currently O_O so MJ in the movie is around that age too).

[@jillianmoore4861]

@@AikoSilver exactly my point! She’s super talented but that pairing is cringy

[@mndzacst6844]

That movie looks like a perfume commercial no shade

[@honeyb717]

Exactly! I was just waiting to see the cologne bottle. HeMan Musk for Men...because why else would she deal your foolishness?!

[@fmadiva]

Underrated comment tbh 😂😂😂😂

[@dejuanamarietv]

Oh Calvin Klein loi

[@Im_LaurenB]

Not perfume 🤣

[@serenitybeats1677]

It was so pretentious tbh. Making the movie in black and white to seem deep

[@jamelaspeaks4528]

the movie irked me. and hearing malcolm yell for 80 percent of the movie was one of the reasons why i think

[@meryl9846]

Same sentiments! I had this on for a Friday self-care night thing after a rough week and ohmygosh I had to turn it off halfway through. It stressed me out more than anything.

[@lp9716]

Same here. I actually did not watch entire movie because of that.

[@flyleelee5351]

I didn't like his portrayal of the character. The way he delivered his lines....Zendaya too actually. Didn't seem natural

[@redgirlt]

@@meryl9846 it took me two days to watch it...lol

[@gnocchicito]

@@meryl9846 x3

[@desireealwayswinns]

the debate about "authentic black experiences" in film irks me so much and I'm so glad you commented on it! black people are not a monolith and I hate that we have to enforce all of these standards of authenticity upon ourselves. I want to make movies where black people are just people, unique in our struggles, but still just as universally human as everybody else.

[@BellesView]

It feels like a trend of overhyped films with captivating trailers but underwhelming in its entirety.

[@shineg5077]

And great visuals

[@naufrage0]

Trailer was basic af too. Acting looked flat and story was trite. It was vague to create mystery but you can see there just wasn’t much to it anyhow. The cinematography was used to hide any genuine depth or inspired direction and writing.

[@morganlaudarowicz6311]

I totally agree, so annoying

[@CarmenSD]

The Little Things

[@BellesView]

@@naufrage0 Great point. The trailer piqued my interest for two reasons: 1. Zendaya took on a mature role to help shift her image from teenager to adult. 2. John David Washington took on his first romance film.

[@socialitenoel]

black writers write books that end up in the street literature section of the book store even though it may not even be street lit but it ends up there by default because the author is black.

[@Crystale17]

facts

[@yari139]

??? I’ve never been to a bookstore or library that has a “street literature” section. What even is that?

[@kannot1]

It's disrespectful👀 it's like how black musicians get categorized as RnB artists... Black people are boxed into stereotypes💔

[@courtneysokal6590]

@@yari139 I’ve worked in two bookstores (one mega-bookstore and one small) and neither had a street literature section.

[@ummicoats5207]

@@yari139 In most libraries or bookstores this would be the "Urban" section...

[@tamarc389]

Shout out to your silk press for lasting this long 👏🏾 mine reverts as I enter the uber after the salon visit

[@125loopy]

I'm so jealous lol. 2 days is the most I've ever had a silk press look this good 🤣

[@potatopotatoeOG]

I feel it leave as I get up from my seat ☹

[@mystic507]

Lmaooo

[@a.sydney5036]

Right. Looks fantastic

[@tamarc389]

@@125loopy 🤣🤣

[@kriskenard]

If this was Zendaya's misstep, I can't wait to see what her next victory will be

[@kindred42]

I think she did wonderful. I was on the fence about her acting but the film convinced me despite everyone trashing it. Oh well

[@sbostic08]

Meh.. still not watching it

[@fun3nel2]

I think this is her best acting yet.

[@yanaaawyd]

@@fun3nel2 definitely

[@kittencatperson]

Preach.

[@sometimesvegan2290]

Couldn't take all the arguing. Two great actors could have done better with a different scripts. Cinematography was AWESOME.

[@zenani9682]

literally the only best part about the film were the technical aspects, everything else was draining

[@wendyellis3738]

love the movie do out of the box

[@mwright0428]

Girl I was exhausted after watching it lhh

[@problematic_fav]

I agree

[@darkunicorn1203]

To be honest I love their performances ...but this movie could be better if they had a better script.

[@khanyangabase691]

I really love how you pointed out that Marie's character actually countered all of the mess that Malcolm was spewing out. I, for one, enjoyed watching the film because I felt that Zendaya's character at the very least added some gravity and softness (? is that the word I wanna use?) to Malcolm's loftiness and narcissism. Because for every one of his tirades, I was laughing at him right along with Marie. I also think that what I really liked about the movie was that at the end of the day, Marie's only gripe was that she wanted to be appreciated and recognised for all that she poured into the relationship and Malcolm's film. She just wanted gratitude from him, and as @Tee Noir pointed out, she spent the entire movie trying to drive that point home from different angles; he just wasn't interested in hearing her. Great and beautifully articulated video, as always.

[@the808songbird]

I _love_ the way you work through a conversation. You cover so many angles from which to discuss this movie, and it's a joy to watch you flow from thought to thought

[@cam4short]

I agree. I haven't seen the movie but after watching this, I feel like I have 😂🙏🏼

[@chilln2009]

True!

[@Mariah203]

@@cam4short Same! I found myself about to reply to a comment with my thoughts on the movie and then remembered that I ain't even actually see it 😂

[@cannibalisticrequiem]

I wonder if this movie would've worked more if Malcolm and Marie were played by older actors, like Viola Davis and John's father, Denzel (or Idris Elba)? Y'know, instead of a young couple in their mid 20s, perhaps a couple in their 50s/60s who've been married a long time and have been through it? I don't want to come off as disparaging of Zendaya and John, but I believe there are certain roles that are better suited for older actors because they can bring that experience of a long-lived life to their character that a 20-something is just not going to have yet. Perhaps the clunky dialouge and awkward moments would've been pulled off better by a middle-aged actor for their middle-aged character, because they have that experience, as well as experience with what their character is dealing with because the actor has dealt with that thanks to being alive for so long? I don't know if it would save the film for some people, but maybe it could've been more believable. 🤔

[@lisacox3750]

Based on the dialogue I don’t think so. Also, there are movies like this with older actors and they play a married couple. For this movie, They would have had to change the movie entirely to make the dialogue work for an older couple

[@nishashawn2021]

I like the young adult approach. These young folks are into some toxic as relationships. This generation struggles to love each other. This film is a perfect example.

[@rachel3760]

I agree. The characters talked as if they had this dark, old past but when you do the math that past was when they'd barely graduated high school. And that fact really undermines the dialogue. It's not the actors fault though, they did great.

[@milkandspice1074]

Interesting you say this. I didn't see the movie but the reason I didn't was because from the trailer I felt the roles would fit better for an older couple.

[@sunshinesunflowerz1647]

John David is in his 30’s.

[@ramas3611]

also i understand that both sides of the argument come from levinson when it comes to that conversation about identity, however, knowing that there a real "white lady at the l.a. times" that wrote a bad review on one of levinson's works understandably makes malcolm's monologue feel like malcolm was being used as a mouthpiece by levinson (which obviously isn't inherently a bad thing, but in a convo about both race and criticism, it feels iffy).

[@steviesosa5617]

Yes! With that and the Spike Lee reference, Levinson is inadvertently grouping an occupational issue into a racial one.

[@cityofgone74]

not to discredit your idea bc I buy into that but isnt there a white lady critic of every movie... 1 at minimum

[@violetjones5021]

@@cityofgone74 he was talking about a specific white lady though

[@ramas3611]

@@cityofgone74true lol but the one i’m talking about was katie walsh, ripped levinson a new one over assasination nation. published in the l.a. times and a lot of it was about a man writing about “girl power” so malcolm’s monologue about identity in filmmaking?? feels related to me 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@theeladyj]

yes thats exactly how i felt

[@SOYERINDE]

I was distracted by the struggle Mac and Cheese

[@grapesyrop]

Lolllll

[@Knoxus99]

I couldn't help but roll my eyes when she says how could you sit there and eat the food I cooked for you and call me names. Cooked? Ma'am.

[@callmechelea]

@@Knoxus99 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Erica-en2qz]

Oh my goodness! That bothered me so much! More than it probably should have.

[@jonesy3228]

😂Exactly

[@greenbyrdd8308]

My god. He sounds exactly like his father! Look away from the screen and just listen. That is Denzel's very distinctive voice. Blessing and a curse.

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

Yup that’s when John stated his acting career he didn’t inform casting directors his father was Denzel Washington

[@adrianbailey1142]

Yup. I've seen him in a few things now, and this is the first time I was like 'Wow... That's 100% Denzel'

[@DonInADress]

I feel like John David Washington was playing the role as if it were a stage-play as opposed to a screenplay. He was wildly over the top in a way that makes sense for the theatre but is awful to watch on the screen

[@lindyrawlinson1039]

I actually liked the fact that he did this.

[@giovannajames8479]

I thought the same thing. His monologues felt like watching a play.

[@mariahyohannes]

I agree. I think his dad though would have been great for this part if he was much younger. That scene in fences where Denzel was arguing with Viola was what Zendaya and John were suppose to give.

[@sonrisaverdean757]

"Relinquish the expectation that Black films or films with Black people in them will be perfectly legible representation of your Black life" YESSSS!! 29:07

[@fedorah8315]

JDW looked like he memorized the lines and threw them out of his mouth... it feels rehearsed.. too much. You know when you’re trying to learn a dance choreography and you got all the moves down packed and you do the routine and you look back and it looks stiff and it looks like you’re in your head thinking about what move comes next instead of feeling the dance.... yeah

[@asiablackgrl6482]

I know that feeling 😝

[@evisionaryloveslife]

Yes, it sounded so stiff and rehearsed. He clearly wasn't comfortable and had not truly become Malcolm

[@iwasbornunderwater]

I felt the same. I just chalked it up to Levinson using the Malcolm character as a mouthpiece to vent about his own marriage (which inspired some of the film) and the criticism his work has been getting and JDW being unable to fully inhabit Levinson's psychology.

[@user-dq7cm6ug4h]

TBH, he's not that great of an actor. I loved him in Ballers and Blackkklansman, but aside from that he doesn't have the range.

[@AndSoWeLaughed]

Same thing in Tenet. I do not like his acting. And I don’t even want to bring his dad into it as I think that’s part of the reason, imagine the pressure you’d be under and how much help people assume you have as his soon. But... nah. His acting is not lived in. It’s by the book good, not authentically great. He has a rich black dad - he is a rich black artist, even if he wasn’t the character to a tee (you don’t have to be it’s acting!) he could’ve pulled from his experiences.

[@beguiled10]

First, thank you for saying Tyler Perry movies are trash because this is an unpopular opinion in my crowd. Second, Your analysis is bomb. You are a treasure. Third, I don't entirely agree with your criticism of the critics. Although I agree that Sam Levinson's race should not be a factor, that does not mean that the charge that his writing is inauthentic is not valid. His writing does not ring true to me, not because the characters are black and he's white, but because the words sound over-curated. No one argues like this except on a page. I shouldn't feel so much like these words are written. It should feel more like they spring from the characters. Instead it sounded like Levinson wanted to pack every deep thought he ever had about everything from the male gaze to film history into this movie. It did very much feel like fuel for a massive Hollywood ego. I did not know how much Zendaya participated in the writing of the film. Thank you for sharing that. Still, it doesn't make up for the film appearing to be written in a Hollywood vaccum. Malcolm and Marie are in and of Hollywood, I get that, but when they are tearing each other down as they do in this film, I expect to see the grit underneath. This movie, in presentation and in the dialogue, wants to show the dirty underbelly of a relationship that is unraveling. They want it to sound unfiltered. But it sounded so Filtered! Like a beautiful snap chat filter. Not good. And I don't there's anything wrong with critics for pointing that out.

[@tanzanianflowerchild3013]

Agreed. I felt like they were speaking in essays lol.

[@shelliepowers2660]

Now if Taraji and Terrence made the same movie it might be something lol

[@mirandaholley9797]

Terrence did a good job in Mary J. Blige without you. Taraji did a good job in that music video for Common where she was the rat and sent her man to jail.

[@devnmc9]

There has always been a push to mature Zendaya. Ppl usually disagree but they're trying to speed up her track

[@CarmenSD]

They do it to many young actors and I hate that. It doesn’t even look right. A grown person stuck in a lil kid body/face. 😁

[@Lilfairyxo]

Hollywood sucks like that. I hate that they sexualize girls and boys at such a young age. Z and I are the same age and even I find it exploitive and strange. There was dialogue about "the Male gaze" seemingly trying to give Sam Levinson a pass for doing just that in his movies/shows towards young girls. It bothered me so much.

[@JerichaLuvsYou]

Yeah, I agree. But in reality, Zendaya doesn’t look that mature.

[@pinkmapviolin]

Well, she is 24. I think the problem is really the opposite: Hollywood almost always has women play younger characters than they actually are, so then when an actress actually plays her age it feels strange to the audience.

[@MsBlackIntrovert]

@@pinkmapviolin right these comments acting like she 19, Zendaya is a fully grown woman

[@logicalhuman249]

I agree! They should've casted an older woman, it would've fit better

[@lolavuadige7417]

no it wouldn’t have because the whole point was her being young and easily manipulable

[@mimilocke5650]

@@lolavuadige7417 older women can be manipulated too if they stay in a toxic relationship for a long time and never healed their codependency

[@missbola1997]

The time line would have to change because they said they met when she was 20. So if the pick an other women the time line would have to shift. You need a young girl who is naïve

[@lolavuadige7417]

@@mimilocke5650 i know but you know the younger women are obviously more susceptible of falling into that trap

[@queenleo5578]

I don’t think it had to be anyone older necessarily but just someone more experienced and can really grasp on certain emotions

[@sarkastikambassador9516]

I really didn't like Malcolm & Marie. Levinson, within his body of work, tries to depict the ugliness that young women have to face in American society growing up, but he falls too much in love with the idea of being radical, pushing boundaries, and trying to "present something new," to the point where it clouds any chance for something poignant or humane to come out of it, and the work devolves into artistic, well-shot misery porn. Malcolm & Marie is a special case because his exploitative antics are put on full display, all for the purpose of expressing his grief over receiving criticism of his work. Like his other works, he tries to pass it off as progressive, or, in Malcolm's words, "giving a shit about what it's like to be in other people's shoes," but, if you look between the lines, it is clearly reflective, directly or indirectly, of his own inability to face criticism and his limitations as a white, male writer, and he's hiding behind a black self-insert in order to shield himself from further criticism. There's nothing wrong with interpreting the realities of those who are different from you, but, as an artist, you must be aware that your limitations can, at times, lead to a bad interpretation of another person's reality, especially if you are interpreting their suffering and oppression. Unless you want to see a shining example of how not to take criticism, I say don't give this film the time of day.

[@TheMusicmakesmehigh]

It’s hyper-verbal tumblr-esqe misery porn imo

[@BeautyLoves88]

BEAUTIFUL reflection. & i agree w. you.

[@louisea4920]

Damn

[@iwasbornunderwater]

Yo! This. 100% agree but you are way articulate that I could have been 🎯

[@iwasbornunderwater]

Yo! This. 100% agree but you are way articulate that I could have been 🎯

[@peach_ringz_4evz]

the dialogue made me cringe so hard. sam levinson has vision, he's good at mood and creates memorable images, but he is not a strong writer at ALL and seems to have no awareness around this.

[@breonnacannon]

Yes all the cursing was so distracting to me it felt unnecessary

[@hairypotter86]

I really don't like sam levinson. his writing is kinda boring and has no tactic. The writing, as this youtuber puts it, fell flat. I got the point as soon as we found out that the guy copied the girl's life. i feel like films like this help guys understand abuse. but it wasn't news or alerting to me as a girl. hopefully it helps some guys tho. it helped my guy friend lmao.

[@michellepullis1274]

The vocabulary, the eloquence, the insight, the cadence! I swear I could listen to you talk about tomato soup and be good with it 😂

[@laurennicole8298]

In my opinion, Zendaya had a a few moments where I felt she dove into the character BUT most of the time I felt like she was just saying words. Lol like she’s never really been in an argument with a man before. It felt like she couldn’t really keep up with David. And they didn’t have chemistry. 🤷🏾‍♀️ it was meh

[@SoulSugarJoint]

Your points about how saying “authentic” Black art is a viewpoint rooted in LACK!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 All Black people don’t have the same taste/viewpoint/experience!!! Believing that Black art must be a certain way is the same as saying to a Black person that they “talk white.” It’s ignorant and weird gatekeeping energy

[@kristalcampbell3650]

I agree, but there is some validity to the statement that something is inauthentic when a white artist uses their art to lecture from a white lens and have it validated because it comes out of a black characters mouth. I haven't seen this yet though so im not saying thats what's going on here.

[@SoulSugarJoint]

@@kristalcampbell3650 Facts, that definitely doesn't feel right either. Kinda like how Pootie Tang is written by a white man... changes everything. My comment was about Black people making Black art that's dismissed for being "inauthentic" or judged as caring about the white gaze. I thought her point was interesting because I only relate to about 20% of Black art, honestly. As a young Black woman from the suburbs, I don't necessarily relate to Poetic Justice or Juice but I still love them. I don't say, "this isn't an authentic view of MY Black life" I just appreciate that Black people are diverse in their experiences and stories.

[@theblackdaria_]

I’m happy you mentioned the over critical culture we live in. We really need to create more spaces for artists to create and artists can’t do that under a critical eye. As Brene Brown always quotes “it is not the critic who counts. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the area.” -Theodore Roosevelt.

[@eventplanner461]

@@BrendaGarcia-ty2ml How is the film industry not heavily critiqued? I feel like this idustry is the most critiqued.

[@Mysterioso46]

This movie was definitely realistic to me. I’ve had these conversations with exes. I’ve been both people in an argument. This was very eye opening for me. I liked it a lot.

[@brittanynicole4370]

I feel the same way

[@ccolkidbby]

I 100% agree with your take on John David Washington's acting in this. It was SOOO forced and you could tell he was trying so hard to get an Oscar worthy performance but he was too obvious. Zendaya though, to me, killed her role. She was perfect for the character. She was 25 and former junkie turned model and Zendaya's frame and build fits the role entirely.

[@serenitybeats1677]

I honestly think Zendaya was obviously trying to get oscar nominated as well, her acting in the knife scene was so over the top and cringe

[@klinksss]

"I like fun toxic!" Britney Spears: * pops in the screen *

[@cannibalisticrequiem]

Thank you for making me gigglesnort! 🤣 And curse you for getting "Toxic" stuck in my head! 😭

[@Jojo-tf2zp]

Eh I'm in the minority here. I thought it was good, at the least it was interesting. Their relationship was absolutely toxic and abusive but that's the point to me. Was it a really productive film? Not really, but for what it was it was interesting. It's at least sparked conversation! I don't have enough experience to really say if Zendaya was a great casting decision but I'll push back on her not being womanly enough. I think you hit the nail on the head and its her body that causes that thought process. Im a bit biased though as I look young myself and have a slender frame lol I felt you on the point that it felt like it was trying too hard though. I loved hearing your thoughts and opinions, keep it up!

[@AndSoWeLaughed]

And I think that’s so frustrating for Zendaya. She’ll always be type casted. She has to try extra hard to change these biases, and over act. But if she changed her body people would have an issue with it. (I am not disagreeing with you btw!) I can imagine how annoying it must be for people to prejudge you based on your body type and you can’t be sexy or mature because of your ‘lack of curves’ or youthful face. And that’s why Disney stars act out so badly.

[@whoome1638]

I agree. I think sometimes the black community looks for more in black films and we judge harshly. I get it. Sometimes it’s just a film of art. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be more, doesn’t always have to be deep. Maybe it should have been a play or short film, maybe they took on too much or maybe it’s just what it is. The actors weren’t horrible, they did what they could with a script that was created from ONE man’s mind. Zendaya isn’t a bad actor and has a lot more room to grow and explore. She’ll always “lose” if she’s not seen as a woman due to the development of her body. That outlook is toxic. What is a woman’s body suppose to look like. How can we critique and analyze fairly if there’s always a bias based on something that was never suppose to be cookie cutter to begin with.

[@mariemariemariemarie4032]

agreed. i knew malcolms in the family. pretty on the money. and these guys all fight the same way.

[@Xtinaiyayi]

I really liked the film too. I agree. I didn’t think it was just an argument. It reminded me of how many relationships that people are just in because they have complicated feelings for another person. Is it toxic? Yes. But are there a lot of relationships like this? Yes. But we all have different options.

[@Jojo-tf2zp]

@@AndSoWeLaughed Agreed! I always wonder what people mean when they say womanly and if there will ever be a definition of that which doesn't exclude specific women. I manage people in my work life and I always wonder if they would take me more seriously if I had more of a "womanly" figure and therefore seemed more adult 🤷🏿‍♀️

[@nataliaquiroga4015]

I really like listening to what everyone has to say about the movie. Personally I was there for Zendaya being great and gorgeous af and she delivered. I did felt the lack of chemistry but I thought it contributed to the abuse and toxic aspect of the relationship, and the grooming of it all.

[@potatopotatoeOG]

Thanks for shouting out the Architecture because. GORGEOUS.

[@realbae1622]

Imagine Joe Morton and Kandi Alexander from Scandal (Olivia Popes parents) they would have been perfect for those monologues

[@realbae1622]

@Mami Makala I could listen to his monologues all day, I get goosebumps.

[@MichelleNgome]

👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

[@irisshalurhad7901]

They are too intense! It would have become a thriller real fast! 😂

[@LifeguardSai]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@BlaqueCute29]

Ohhhhh no I cant take anymore Papa Pope Monologues after 7 seasons of Scandal.

[@_Katlego_m]

I actually liked the yelling, it made sense to me his personality and Marie's responses to his yelling is telling.

[@kaeuymah]

“It felt like a drawn out essay.” YES! I love the concept of this movie, and felt this could have easily been a short film that’s 45-50 minutes. The length wouldn’t automatically solve the other issues with the movie, but it would have forced the script to be more concise. Not every film has to be 1+ hours long, not every script can carry a long duration time, and “Malcom and Marie” only shows that a film’s run time is a major part of the film itself.

[@evisionaryloveslife]

Kerry Washington has a lisp that she uses the teeth acting to disguise.

[@gloriasimiyu5082]

I didn’t know that.

[@evisionaryloveslife]

@@gloriasimiyu5082 go to her IG and listen to her speak. She has mastered hiding it but I'm more observant than most lol. But on scandal, when she goes on rants and is very upset, when they do close-ups it's very visible

[@AndSoWeLaughed]

I had nooo idea! Her acting is teeth and lip quivers but I’ve come to really love it and makes her angry and sad scenes so believeable.

[@binkyfaith]

@@AndSoWeLaughed not so much

[@kimberlyrussell3111]

Yes Kerry’s lisp is prominent, but she’s learned to mask it with the teeth method and over-enunciating when she speaks. She’s done well with it.

[@Samsam-vq4se]

I didn’t like the film but I would’ve liked to see Nicole Berharie as Marie

[@angie7486]

I Could watch her read the phone book she is amazing!

[@teanns.7819]

see now I could believe Nicole Berharie as Marie !

[@thecharlieL]

Omg yes!! She would have been perfect! I love her acting. 🙌🏾💖

[@planettee5424]

This comment is so satisfying

[@halimamuslimah]

I haven't watched this film. I used to scoff at the words "trigger warning" placed on different things because I thought GTFOH! Then...I saw the trailer for this film and started get a tight feeling in my stomach and some anxiety while watching it. Nope, this brought me right back to the worst times I had in a prior marriage. Now I get the whole "trigger warnings" notification label. I apologize for minimizing the need for it. I wish both actors the best in their future endeavors.

[@ramas3611]

i think zendaya did amazing in think but nicole beharie would've ate this role up (especially if the writing was better and the movie itself was more well-rounded)

[@4naymsakeRW]

I agree now that you said that..and I think she would've had better chemistry with JD Washington also, or they would've looked better at least

[@anony1596]

omfg why didn't I think of that. Nicole is EVERYTHING. She would've obliterated this

[@dayannacrider6626]

OMG. As I'm watching this video I pictured her voice to some of Zendaya's parts. Nikki has this twan to her voice that would have made the movie enjoyable and the way she acts she acts with so much passion. She definitely would have ate this whole movie up.

[@khanyangabase691]

I've seen a lot of people saying this and honestly, I STRONGLY agree. Nicole would've been a marvel.

[@stillkaryll8835]

You just said a word

[@annika2271]

I loved john david washington’s acting, the incessant yelling was jarring at times but not unexpected bc he haaaad been drinking throughout the night. It was a lot, but not out the blue. Alsooo he embodied a lot of toxic traits, like A LOT (having a preference for specifically after vulnerable or “broken” girls, always wanting to have the last word, taking criticism as a critique of his person rather than his actions, and so much more). He was many toxic men all in one, which perhaps is why some people think he is so “much” and seem to cast him off as a big ball of problematic-ness. But I think that his character was more of a multi-layered symbol whose layers were meant to be teased out, rather than a truly tolerable, truly human, real-world boyfriend character for a movie. Emphasis on “for a movie” because men with all these traits and more certainly do exist and certainly do exist in relationships 🤢

[@deej5608]

Yep well said I saw my ex thru and thru in that except he lacks the vocabulary

[@hipnhappenin]

"taking criticism as a critique of his person rather than his actions" I like that.

[@sixtwentysevenblog]

"If yall wanna see regular arguments with regular dialogue, turn on Bravo."

[@meganbinion3296]

I think what may have brought them together was a codependent narcissistic relationship. He takes care of her physical needs and feeds her craving for constant drama. He’s a narcissist so he needs someone to be in a codependent unhealthy relationship with.

[@ForeverSociety]

Malcom and Marie was like watching a filmed play

[@breonnacannon]

Yes

[@hopscotch39]

I liked that about it once I started to understand that that was the style.

[@JanJan4Infinity]

'If you don't believe in the relationship then you don't believe in the film' exactly how I felt while watching this slow burn of a movie. Loved the cinematography and music though but it was a killer trying to finish watching this film, for me at least.

[@starcherry6814]

I actually left this film thinking "I hope they work it out" I've never seen a narcissist have such open communication like this, so if he changes his behaviour they can probably work it out

[@KringleCakes55]

"JDW is fine, I'll be where he is" - Kimberly Foster 2021

[@khweziza5397]

This kinda movie is the same reason I didn’t like Euphoria. Overhyped visually appealing film with overstated meaning.

[@harriyanna]

that part.

[@klinksss]

I mean, everything this guy makes.

[@darkunicorn1203]

Underrated opinion I prefer Malcolm and Marie than Euphoria.

[@conniejoi5936]

I saw the trailer for this on Netflix and it was so....idk toxic looking! It looked depressing and reminded me of relationships I left in my past and that its self made me not want to put myself through actually watching. Idk if I'm making any sense 🤣😅

[@Blackcatsaregoodluck11]

Same sis same... I don’t feel like watching something like that 😂

[@conniejoi5936]

@@Blackcatsaregoodluck11 and the entire set takes place basically trapped in the house....trapped in that relationship??!! Yeah I think not! The trailer triggered me. It was just enough for me to say "nope! This is the reason my ex's are ex's!"😅

[@BondBaby1111]

Yes it does

[@reinankoubani6688]

It made me feel so uncomfortable but i loved it for that

[@nataliebee1090]

I think it’s Zendaya’s voice that makes her read adolescent

[@Ver.n331a]

It really is like I don’t know if there’s a way for her to work on that cause that’s what made her sound so unconvincing

[@sarakilburn2711]

Writing-wise, this type of film *needs* a dialogue god or else it simply won’t hit. An Aaron Sorkin/Sorkin type (The Social Network) would’ve delivered on those barbs and produced the realistic, overlapping vitriol needed to make these characters ugly, interesting and three-dimensional. They could’ve really taken it there. I’m rooting for Zendaya, truly I am, but IMO this was about 5-7 years premature. Nicole Behari would’ve bodied this in the meantime. I very much liked JDW here - but if we’re talking Oscar-worthiness - undercooked isn’t incorrect. But that said, Oscars have been won for less 🤷🏾‍♀️ Overall, I liked it. I liked what they were trying to do.

[@charrellecoates2314]

I love nichole behari. She is such an underrated actress. She can do no wrong in my eyes.

[@MerryMutant]

Nicole Beharie would have been perfect. She’s so underrated IMO.

[@gracious3283]

Indya Moore would've made more sense if they needed a type cast. I mostly wish there was more of a vocal shift in characterizing Marie. Totally agree on Malcolm's side as well. All points, all points on this review.

[@ruth5460]

I was thinking that too! I would've loved to see how they played Marie

[@mimicallsit7675]

They would’ve been an interesting choice.

[@CNJL1]

I wasn’t planning on watching it but once you said it is a movie where they just argue, I may give it a try. I love movies or episodes of tv shows that are basically one scene and mostly dialogue.

[@steviesosa5617]

Ooooo you're so toxic. That first sentence has me lmao. 😂

[@hopscotch39]

Same

[@your_dar_ling]

I just love your brand of media analysis. It's so thoughtful and self-aware.

[@graceblood6198]

This movie was so bad. So very bad. You said everything that needed to be said.

[@Assata111]

I saw your ig story of you going through this winter storm so I hope you’re staying warm and safe. And thank you for posting today.

[@tanzanianflowerchild3013]

The movie exhausted me but at least the soundtrack was lovely!

[@JessMahogany]

Another yes! The soundtrack. But damn the movie was so draining I forgot I liked the soundtrack until you reminded me.

[@mayacordalia]

The soundtrack was great

[@GaasubaMeskhenet]

As a malleable person, I'm so sick of unmalleable people projecting on me

[@chioma916]

whew! a word

[@alanawashere8681]

I go back and forth between, are they projecting or am I “adapting”

[@racqynathiri856]

@Alex Styles 😒😒😒😒

[@deej5608]

@Alex Styles because WE'RE NOT BIRACIAL. Also black people aren't monolithic you would know that fully black

[@kennosen1]

Yeah the intimate scenes for me was uncomfortable.

[@L0vegrumpycat]

I love your critiques! I really do learn a lot from your input. The narcissism and acting critique was so accurate. I couldn’t articulate this exact same point, but you do perfectly

[@kungfoopencileraser]

I felt like they were going for Who’s afraid of Virginia Wolfe but fell flat.

[@sistasoler77]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@QueenZay]

Yes!

[@tcrijwanachoudhury]

Love that film

[@naimacoleman1052]

I loved this movie. Watching and reading all the criticisms of it constantly gives me a sense that people have not come in contact with this level of toxicity and narcissism in their own lives. Through my own experience, I see their portrayal as potently accurate. The grandiosity of narcissism is real. Granted the yelling, with in art form, is intense and seems like a poor choice. But muted expression would be an even poorer choice in my opinion. People describe this movie as a cry for it to be seen as noteworthy, but it is literally two people crying to one another to be heard by one another. Unfortunately in my experience I’ve had conversations that parallel this movie. Most of the issues with this movie can be debunked, it is not flawless but it also did not fall flat as most people see it

[@deej5608]

Well said

[@StrawberryBlonde21]

As someone who has never been in a relationship, has had a very healthy normal life with zero drama with no experience of abuse and love, I found Malcolm and Marie incredibly good and tasteful and for me, ALL of it made sense. The yelling, the screaming, the pacing, all of it!

[@tahtz20]

I liked it, I have a thing for single setting films. What I don't like is the heavily, and overly "woke" criticism for any film with Black folks in it. In turn people mistaking it for a "Black film" and it wasn't. The dissertations & 10 page thesis on Twitter ruins it for me, and I don't even have Twitter lol. Movies are not always going to have these deep ass, historical, thought provoking context to it, and that's ok. Have y'all seen 80% of white people films? Lol I guess I was the only one not "triggered" by it. It was fresh to me.

[@lisacox3750]

same.

[@kaylathomas9333]

I completely agree with you in general that people are often overly critical of Black art. But in this case I think the Twitter theses are bc the movie tried to tackle very deep topics like abusive relationships, drug addiction, and racial identity. There is a lot to unpack with the themes, and from what I’m hearing (I haven’t watched the movie yet) the movie didn’t do a good job of covering them.

[@tahtz20]

@@kaylathomas9333 It wasn't supposed to. Which delves into my point of Black people looking for representation in things and being upset when it doesn't deliver, totally ignoring the fact that was never the direction it was supposed to go. There's a really good article in The LA Times about it his intentions. I just can't get upset at someone for telling a story that wasn't mine to tell.

[@lowrider276]

This comment would make more sense about another movie. Why wouldn't people criticize the politics in this movie, it's a political movie?

[@lowrider276]

@@tahtz20 "It wasn't supposed to" why even bring the topics up if your intention wasn't to be thoughtful? That is such a copout. Sometimes it's not the fact that people "just didn't get it", sometimes your movie just sucks

[@reyrey7775]

I think Zendaya is trying to go for more grown up roles due to her recent interviews. But I think one of the issues is despite age, she looks so much younger than the roles she plays and what her actual age is. She looks 15 - 16 and she’s trying to play a 30 year old or older. The talent is there, she just needs to wait until her physical appearance catches up with the roles she wants.

[@sophiarivera7364]

“People expect art to do things that only therapy can do, that only policy can do” Y E S

[@taresuriel6651]

"Marie is given equal time" is a stretch.

[@DnewNancy]

True... I felt John David carried the movie and had the best monologues...

[@stillkaryll8835]

Agree

[@kristen6207]

I love how vibrant you shine in this video. Your body language is expansive and captivating. You have a beautiful confidence and approachable conviction in your perspective. It seems like a positive progression from some of your past videos (I've enjoyed all of your content!) and is refreshing. Let your inner thoughts come through we are here for it!

[@Samsam-vq4se]

Yeah he has his mamas face and his daddy’s voice

[@Kashimana]

So I haven’t really watched Zendaya before and I thought her acting was great. I enjoyed it after I realized this is an argument between two people in a toxic relationship. I am not sure if you can film an argument of a toxic relationship in a way that won’t irk most of the audience. I agree it did try too hard at times but I went into it not quite knowing much about it.

[@kaylaadotwav]

I think Zoe Kravitz would’ve been amazing!

[@itscoriiiiiiiwokk]

I had to cut it off after 35 minutes just because the fighting was stressing me out 💀😭 might go back and try again but Idk if I can see a relationship as crazy as theirs.

[@larryy3133]

This was a play not a movie

[@jazzytanae]

Thandie Newton would have been a great Marie.

[@harlemw651]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@happiejaii97]

Zendaya was perfectly fine tho. The character was supposed to be in her early 20s. Also the dialogue, the way Marie allows Malcolm to talk to her the way she does. That’s all habits of someone in their early 20s?

[@mayacordalia]

@@happiejaii97 agreed

[@reclaimedandrested]

This was an earnest attempt. I'm a proponent of doing a thing, failing and doing better the next time. As an African American woman with an appreciation for the films of Jim Jarmusch and Hal Hartley I'm all for seeing non white actors explore the terrain of absurdist drama... It was good for what is was.

[@TheMusicmakesmehigh]

Small point to add but Zendaya wearing a vest for most of the movie also contributes to her ‘youngification’ or infantilisation.

[@alanawashere8681]

A vest?

[@SaikolaM]

I think a vest is what a tank top is called in England?

[@sheridan6589]

@Q E I’m assuming OP is based in the UK or somewhere similar where a “vest” refers to a tank top typically worn under clothes

[@alanawashere8681]

@@sheridan6589 this makes so much sense

[@alanawashere8681]

@@SaikolaM thank you

[@thefitmit]

I thought I would hate it but I liked it. The sounds like the inside of my brain when I’m dealing with something - hearing things through multiple perspectives, seeing it from different, contradictory lenses at the same time. It also looks like fights I have had in toxic relationships. I see a lot of myself in Marie. I see a lot of Malcolm in one or two past partners. I thought the dialogue was pretty spot on even though everyone else thought it was heavy handed and exhausted. I also have ADHD and am an overcommunicator so that could be why. The age different doesn’t feel strange to me - in the way it reflects reality. I know plenty of people who have gone through that type of shit at 20 and are grown grown at 24. I wish I was surprised that Malcolm at 36 is that immature but I’m not. People who have issue seeing Zendaya as a woman need to just....see past the Disney and flat chestedness of it all. Not everyone is built like Kim K. Kim K isn’t even built like Kim K.

[@Yeporoonie2]

I just wish it came with a verbal abuse warning because I was not expecting to see my trauma play out on screen for 2 hours 🥴

[@AmarieRedLipstick]

I got through about 40 minutes of the movie and from that limited viewpoint my main issue with it being written by a white man is the many times Malcom and Marie talk about white people (between arguments). I should finish the movie to get a clearer picture but in the first 40 minutes it seemed like there was this idea that black people sit around discussing white people a lot more than we do. It felt strange.

[@reallyitsjackiev.meadows7578]

I wonder if people wanted this to be the love story for the light skin, dark skin couple that many times is held up across media? And that is not what this was for people. Kim great review and breakdown.

[@thesoftestrevolution5626]

TOTALLY agree, JDW was so unhinged in this role that I couldn't even enjoy his rants (which I mostly agreed with!) He needed more subtlety, the loose cannon didn't give me narcissist, it actually pulled me out of the performance on many occasions.

[@deej5608]

Really because I felt it work perfectly. As someone who knew narcissists with a bipolar disorder it fit

[@thesoftestrevolution5626]

@@deej5608 I think the problem was that it was so one note. When you have these loooong monologues they should feel more like a song - taking us up and bringing us down and having a climax etc. The performance lacked texture imo.

[@mphorebo]

You are a blessing to listen to. Because your word about the social disconstruction of art, as an aspiring writer and director, is the language I've learned (without questioning it) as a spectator of commentary, critic and culture. I'm definitely gonna think on this🤔

[@GothMusicLatinAmerica]

This sounds like something that would have worked better as a play than a movie.

[@hipnhappenin]

Everytime Washington went on his animated yelly diatribes I immediately thought, "King Kong got nothin on me!"

[@gannjem]

"listening to somebody yell for 6 minutes is tiring." YEP !!

[@katelinburch446]

It’s uncomfortable to watch especially if you’ve been in a relationship with someone like Malcolm 🙃

[@fedorah8315]

Wouldn’t Lakeith be a better Malcom?

[@erinnmjones]

🤔

[@anony1596]

you're a genius

[@TheMusicmakesmehigh]

Personally I think a yt boy edgy type would be better ... I just hate Levinson’s post-black agenda

[@fedorah8315]

TheMusicmakesmehigh i’m seeing Shia LaBoeuf if we’re going white man

[@steviesosa5617]

@@fedorah8315 Shia needs to stay in whatever treatment facility he's currently in. That being said, I absolutely agree. He literally could've been himself for this movie.

[@mmaolisae3675]

"People are excepting art to do things that only therapy can do." Oooh now that's a word. I don't think the film was mediocre, but I really appreciate your commentary. You made some really insightful and valid points. I'm actually surprised that ppl hated it, but then again I'm not that surprised. 🙃

[@yanii2187]

I genuinely believe that Malcom and Marie would be a better movie if they created a prequel for the movie where we got to see the speech and the party.