queen and slim was not good...

[@6eluved618]

Is it really that hard to make a black dark skin girl the main character of a cute coming of age film where she falls in love with a sweet heartthrob while trying to understand herself and who she is/becoming??

[@Lavenderluvsbooks]

I would also like the heart throb to be dark skin 💌

[@semiloreayo-gbenjo1370]

THATS ALL I ASK FOR 😩

[@asmerasmith3724]

!!!!!

[@lanatiffany7599]

Jen Jen Hey, I honestly think you should still make the movie! I’d love to see it

[@lunalipsb]

Exactly! And regarding the comments under this post...we shouldn’t be the ones who make these kinds of movies...Hollywood and big production and film places should want to make this film and give it the budget it deserves. That way a larger audience can see it too. And hopefully it will change the narrative. I understand that we can “make our own table” but a lot of us don’t have the budget

[@ashareeuniquee]

I’m so tired of people only giving dark skin woman masculine roles. We never get popular love stories instead we get struggle love movies where the woman is always desperate. I’m so sad that even other black woman can only see us as stereotypes and never just people who exist in the same world as them as normal people. We just want to be seen as people we want to be mediocre and still get jobs we don’t always want to save the day, we want a cute and quirky coming of age story but it always seems like there never reserved for us.

[@carlissiawilkins4432]

This is really off topic but- you're so pretty 😍!

[@ashareeuniquee]

Carlissia Wilkins omg thank you so much 😭🥰💕💕

[@ashareeuniquee]

Herbivore Hailey omg that sounds so cool and something that we barely see with bw When your finished I’d love to read it

[@letmedistancemyself3311]

Herbivore Hailey me too! I want to support

[@bloxygigi7736]

@Herbivore Hailey im so gonna read it

[@KaylinB]

I hate movies like this there so depressing for no reason, as a black person I wanna see us do cool shit on screen not stuff about slavery or the police, there was also some other movie with Ashton Sanders that made me super sad its on HBO max it got dark for literally no reason and it didn't have to

[@johanna9845]

right! i wish happy endings weren't seen as overused or like childish i guess? pls just let us have a good time

[@KaylinB]

johanna exactly i don’t even necessarily want happy endings just people that look like me and act similar to me doing cool shit on screen

[@tajmahal8472]

The movie with Ashton Sanders was Native Son. It's actually based on a popular novel of the same name. Richard Wright wrote the book during the 1930s, so that would explain the somber nature of the movie's subject matter.

[@johanna9845]

@Herbivore Hailey yeah :O it's always been wild to me how fantasy is one of the most outlandish genres yet they apparently can't fathom having a main character who isn't white cishet and abled :|

[@diamcole]

I like to see a bit of everything. We're more than our pain so seeing fantasy, comedies, dramas, etc. are amazing. I also tend to be the kind of person who likes the harsh reality of things, even if it makes me uncomfortable, because those experiences are valid as well.

[@LifeAndWrestling]

I would like to see more versatility in our stories. Horror: Yes black people get scared too. Sci-fi: Afrofuturism is interesting. We could tell stories around that. Fantasy: African mythology would be a good starting point for this genre. Coming of Age: I'm too old to for this but black love amongst the young are stories that needs to be told. Superhero: We just need more. (Luke Cage, Black Lightning, Black Panther, Storm, Falcon "AKA Captain America ", Miles Morales "Spiderman", Vixen, Misty Knight)

[@sydnipollard4920]

YES

[@dancingdivaa97]

Yessss

[@leseditladi4916]

LOUDER FOR THE PEOLE IN THE BACK 🔥🔥❤️

[@miaya.micronis]

I love reading and I know there’s books for most of those genres. I love movies as well books are good concept for films. Sci-fi: Octavia E. Butler books Aforfuturism: Also Octavia Butler books (but when I think about one story, she does struggle, still a fun story tho) African mythology: Tomi Adeyemi Children of Blood and Bone (this series has Atla levels of storytelling)

[@bigstunna2049]

We're good on superheroes but we need more romance and scifi movies

[@dama6742]

as a white person, i honesty just want a black cast for a movie with a similar concept to Lady Bird, Booksmart or To All The Boys... these type of movies(Queen&Slim, The Hate You Give) are educational indeed and i personally learned a lot but there are sooo many and black people deserve happiness and fulfillment on screen (as well as outside).

[@user-hb4zz4gh5e]

I agree (I’m not white but I’m not black either) I just want to see black people being portrayed as more than just their race

[@dama6742]

@@user-hb4zz4gh5e exactly!!

[@mhgni.b6314]

Thts all we want!! those movies are so cute and charming.We want one too😢

[@dama6742]

@@mhgni.b6314 understandably so!

[@vids1900]

White and agree with this

[@lightsoff9008]

every movie with a black predominant cast is set in the hood

[@Bonitaymorena]

the films in the 90s had more variety for example Eve's Bayou, Daughters of the Dust, the Feast Of All Saints. There used to be so many up until the early or mid 2000s. Like where is the variety?.... all black people are not involved in crime/living in the hood. Doesn't mean you are rich.... you can be middle class or even lower middle class or poor and still not necessarily living in crime ridden area. I don't understand why the same narrative keeps getting pushed.

[@titanjoc]

@@Bonitaymorena The 90s had a lot of diversity and variety of all types. It felt like we went backwards in progress.

[@dudeguy7347]

The Strange Thing About the Johnsons (2011 short) ?

[@josepha133]

Watch This Is Us!

[@Amandascx]

except for Jordan Peele movies

[@wuraolaolagunju]

Thank you!! I just want a film where a dark skin black girl who discovers they have magic powers or something, like Bonnie Bennett or Storm. I'm done with stuggle films.

[@TerrW]

Go watch a Wrinkle in Time then

[@TerrW]

@Herbivore Hailey frl expected more from Ava

[@semiloreayo-gbenjo1370]

Herbivore Hailey where can I find your comic? Is it published anywhere?

[@tajmahal8472]

@Herbivore Hailey Drop the link please! The ppl wanna support your comic🙇🏾‍♀️

[@adanma5499]

I'm trying to write a book like this! but it's rlly hard to stay motivated :(

[@18shadowolf]

I really just want cute black movies when we don't have to deal with tragedies, like how come we can't get cool movies we find a magic sword or travel to so different world or I don't know some normal Coming of Age movie were we don't have to get traumatized.

[@18shadowolf]

@Herbivore Hailey like me and my friends were just talking about this the other day , we were having a hard time coming up with a list of movies.

[@corycianangel6321]

Not a movie, but you might just described Craig of the Creek. I enjoyed that cartoon!

[@18shadowolf]

@This Nigerian Loves Garri nope I did the exact same thing a few years ago. In the long run it is way better for your mental health

[@pidgethepigeon2706]

@@corycianangel6321 craig of the creek is such a cute show! i'm glad there's more episodes coming out rn.

[@nanaAnn96]

Unfortunately its a reality in America where your looked at as black before being looked at as a person. The black experience can be a painful one. But I see what u mean. Ive noticed only sad fucked up black movies get alot of recognition and awards. Why not have a positive one.❗

[@curvesbyada]

Yes, I knew I was going to be annoyed when they immediately made the dark skin women (queen) with an attitude and super mean.

[@nanaAnn96]

Yeah but it was because of her past not her skin color and you see them both change each other for the better thats that black love ❤

[@Ray03595]

@@nanaAnn96 It's just the fact we can barley name any media where a dark skin black woman isn't depicted as aggressive. It's so tiring.

[@lazybunny4538]

Yeah but she had a tough past, she struggled a lot but she overcame it and became a lawyer, another struggle as black women in this career. I loved her character ❤️❤️❤️ when slim helps let her barrier down she becomes more gentle and trusting

[@stevesharpe3370]

@@Ray03595 she’s not aggressive she was blunt and real. White women are extremely cold, rude and cutthroat they’re just two faced about it

[@isaac2560]

she’s so pretty y’all 😭 like do y’all see her ???

[@kiid.mystikofficial5089]

bro 💀....

[@art.thomas]

Just to be nit-picky: I thought it was funny that Slim never drank and never smoked, and we see him do both without flinching or coughing... HE A LIE!

[@amandamaryanna]

LOL

[@apdanielski]

Not a nit-pick at all, that's legit criticism.

[@tootietalks]

That's because we had to smoke and drink just to watch it 🤣

[@HeIsHim00]

I mean you know u going to jail do somethings like make an adventure

[@YEDxFILMS]

@@HeIsHim00 You missed the point

[@kuyenalcantara8341]

i've never seen this movie (im latinx btw) but tbh i feel like there's waaaaaayyy too many films about like struggles of being black (or just a poc in general) because at this point most of it is kinda repetitive and it just kinda feels like it's going with the narrative of "white people are happy! and black/poc are suffering and in a constant state of tragedy!! oh so sad :(" like we can have a happy life and it's universal that poc go through racism n stuff so can we have more simple and wholesome movies? or where there is challenges but it's not racism (or other than)

[@zqfira2545]

Exactly! I honestly feel like it's become dehumanizing. Like the only feeling we feel is anger or frustration. As if we cant be sad over a boy, or mad at our parents for not letting us go to a party like they do with storylines for white characters. We are so much more than just black.

[@kuyenalcantara8341]

@@zqfira2545 exactly!

[@OReily08080]

Can I watch a black lead, or maybe a black main cast go through something “NORMAL?”Can I see a black girl be quirky, nerdy, sweet, a damsel in distress and not be heavily mistreated, sexually assaulted, or dismissed? Can they be in a sci-fi, fantasy, romcom? I even want a cliche romcom, but nothing to do with race. I’m done with stories that have race be the narrative

[@GABBINGWITHGABI]

Watch Blood & Water on Netflix!

[@OReily08080]

@@GABBINGWITHGABI I did and I loved it! There should be more shows like that.

[@notokayever390]

@@GABBINGWITHGABI literally thank you so so much

[@YEDxFILMS]

Check out “Dope.” Hood…sure…Race brought up…sure…but it was an awesome movie

[@glorificusbarryhex]

Queen and Slim should have been a music video. It was shot like one.

[@TerrW]

There's room for both movies about the black struggle and for comedies or movies that aren't inherently about the racism and the black struggle. I really just think we should be advocating for more black films in all genres of film. (Btw i don't think the is that bad definitely have issues with it but overall it's ok) I would like to hear your thoughts on Waves too, cause I really like that film and see that black twitter also has a problem with that film too and shout out to Jamaica 🇯🇲 😂 cause I live there

[@Jaylah234]

i’m so tired of black suffering movies, i just want to see a dark skin black woman have a personality not revolving around the fact that she is black. i want a movie that doesn’t play into harmful stereotypes, i want a coming of age movie where there can be a happy ending and we can see black happiness.

[@stevesharpe3370]

She didn’t play into any harmful stereotypes. Happy endings are bull💩 no matter what they are, don’t give me that Hollywood bs

[@GlamorGrowthTravelwithMica]

I refuse to watch any black struggle films. I don’t even watch films on racism.

[@wuraolaolagunju]

Same. I not risking my mental health like that watching things that will definitely make me feel more depressed

[@ozioma]

it's so draining

[@lunalipsb]

Same. I know I should but....we deal with this shit everyday. It’s so emotionally draining.

[@nanaAnn96]

U should reconsider it was a moving movie. Titanic be having me HYSTERICAL but I still watch it cause it is a good movie

[@inkheart01]

Same

[@darnellrobinson6967]

I wholeheartedly agree with your views on the film, also I agree with the precedent that there are always timid critics for films on and by POC! This film definitely lacked clarity and depth, they were just wallowing around the whole movie! I want to see films that are like marriage story but with Black people! Average Americans who are going through something, Hollywood romanticizes black struggle generally! YOU’RE RECEIVING HEAT FOR NOT SEEING SELMA 😂! Also I’m gonna be super film kid and ask for your Letterboxd?!

[@amandamaryanna]

Darnell Robinson I agree! Also I don’t rly use letterboxd but maybe I’ll start!

[@cassettetape27]

that protest/sex scene was so uncomfortable to watch it made no sense 😭

[@preciousa.9976]

I know, right?! And then the kid shoots a cop and it's like, what was that about? Nothing ever comes of it.

[@nealmcbealthenavysealicall794]

@@preciousa.9976 I think it was because he said that he wanted to be immortal. So when you look back at it, it can be seen as dying for a cause?!? At least that's what I can put together.

[@christianchappell4193]

They literally did it for no reason

[@tootietalks]

Yeah he could have committed suicide at the lake for that

[@stephenolan5539]

Didn't this happen in real life or at least similar at one point between the movie and your post?

[@monicacreator3168]

(Not really commenting on your video, just thinking) Black movie shouldn't have to be profound, good or have to say anything really, white people have plenty of mediocre movies but no one is telling them to stop making movie. We should have the right to the same treatment

[@Gremlins2]

agreed but i feel like the patronizing she talks about near the start of the video is stemming from that same idea, like yeah let the mediocre black film cup runneth over but they should be put under the same scrutiny as mediocre white films

[@monicacreator3168]

@@Gremlins2 yes I agree. That's why I said that I wasn't responding to her video directly, just thinking my thoughts out loud in a way

[@monicacreator3168]

@This Nigerian Loves Garri I'm not comparing our movies I'm just thinking that to find a good white movie, we have to look through dozens of bad one, and in a way that's their force. If you dont put the pressure on black people to do good movies, we would be more free to do what we want, you know what I mean? Also I'm not criticizing Amanda's video, it just made me think

[@selwatchesyt]

Totally agree. I had a lot of problems with this movie but the filmmakers should still be allowed to tell more stories. Plus this was their first movie. Hollywood only wants certain stories told about black people and that strongly affects the stories black creatives can tell in mainstream movies. So many white writers and directors continuously make mediocre films and have successful careers. This should be allowed for black creators as well. Even though I hate Tyler Perry films with my entire soul.

[@kekedawson4415]

i love your persona 5 pfp omg

[@yourfavoritepessimisticexi8041]

After watching the movie my dad said that one of the movie's lessons was that "not every black person is your friend and not every white person is your enemy" or something along those lines

[@angel-dx1mv]

im glad you brought it up because i been dying to talk about it for a hot minute!

[@marcuswashington5982]

Thank you! I thought I was alone in not liking a majority of these movies, even had my blackness questioned over it. I just want more movies about black people that's not ONLY about our struggle.

[@selwatchesyt]

Marcus Washington From what I saw on the Internet, not liking Queen & Slim was a popular opinion. Guess it just depends on who you follow.

[@marcuswashington5982]

It was mainly people my friends that really dogged me for not liking this movie. And any negative review of it was supposedly (the r-word that youtube doesn't like) or just didn't understand it.

[@mimigraham22]

this touched on all my issues with Queen and Slim! i think the film was trying to show how black love can be revolutionary or whatever but it REALLY missed the mark. If Beale Street Could Talk did it so much better. that film was able to capture how even in the face of violent white supremacy, the beauty of black love can still shine through. but i mean, Barry Jenkins is in a league of his own when it comes to filmmaking lol

[@tajmahal8472]

Thank you! Barry Jenkins DID the damn thing

[@mimigraham22]

@@tajmahal8472 right! i'm so excited to see more of his work. i really don't think he can make a bad film lol

[@IrishMorgenstern]

As a white person in the south, I avoided the movie. I was raised in a place where Black people can disappear, "commit suicide " or be ran out of town to this day. I am well versed in black pain scholastically as well. Being the cheering spectator to the black joy parade is just as important. It gives us the recharge we need to keep fighting. Gotta keep a balance. I have also noticed many white people are very ignorant of black happiness due to many of the black pain narratives. They avoid them because it is a black story we have heard a million times. The same message over and over becomes desensitizing. And my black friends have said it is traumatic to keep reliving this media. So I'm trying to share and consume more media about black happiness, especially black women's stories. Ultimately I'm an ally. So my opinion is irrelevant in comparison to black opinion. I just know for my mental health as well, I gotta take a break and see black children smiling too.

[@katgreer6113]

Wdym your opinion is irrelevant?

[@IrishMorgenstern]

@@katgreer6113 I am a bisexual white woman. I have degrees in Art History and Religious Studies with a Masters in Communication. While I can understand and evaluate art from other cultures on an objective point, it would be completely irresponsible for me to assign any subjective quality to a work that is designed to express a culture outside of my own. I am not black, I do not have to live the black experience. So I defer to black people's opinions on art depicting black stories. I do this for all cultures.

[@lithofayne4537]

This is literally everything i wanna say but didn't feel like typing

[@Sweeti924]

@@IrishMorgenstern what do you know about Islam? And Mohammed pbuh ?

[@AndreVeaseyJr]

Im black. What your saying is what I'm thinking.

[@OReily08080]

I saw this title and was like “...yes.” Can we not have another black struggle movie? Like I’m just tired of seeing black characters going through “black” struggles. I’m done with the slavery, I’m done with the many discrimination and fight the system movies, I’m done worth the Tyler Perry and Empire, I’m done with shows and movies dealing with drugs, jail, gangs, etc. Not EVERY black person has experienced that

[@Joined4theVideos]

I would have loooovvvveeeddd if they made it to Cuba. I would have forgiven the rest of the movie if they made it.

[@thechemi5083]

Exactly, the ending only made it worse

[@Mzshaunafoolwitit]

That part!!!

[@kateweber2885]

i know this ain't the point but your eyeliner looks so good dude

[@iendorseyou]

Your skin is beautiful and your eyes are genuinely magical. I love you!! Great video

[@isthatachicken]

Siiiiis I avoided watching this movie and literally last week...I gave it a try and I couldn't sit through 30 minutes because I felt like they kept making bad decisions? Idk but Queen really kept preparing for the worst by MAKING things worse? But let me listen to your well structured video with opinions that are based on ACTUALLY watching the film 😅 The look of the movie was great though, I'll give them that and the actors did what they had to 🔥✨

[@brownpanther2953]

nah i loved this movie. without comparing to black movie stereotypes and shit, just viewing the movie independently i loved it.

[@fionagallagherapologist5968]

right?? i understand the criticism and the comments but i mostly just loved their love story because love IS revolutionary! their relationship was in itself a protest. as black people, our lives are so fragile so the fact that they had each other just felt so special

[@heiselijah4676]

I like the movie but I get what your saying and yeah black struggle movies need to end

[@matthaniadelice1409]

Elijah Vibey No one said they needed to end. We need more complexity of plots, characters, and a revolution of plot lines.

[@walwin]

@@matthaniadelice1409 That is literally all anyone has said in this comment section 😂

[@nrmf]

Idk if it’s me but I remember watching it in the movie theaters and loving it! I was like 14 at the time but I remember really feeling happy and moved and the ending got me so mad😭. But I can definitely see why people don’t like it and i can now see why it’s actually not as great as I thought it was. Maybe the movie wasn’t good but as an Afro Latino, it felt refreshing to at least see a well produced and shot movie with black love and characters I can actually root and feel for.

[@DarionDAnjou]

totally respect your opinion of the movie especially since you mentioned that you didn't really believe the love story. while i loved the movie i can respect that if you didn't believe the nature of the relationship from the outset then it would totally affect your reception. of the movie that said in response to the movie "not moving the needle" on the realty of the pain we suffer, i'd like to offer a different perspective on that. i think the value that Queen & Slim brings is that it humanizes the story around the people involved in these stories of police on black brutality in America, which is an aspect that gets sorely lost in the media frenzy around these events. it's precisely for this reason that the movie is slow and focuses on all these "simple" moments, like stopping for gas, dancing, riding horses, and that's super real because you see that every day even though many of us are living under threat, in a war zone, even with warrants outstanding, bill collectors coming at us, inherently unwelcome even at the highest levels of education success and prominence, yet we can't sustain a constant state of "fight or flight" - at some point most people will simply take a break from that stress to enjoy simple things, especially in the seemingly oddest of moments logically. For me i think all that connected especially since i was bought in on the relationship. i can see that if you weren't bought in on the budding romance though, then the attention to those stolen "moments" in the midst of chaos would aliso not ring as true. ok so why specifically i think i connected with the relationship. i'm gonna say there was an authenticity to her character as the "defensive successful black woman" which is an issue very specific to black women in the usa 🇺🇸- maybe it's present elsewhere but definitely it's a thing here - where there are those extra layers of dating hurt and baggage, definitely legitimate, but they wear it on the surface. I feel like Slim has exactly the laid back character and patience to accept a lot of that for long enough for her guard to wear down. and it takes a brother with just that type of personality for that to work because too many of us, most of us, don't have the patience to put up with all that initial attitude coming at us hot off the rip before we've even done anything wrong. understandable sure but in the dating world of black fragile egos this most often results in a connection NOT happening. especially as a lot of us black men feel we have so many options and don't have the time - or the ego - to put up with that shit. i feel like Queen and Slim was accurately depicting this particularly and specifically troublesome aspect of black dating and romance, while also showing us one potential path, however prickly, to finding each other. like here's the roadmap of what it takes to get through that, while being under fire by the world which we are.

[@jorge4250]

Loved this. More people read this pls.

[@flyshitonly24]

Wrong

[@fionagallagherapologist5968]

that's exactly how i feel :3

[@sewerbabyyyy]

Thank you for talking about this, your channel has quickly become one of my favorites!!

[@Prestelle]

I feel you. Something I got out fo the movie was that we shouldn't wait until "we're on the run" to really live. We should take every opportunity to live in the moment, that life is precious.

[@andrea-ns6vq]

can we not have another black film specifically one starring dsbw where the struggle is based off sjw-ness and making political statements? these films are like trauma porn for yt people lol.

[@Jyn.Andors]

It kind of feels like the only roles for black actors in film these days are for 'struggle' roles. Which sucks!

[@Cloudbreeez]

Okay but the fact that it was all going down at the beginning was kind of the deal breaker to it being HIGHLY dull towards the middle👏🏾

[@faithtomorrow]

All the long, unnecessary dialogue... 😪

[@marabelacqua2674]

I really appreciate hearing your opinion - I'm white, and I watched the movie a couple of weeks ago and honestly didn't really know how to feel about it. I think I gave it like a 4/5 because it was pretty and made me feel things... I really hear you on the whole thing about white people not wanting to critique BIPOC-centric media. I think for me I was mostly confused on how to feel about the various side characters that they met along the way; I usually am alllll about picking apart stereotypes (especially in rom-coms and stuff), but I felt like I wasn't familiar enough with the actual people that all those side characters would be based on, so I wasn't sure whether they were realistic or not. I also felt really thrown off by that protest scene. It definitely felt like it was trying to say something, I just... wasn't sure what that was?? By the end, I was kind of guessing that the "message" of the film was that you would expect them to get caught at some point, but that the solidarity of the black community (even black police officers) is a powerful force, but then also that that solidarity can fall apart if just one person is put by society into a situation where they would choose to turn someone else in for money. Idk. But I definitely agree with you - I came out of it feeling pretty down but not like I had really learned anything big. It was also interesting to watch so soon after seeing Thelma & Louise for the first time, since that one was a little more engaging (although I didn't really like the ending to that one either 🙁). Sorry for the long comment... 😬 I love your videos!! Hope you have a nice day! 😊🌿💛✨

[@nadiavalentino312]

I think the movie was slow to emphasize the moments that they truly lived and really experienced love because they knew that was it for them. I loved the movie, but there should be less black struggle movies fr.

[@isabeli.6735]

Heyoo I’m a non-Black POC and I did think a lot about this movie after I saw it. At first I thought it was a pretty well crafted story about police violence with a great cast. When I started thinking more Queen & Slim to me definitely reveals the fact that non-Black and especially White audiences are often centered when Black stories are being told. The movie industry doesn’t allow Black creators to tell stories or make movies that engage them as whole beings, but partial ones.

[@FloEbem]

She said “yea Chile... the actual movie tho” LOL I knew you were about to spit facts

[@CoachThom16]

I respectfully disagree. Great movie, great performances, great premier and I thought great chemistry. Thanks for your opinion

[@someone-go8ee]

That was the first time I ever saw Nicki say LLLLLLIIIIEEEEE without it Ariana being dubbed over it

[@juliusnirving6120]

I felt like the film did what it was trying to do and people just wasn’t feeling it 🤷🏾‍♂️I thought it was pretty good

[@LifeAndWrestling]

It was ok but followed the same formula.

[@dinadjadavis706]

I am so glad you mentioned this. I feel the same as a black women the main films we still get are black struggle folms, slavery biopics, or the black best in a decent movie we still need more diversity in black films.

[@McBaller96]

It's one thing to want more black films that are centered around hopefulness and different genres but I feel like it's kinda wrong to say that Queen and Slim wasn't good. You can criticize the film industry without bringing down actors and producers that worked hard and showed out for their work

[@giaxalyse]

Yes I agree! While I'm so happy that black female directors/screenwriters and black leads with darker skin (colorism within hollywood is ridiculous where is the diversity within the "diversity"? etc are finally getting the screentime and acknowledgement we've been waiting for but we still have to look at it objectively as a movie or else we’re just giving into the narrative that predominantly Black movies aren’t up to par with their white counterparts :/ (speaking of which have you done an analysis or video on the success of “Friends” vs “Living Single” (essentially the same show but white vs black actors) because That would be cool to see!!) Also People can like this movie! I’m all for having opinions (even though I personally didn’t like it for the same reasoning you have because Queen and Slim’s choices were so out of left field (even though she was a lawyer??) and it didn’t make any sense to me, plus it was too long), but I feel that a lot of people (including other black people) liked it just for the diversity as opposed to the cinematic elements such as editing, character development, pacing. Kind of reminds me how most of the movies with black leads that Hollywood greenlights have to deal with the struggles of being Black. Hmm what a coincidence (lol not). Give us some slice of life man haha. Or just a movie normalizing being Black? Also the casting call for Queen was so racist ugh

[@amandamaryanna]

totally agree with what you're saying and yes I forgot to mention but that casting call was like wtf!

[@nannimccheese]

Before I watch this, I just want you to know that you are so beautiful 💖🥺

[@rustyAF]

I’m politely requesting for this to be my new favorite youtube film review channel

[@MadisynBrown]

this is a great analysis and you articulated it beautifully, .i felt like this was just another ~black people get killed move~. im really tired of seeing these kinds of movies... we get it! Who is this movie made for? is it made for black people because we already know this. I'd rather watch movies where we are regular rpeople. we don't always have to be struggling etc. maybe if this movie was made for white people there would be a clearer purpose. but white people don't watch these movies because they see them as black movies only meant for black people.

[@naomikama2245]

Cool to see you here ! I love your channel btw^^

[@RoseEyed]

This is one of the reasons I appreciate Issa Rae and Jordan Peele though I haven't seen all of their works. I don't just want to see movies about Black people struggling from poverty, racism, violence, and drug addiction. It's a valid story, but that's NOT all we are. And it's definitely not my story personally. Big companies can pigeon hole us into these stories, but the sad part is sometimes we do it to ourselves.

[@ozioma]

now i don't feel so bad for never watching it 😗😋

[@zekewalker1350]

have the writers/director ever explained what they were getting at with that sex scene intercut? Like I don’t know a single person who understood that moment. Like wtf

[@ar-jv5fc]

not on topic but you’re so pretty 🥺🥺❤️

[@mstcherie13]

I loveeed this movie. I was so into it. I do agree that it's another film based on race baiting. That's defo a given. However in itself I did like it. It's a shame that we have to go to Netflix to find a bigger variety of movies and even then a lot of the characters are the same. Still liked it though. It's kind of conflicting. I think slim said something very important about black people being themselves and not having to be excellent all the time. That is one thing that I will definitely take away.

[@micheleweinberger]

EYE thought that their lack of chemistry was like.... the point. They're immortalized as this like revolutionary black Bonnie and Clyde by the public, but really they were just two people who went on a shitty date and had something horrible happen to them!! and no one else will ever know the REALITY of their actual relationship because they projected this radically pro-black image onto them :(

[@micheleweinberger]

thank you for coming to my ted talk

[@aprirot]

i'm loving your film/video essay-type videos recently!! my favorite genre on youtube & i love hearing your takes and opinions

[@lillost]

I haven’t seen this film, but I’m tired of black plight movies... even when done well. The Hate U Give, See you Yesterday, Queen & Slim, Fruitvale Station, etc are all modern movies that center their interactions with the police and they get critically acclaimed. I’m not saying they’re bad films, but it seems like Black movies only get attention when black people are in trouble (12 Years a Slave, Moonlight, The Color Purple, etc.) Can we please get some suburban movies that aren’t driven by race relations??? I’m talking Edge of Seventeen, Booksmart, Little Women, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Whip It, etc.

[@lisah3460]

Perks of Being a Wallflower may not have been a Black struggle film but it was kind of a film about a struggle (ex. mental health, child molestation) We have enough Black films about that. But I do admit Wallflower was kind of uplifting at the end.

[@sheageek]

its a reality check. the movie touched on EVERTHING going on our community. I resonated so well, with characters, questions they had, the settings, etc. It felt real, like this was a true black film.

[@Oae119]

this is the first video i watched of you, and i'll never forget the first thought that came to my mind the moment i saw your face: this girl is funny. you never said anything funny in this video, but it was something about you that told me you were a funny girl and i laughed when you ended up revealing that you were a stand up comic😂 my intuition is literally unmatched

[@dillonmichaels6037]

I wanna watch movies with a predominantly black cast and black main character soooo badly but I find that a lot of them are about race or a struggle film. And I’m all for showcasing racial injustice in film but I wish that was ALL that was shown in black films,. Like I watch movie to escape reality and with my anxiety struggle movies are just really detrimental to my mental health 😔

[@dillonmichaels6037]

@Lyric Ervin I never said there weren’t any but there definitely aren’t nearly as many as those that portray other races, mainly white people, as being more than just their race. There aren’t very many sci fi, fantasy, or coming of age/romantic movies that features black main characters skin color is not the forefront of their life/personality. There are a few but, again, not nearly as many as there are for people of other races.

[@walwin]

I literally JUST watched it and I vaguely remember when it first came out a lot of people saying they didn't like it, but obviously I had no context to form an opinion. So like, I don't agree with you - but I totally see where you're coming from. I loved the film, but I'm in an awkward spot because I too am sick of black trauma films. Someone in the comments said it was shot like a music video - and that is 100% my vibe. Cinematically, you can't fault the film whatsoever. But I dug the story too. It was esoteric and slightly off centre. Like the part with the kid at the gas station holding the gun. There are SO MANY white films that have random shit like that and it's a vibe. So, yes I too am completely over black trauma films - but they're a part of our lives and a story like this is so real and so relevant. It just feels super reductive to see everyone on here and on Twitter shitting on these types of films.

[@Josh123benja]

THANK YOU! I'm mixed race white and black and I saw this movie with a girl who didn't understand why I didn't like the movie. She was telling me that this is what it's like to be a black person all the time, which I thought was an interesting thing to be informing a brown-skinned 6-ft one dude with an afro. The movie definitely tackles serious issues, but to me it was so far up its own ass that it was hard to take seriously. My white friends keep telling me it's good though, so I guess I'm wrong

[@AreaFiftyJuan]

I have seen the film 5 times, and honestly it is one of my favorite movies of all-time. I never once was thinking..."oh here we go again, this is another black-agenda-driven movie and how life is bad for them." Never once did I ever see race or color in this film, even though it does imply it on occasions to remind the viewers that things like this DO HAPPEN, and it's okay to bring awareness and feel frightening in times when...things are not looking so good. So when I see you and every ones in your comments hating/disliking the movie not really getting what it really is about, you are adding to the problem. If all of you really see it as a sad-tragic story about black people, try watching it again without feeling that way and you will gain a deeper appreciation about the story. I really, really, love this movie. Well written, and directed. Hopefully you give it a chance again and watch it. I have been showing it to everyone and everyone has loved it so far...I'm surprised I came across this.

[@desiree2010]

I DEFINITELY agree

[@thechemi5083]

I loved the movie , just somethings were so random and out of place

[@AreaFiftyJuan]

@@thechemi5083 It's a movie. Lol.

[@thechemi5083]

@@AreaFiftyJuan so movies aren't supposed to make sense now??

[@AreaFiftyJuan]

@@thechemi5083 Have they ever? For god-sakes, they have sound in space, and for some reason, when you shoot a spacecraft down...is sinks...NOT ACCURATE. Lol, why are you so sour. I'm not attacking you for what you said.

[@selwatchesyt]

I totally agree with your critique. I feel like this movie was more about aesthetic and plot than chemistry and characters. It seemed like Lena had an outline of scenes she wanted and it didn’t make sense how she got to the those scenes or maybe didn’t analyze whether the list of scenes made sense together. I believe an artist should be able to make whatever stories they want but READ THE ROOM. At the time, the black community was so demoralized and exhausted by stories of police brutality. If you wanted to make a tragic retelling of what’s going on, it shouldn’t be advertised as a story with a possible satisfying ending. The child with the gun scene was definitely unnecessary, unrealistic, and put in for shock value. Lena said she wanted to show consequences to a black couple getting notoriety for killing a cop but it was poor execution. I hope Lena and the director learned a lot and grow from this movie. They should definitely get chances to create more in the future because a lot of people drop the ball making their first film. It’s just unfortunate we had to suffer through it.

[@JebWhiskers]

I tried giving this movie a chance, but then it completely lost me with the sex scene/protest scene! 😖

[@mundaneamazing]

That was so weird and in such poor taste. What did it meeeeean? The cinematography is too good and the actors are too beautiful for me to ever say it's 'bad'; That's reductive, but it was pretty disappointing and re-traumatizing.

[@whatislife3603]

I thought that was wrong too 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@wastedad7123]

Haven't even watched the video to say agree. *Now back to the show* Edit: You hit the nail on the head. I saw this movie and I felt kinda excited watching them on the run and winning. Then the sex scene turned me off and the end made me cry like hell. I was unconsolable for an hour afterwards. I never watch snuff shots of people getting killed by police. NEVER. To see in such a big screen, to see it so clearly... I know it was a movie and its not real but this was awful and traumatizing. Seriously, thinking about it is making me sad. Like if I was a severe racist, I would love the ending and thats why I hate it. Why can't there be nice endings for Black people? If Beale Street Could Talk was a disappointing ending because of this. I just wish there were more happy ending movies for Black people to enjoy. We don't need to see racism and police brutality all the time. I got it and everyone else can too.

[@dw9524]

This movie is a prime example of why I want to be a filmmaker and change things for us in the movie industry. The other generation suppressed us so much that now POC, especially black, gen z is going to DOMINATE all industries when we get the chance. All the basic stories have been taken up and now were going to revolutionise the industry. I said what I said.

[@yourfavoritepessimisticexi8041]

I so badly want a black coming of age movie that is not based on stereotypes but is just about growth and teenage years. I want the main character to be a brown skin or dark skin black girl and for her to get the guy for once.

[@PenguinSwag13]

Loved your commentary, I completely agree, especially when you said “the cinematography was nice but.....” bc that’s all it was! I’m a non-black, brown POC and I think it looks pretty but it’s also extremely disappointing. I imagined it was gonna end triumphantly but then it didn’t..... I couldn’t stop crying bc I was sooooo angry and heart broken!! Had I known that they weren’t gonna make it, I probably wouldn’t have watched it bc I don’t really like consuming black struggle content, it’s too painful

[@tootietalks]

The uncle house scene......why they wanna hustle and flow this 🤣

[@nanaAnn96]

I loved the movie....I went through a series of emotions. I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat, etc. But hey everybody is different

[@ms.t4322]

This female has no idea abt black unity and struggle.If she says the word "like" again like some suburban white girl I'm going to scream!!!🤣🤣🤣

[@huggybunny14]

Queen and Slim was a tumblr film. Watched it two days ago.

[@arihernandez133]

I think some points were missed when watching the movie. I know black struggle movies may come off the way you say like a bit too nuanced. But this movie wasn’t meant to be a thriller I think. Yeah the movie throws you right into it without knowing the characters but hat was part of the analogy. What happens when you go on the run with someone who you just met? The purpose of the young black kid shooting the black officer is ignorance of wanting to be remembered. And it isn’t say black people act out, it’s more of a societal statement. But it also connects to queen and slim being turned in by a black man at the end. There are subtle black on black violence statements in the movie as well. This comment is kind of jumbled because my thoughts are a bit unorganized but it’s more than just black man and woman go in run and die at end just to be immortalized.

[@im_a_chair5556]

I'm a cute quirky Black woman and I want to be represented gosh dammit! *Is that too much to aaasssskkk?!* 😠😠 Also side note, that's why I love the Netflix show Dear White People. It portrays many different Black personalities and didn't shy away from topics surrounding homosexuality, which was refreshing. True the first season had more of a civil rights theme but season two and three was just different Black people living their lives in university. It was great

[@RumChocolates]

Yes, I think black women can take charge of their own stories. It's just that it appears that even black women writers are in the rut of "what they have been constantly exposed to" and produce the same depressing content instead narrative changing content.

[@kaed0tt]

All you people in the comments are narcissistically delusional. Do you people not appreciate relatable, inspiring, revolutionary, black love, eye-opening films? “Can we get a movie where black people are happy and blah blah blah” well that wouldn’t be realistic would it? The girl who made this video is in a huge house and probably has no clue about life’s struggles and what black people deal with on the day to day basis despite her skin tone. I can read who she is just by looking at her and hearing her voice.

[@katgreer6113]

But for SO long black people wanted to highlight their struggles and now that its is exploding everywhere we hate it? Our community needs to make up it's mind.

[@PhoenixNailsss]

I get the comments that want lighthearted films with a dark skin black girl as the main character, and that would be nice. But that's not what the movie is about just because it isn't that doesn't mean the movie is bad.

[@habiediallo4552]

this is my new favorite channel!!

[@kevineightnine6117]

OMFG THANK YOU, sorry but I’m tired of people praising that movie

[@alphabah401]

I thought I was crazy not liking it. I too saw it at my college with mostly black students and I wasn’t really moved by it at all and got a lot of shit. But tbh I think it just gives us a bunch of unearned moments and emotions by forcing them with extreme circumstances (the officer-boy scene or even the club dance scene are just two) but it does no work to actually further the narrative about police brutality or explore any ideas at all. It’s like a movie bc it can be but not because it has anything to provide. I love what it does for empowering black voices in the cinema world (I mean shit we see mediocrity out of white films on a daily basis yet we tolerate that) but as a film it doesn’t hold up beyond the first view when the shock factor is no longer at play. The points you made are right on the nose and especially about not patronizing black film and not holding it to a higher cinematic standard.

[@ms.t4322]

And the Academy Award goes to the black girl putting down a movie with teachable black moments and saying the irritating word "like" a million times in this video..

[@pamukaltan-bonnet8779]

that thanksgiving episode in master of none was the best tho

[@tootietalks]

The lil boy scene made no damn sense at all.....He didn't even know who damn protest he just walked in on n why

[@David-nb3ex]

I love this video presentation/style. It feels like I just met you in a cinema studies class and now you're sharing your thoughts and feelings about Queen & Slim with me while I eat my lunch.

[@amandamaryanna]

Ah that is so nice to hear thank you

[@stevesharpe3370]

Struggle films are the best. Regardless of nation, race or gender. They’re the realest movies to connect to. I don’t want to watch a movie where everyone is beautiful on screen and successful on screen. And then beautiful and successful the whole time, then I sit there and have to ask what’s wrong with me. I could feel this movie, from the cars to the characters, to the anxiety

[@shamblepants1450]

Okay, I haven't seen this film - but after hearing your synopsis, maybe it could have been more effective if: Queen and Slim had a great date (with chemistry)...with a script full of great dialogue where we really get to know the characters. Then, at the end, the shock of a tragic encounter with the police. This reconfiguration of the events would hit me hard. Or, as you suggest - change the genre! How about:. 'Queen and Slim VS. the Zombies'! ?

[@athenajaxon2397]

I actually really liked their chemistry and their relationship felt really realistic to me

[@momostudioo]

I love this channel so much! The commentary! Also yay, fellow Black female artist!

[@leyahlacey4127]

It’s a Bonnie and Clyde story I really don’t know what people expected lmao

[@chance757]

i disagree. bonnie and clyde chose a life of crime and were just shitty people. queen and slim were decent people that got put in a bad situation. totally different scenarios.

[@bobstacks8405]

Lol shit is nothing like Bonnie and Clyde.

[@RealMexFoodShouldntGiveUDrrhea]

I watched this film because I liked the actors. After, I had a weird feeling I could not describe. I didn’t want to bring it up with a black coworker because I was scared I missed a point as a non-black woman. But this sums it up. I wanted to like the film so much, but it was not it. It could have been so great with the two main actors.

[@titanjoc]

I agree that there needs to be more escapism in black films. Too often we make movies about our painful reality and not enough of the reality we would like to see. I liked the movie but it had room for improvement, it was the directors first film after all.

[@RealmsMedia]

I totally agree with your analysis. One of the problems with many mainstream "black films" is that the default is the unoriginal and predictably tragic "black struggle" film. Yes, we get it - you are trying to make a point about current social issues, but please be original. Jordan Peele does it right, but, for the most part, most black filmmakers don't.

[@aidafuentesv]

I’m a white mexican, that was raised and born in Mexico. I still live here and I’m so tired of watching the same PoC narrative everywhere, it’s always a story about slavery or poverty....

[@ellachristiansen1846]

I absolutely love your content! just bc you asked, as non-black person, I had the same criticisms of queen+slim :(

[@Yoshiecatattck]

I respect the commentary, I just think people are so critical over things that aren’t 100% logical as if everyone’s actions make sense all the time. In real life we all make decisions that may not make sense to others. I think a lot of the detours and stops were because they knew that those stops were most likely going to be their last and they were trying to live in the moment as well as go to their destination. I don’t agree with everything that happened in the movie but I loved the concept. Regarding the kid shooting the cop I think it’s taking about sometimes people go overboard with their emotions and it was showing how passionate people were about queen and slim and how they saw them as the image of rebellion when in actuality they were terrified and just humans reaction to the things happening to them.

[@meredithgr]

i’m White and watched this back in february at a free screening through my school’s Black student union. i think the ending was jarring for me because there was that sense of hope that they might actually get out alive, only for it to be pulled back into the real world and remind the audience of the reality of policing in the us. in the discussion held after the movie i heard a lot of people agreeing that it’s difficult to see yet another struggle film, but there was also a sense of the movie showing the sad, inevitable, but important truth of being Black in america. i left the screening wanting to shout from the rooftops about racial injustice, so in that way i guess it did something in terms of reigniting my passion for antiracism. it was almost like a wake up call, because me being White i don’t have to deal with racism. but i never thought of it as more of the same, a story that Black people already know, and i’m glad i watched this bc it helped me understand this story from a different and crucial standpoint. thank you for making this vid!!

[@watchthisnow2865]

I love your comment about what this could have been if it were more of a dark comedy. A darkly funny adventure that turns this story around to give it a satisfying ending with the characters getting away. That movie should be made.

[@dabigdikdangler]

Bless your heart, you didn't get it, I loved this movie