One of the more thought and discussion provoking films of 2019 is now out on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download formats. Queen & Slim comes from Emmy winning writer Lena Waithe (Master of None) and Grammy winning filmmaker Melina Matsoukas (Formation from Beyonce) and stars Get Out Oscar nominee Daniel Kaluuya and introduces the world to Jodie Turner-Smith. That moviemaking pedigree is incredible … and so too is the film itself.
The film is timely in its addressing of race issues, but lest we forget, the film features some seriously sizzling chemistry from Kaluuya and Turner-Smith that makes this film proudly reside in the romance milieu—alongside social justice, cultural reflection and a half-dozen other elements. Queen & Slim is a rich cinematic experience in every single sense of the word “rich.”
Kaluuya stars as Slim, while Turner-Smith is the titular Queen. The pair meet for a dinner date that has been a long time coming—at least from where he’s seated. The couple are in his car, after dinner, and where things go next is different depending on who you ask. He’s hoping that this drive to her house will result in an invite in to hang out and perhaps … something more! She sees Slim and her having a decent enough first date and what’s happening now is he’s driving her safely home. Neither of them could ever have dreamed—even in their worst nightmares—that the conclusion of their date would involve them running from the law and becoming what one character calls “the black Bonnie and Clyde.”
A police officer pulled Slim’s car over for “failure to signal a turn” and, as teased in the Queen & Slim trailer, it goes horribly wrong in a hurry. He is asked to get out of the car (for a routine traffic stop?!!) and before too long, it escalates to the officer getting shot by his own gun by Slim. Regardless of the truth of what occurred, both Queen and Slim know that this is going to end well for either soul that was on that fateful date.
The officer winds up dead from Slim acting in self-defense and the video of the ordeal goes viral. Queen is a criminal defense attorney. Her firm command of the law saw her and Slim questioning the legality of the traffic stop at all. Being on the defensive (as he should have been), the officer and the aspiring to be a couple souls wind up in a wrong place/wrong time situation. The situation was pure kindling and an officer going too far from systematic racism was the spark that turned the entire affair into something quite explosive.
Slim and Queen are terrified and know all too well how this looks to a certain segment of the population. Thing is, to those who have been at the wrong end of an inquiring police officer due to the color of their skin, firmly identify with the couple. Thanks to that viral video, the pair have become emblematic of something too many folks have shared this particular experience with. As the duo head out down the road, “hiding in plain sight,” they learn much about each other individually and collectively. Bonding over their shared fate, a romance blossoms and it is portrayed in the sweetest and most compelling manners—which is wholeheartedly surprising given the landscape that gave birth to this pair’s love story.
The film manages to intertwine the entertaining and the enlightening in a manner that never preaches and is always aware that filmmakers are firmly in the entertainment business. With that power, minds can be reached, opinions morphed at the most and at the least, viewers can become more informed.
There is a terrific ensemble that supports the two leads, led by Bokeem Woodbine (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Chloë Sevigny (Lizzie), Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist, Flea (Baby Driver), Indya Moore (Pose) and American country singer Sturgill Simpson (The Dead Don’t Die).
The bonus content for Queen & Slim achieves what I believe should be the mission of all home video extras—to enhance the experience of viewing the film by adding layers upon layers of deeper meaning and insight into the making of the film, as well as laying out its “purpose” within our cultural zeitgeist.
I’d recommend starting with A Deeper Meaning which finds Kaluuya, Turner-Smith and the filmmakers discussing the complex life journeys of the titular characters. What sets this featurette apart is it astoundingly shows the vast arc each completes over its character’s journey. Where they commenced the film is so brilliantly summarized within the context of where Slim and Queen find themselves at the flick’s conclusion.
On The Run With Queen & Slim is a solid behind-the-scenes, making-of featurette that gives us a front row seat to the filming of the flick in two locales that could not have been more different—Cleveland and The Big Easy, New Orleans. By doing that, this featurette spotlights the well-oiled machine that is the filmmaking crew. On the Run takes the experience that is viewing Matsoukas and Waithe’s movie magic and puts it into context on so many levels.
Speaking of Melina & Lena, they get their own self-titled featurette that paints an incredibly fruitful and creatively inspiring partnership between the duo. Let’s put it this way, after simply watching their movie, I sought out what they are doing next because I want to be first in line. After Melina & Lena, this creative partnership instantly became one that finds their names alone gets me in the theater.
I have never seen (or heard) what the featurette Off The Script gifts to audiences and I can think of dozens of films I wish had done this! The extra finds screenwriter Lena Waithe reading from her original screenplay for Queen & Slim. What a novel idea! It’s simplistic, sure, but there is something to be gleaned from hearing a screenwriter reading her own work. Where she chooses to inject inflection, pauses and emotive additions are all on purpose and provides priceless insight into the creative thought process of Waithe.
Lastly, the next time you want to witness Queen & Slim, turn on the feature commentary and get served a master class in filmmaking from director/producer Matsoukas and writer/producer Waithe.
Film Grade: B+
Bonus Features: A-