Joi

Ok first off, I love Issa Rae and bc of this had really high hopes for this film. It had all of the necessary ingredients to be great in my opinion from concept, to the cast to the music. The music was phenomenal & Robert Glasper’s score is a true highlight. But The Photograph by itself left a lot be desired bc the character development was non-existent, and this rendered the movie extremely superficial & unrealistic. The movie’s sequence of events was hardly cohesive...way too many holes in the story. Foreshadowing & backshadowing is one thing, but poorly written scripts and film editing is another. Again no critic here, just a huge fan of Issa's work who had high expectations this movie would be on par quality wise with previous projects. The thing I found most disappointing about this movie though is that it perpetuates a negative trope about black women having to overcome life’s trauma & heartbreak alone while simultaneously leading the charge in love & matters of the heart for passive, ineffectual black men. There is nothing romantic or loving about that. Aside from the music, Chanté Adams’ performance as Christine Eames is The Photograph’s only saving grace. If you’re looking for romance, depth & authenticity in a recent Black love film, try If Beale Street Could Talk.