Syed Azim

The Movie Queen & Slim is as much steeped in rich black cultural and political history as much as in cinematic history. First off the references to Bonnie and Clyde are seriously misplaced. If you come to the movie expecting shoot outs and action than you would be disappointed. However, if you want to spend a little over 2 hours in the company of some memorable characters going through a traumatic experience than this is your movie. The movie that starts with an ill fated encounter, pun intended, with a white police officer making a routine traffic stop, goes off into the direction that is all too familiar yet comes off startlingly fresh. The movie is a realistic story of the problem unfortunately very common in todays USA but stylized production design and camerawork gives it a timeless quality. At times it feels like a dream of runaway slave lovers yet other times it as thrilling as any part of “The Fugitive.” Melina Matsoukas, the director, has announced herself with a bang with this movie and I can’t wait to see what she tackles next.