The Photograph

LaKeith Stanfeild and Issae Rae have really good chemistry I felt. It made it believable that their romance was so perfect. Also like the chemistry that Stanfeild had with Lil Rey Howry who played his big brother. The movie was about two stories. the romance between Stanfeild and Rae's character. Then the movie did flashbacks of Rae's character's mother who had to make a choice between a man she loves and her passion. Both on their own made great stories but the way this movie handle both material was not great. It did not blend together well at all as it jumped from one story to another without any real set up. The jazz score made me think this movie was going to be too adult and sophisticated for my taste but after a while I just felt it was being used to cover what was wrong with the flick. Can't say that I did not like it. That would not be true but I can say is that it could have been better.

The Photograph (2020) is a movie my fiancée and I caught in theaters as soon as it was released. The story centers around a woman who feels incapable of finding happiness without sabotaging it-something that plagued her mother and that she believes she inherited. Meanwhile, a man she meets has a father who regrets not pursuing the love of his life, instead choosing to stick with what was safe and familiar. Both characters hope to learn from their parents' mistakes and make better choices for their futures.

Directed by Stella Meghie (The Weekend), the film stars Issa Rae (Insecure), LaKeith Stanfield (Get Out), Lil Rel Howery (Bird Box), Chanté Adams (Bad Hair), and Y'lan Noel (Insecure).

The storyline is solid and well-paced, and I appreciated how the various love stories were intertwined. The concept and writing were strong, but the acting was unfortunately uneven. Issa Rae often plays awkward characters, and in this role, I'm not sure it suited her skillset. The chemistry between her and Stanfield felt forced and unnatural, more acted than believable. Despite the quality writing and engaging subplots, the film fell a bit short for me.

That said, it's still a good movie with a worthwhile story, even if it doesn't reach the emotional heights of something like The Notebook. I'd give it a solid 7/10.

As a filmmaker and writer, this project is very different to see on the screen. For as long as I can remember, there are not many movies like this with an all black cast telling a story such as this with a great budget. No stereotypes or crazy upside down story, it's something very soothing and relaxing. The music definitely was a great addition to the film. The main cast did an excellent job portraying the characters. Hoping for more black movies such as this to hit the big/small screens. It's our time to shine in a positive light!

Fueled by the fiery chemistry between Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield, "The Photograph" gives viewers a love story that transcends time and is worth sticking around for. . In this romantic drama, the estranged daughter of a famous photographer falls in love with the journalist who is investigating her late mother's life. . Beautifully shot, wonderfully acted and even original at times, "The Photograph" is slow paced and won't be for everyone but the pay out is worth it. Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield burn up the screen with their intense performances, you'd think they were actually a couple. I thought the premise was interesting and even though "The Photograph" is not perfect, it felt good to watch a romantic drama; a genre that isn't as tackled in this day and age of film. . Follow @snobmedia for more reviews!

Production: Pretty basic all around. Nothing really stands out, but it isn't bad. Some continuity issues just like every other film. The music really sets the tone of the film. The script is a little dull/generic. 6/10.

On Screen: The acting was okay. Lakeith Stanfield made his character Michael Block, believable but, on the other hand, Issa Rae's character Mae Morton, wasn't. She didn't really have acting range. It's like she is uncomfortable the entire film. Additionally, the secondary characters are just cookie cutouts typical love movie motifs. Also, there are some plot holes that made the secondary story a little confusing. 6/10.

Content/Impact: To see black love portrayed in film is a rarity in itself. The best way to describe this film is love. The love that they show between black men and women, black women, and black men in a positive light, for the most part, is essential to tell our stories from a normalized perspective. This is what happens when we tell our own stories. 8/10.

Overall: It's a solid Valentine's day film to see with your loved ones, but because of the slow nature of this film, the performances needs to be outstanding and this falls short. I'll give it an 6.6/10.