If I Can't

This is one of the best movies ive watched in a long time. It was so good I had to search the director to find some of the other movies SHE directed. The design the style the culture was so reflective of African American pop culture. Mena Monroe you are talented. I felt like I knew each character personally. I even stopped midway through the movie to see how many minuntes were left because I didn't want it to end. Lol. The actors were amazing. For a long time i've been hesistent to watch African American films because of past experience they were either low budget with a terrible story line or high budget with no substance. This move is a masterpeice had me on the edge of my seat. Its up there with the Belly's and State Property type movies.

Gee, I didn't know black people were so oversexed and that every other word they use is profane. Wait... they aren't and they don't. But here they do. If you take out the profanity and gratuitous sex scenes you'd have a Tyler Perry film (sans Pollyannish ending). I don't know which is worse. That same ol' trope-abused and illogical sista has to fight her way through her personal crisis and her sadistic so-called "lover," blah-blah-blah. This film has it all-slaps, interchangeability between the b-word and the h-word, and a graphic rape scene. Monroe (who also wrote and directed) is Harlem, a widow whose husband was shot to death during a robbery. Now looking for new love, she meets Scott Da Rock (Fazekas) and after his charm offensive she falls for him. He's a hound and an abuser. This film is full of plot holes and is downright horrible. Is this what passes for a chick flick nowdays? Some reviewers must either be enamored with seeing black faces on-screen, or seeing black people on screen conforming to the worst stereotypes. Otherwise, how this got a 7.5 baffles me.

I love this movie! It's super real and the actors are amazing. The storyline is amazing; although, I have more questions the more I think about how it ended. It's definitely addictive and you'll want to watch it over and over again especially to see signs you missed the 1st time. Mena is an incredible director, I loved the variety of angles and how smooth the details were shown when they mattered for the plots. Crystal is an amazing actress, her character was very interesting and funny to me. Tristian played his part so well I'll never not call him Scott when I see him in other movies. I also wish there could have been a part 2 because the characters were too good to leave behind, maybe they could sneak a prequel in or something to give us more time with this cast and crew.

This was one wild ride for absolute sure. When this movie was recommended to me earlier today I had no idea what I was in for. I didn't know I was going to want to scream, cry and throw up by the end. For an indie film of its kind it is extremely well done and well acted-too well at times! The main character goes through so much and at the beginning she isn't entirely likable-but by the end you just want to hug her and protect her! Mena does such a good job with the character development! The guy who plays Scott has traumatized me for life and let me tell you- I am not easily traumatized! To me, movies like this are scarier than horror films. Brace yourself for this one folks. I hope to see them all in many more successful projects!!

I'm not going to lie-I usually avoid independent Black films over 90 minutes. If a story can't be told within that time, it often has pacing issues, and this movie is no exception, running 1 hour and 49 minutes.

That said, it's a good movie overall. Mena Monroe plays Harlem, a woman living her best life until tragedy strikes. She returns home and gets involved with a no-good man, played by Tristin Fazekas.

The names Harlem Giles and Scott da Rock caught my attention-maybe a nod to Cam'ron Giles and DJ Scott La Rock?

Crystal The Doll and Cierra Smith deliver solid supporting roles. The storytelling could have been paced better, but overall, it's worth watching.

Trigger warning: This film contains graphic scenes, including sexual violence.