The Obituary of Tunde Johnson

This timely film courageously addresses multiple issues: racial profiling, homophobia, police brutality, drug addiction, mental health and more. The 'time loop' structure can seem tiresome after awhile, however, each time we come back to a familiar scene it is presented in a refreshing way. I highly recommend this film!

Firstly, I'm dedicated to writing honest and thoughtful reviews in full english words without all caps, exclamation points and other useless shapes. Secondly, I gave this movie a 6 because the atypical character perspective puts well known topics in review from layers that are unique and worthy of discussion. However, the execution can use some work. I didn't find too much character development to understand why they behaved the way they did or why I should ultimately care about it. With such a strong opening scene, I became invested in the character but then quickly lost him to a lot of general subject matter. The secondary characters were also so one dimensional and lost in "subjects" that it almost made the topics unserious.

I would recommend this movie for mature audiences that are curious about a unique take on a pervasive subject matter - but I would not make it movie night material due to lack of coherent character and story development.

Bits and pieces of this movie, very vital pieces of this story I strongly connected with on a personal level. When my ex and I were going through these issues back in the early 2000's, we always questioned to whom could we reach out to for answers? We had no one and no where. No we do.

I'm finally seeing a piece of my life being told how I see it. How I experienced it. Thank you everyone who put their lives and breathe into this work. I appreciate this gesture more than you know. I have been inspired. Well done. You did the damn thing.

In the account of Tunde Johnson, a wealthy Nigerian-American youth, tragedy strikes when he is fatally shot by the police during a routine traffic stop. Yet, his demise is not final, as he finds himself ensnared in a perplexing time loop, condemned to relive the day of his untimely demise repeatedly. This ordeal compels Tunde to confront profound truths about his existence and grapple with the complexities of his identity.

Despite the weighty themes of racism and police brutality, the narrative execution falls short of its potential. While the portrayal of the interracial gay relationship between Tunde and Soren is commendable, the story's delivery lacks the gripping tension necessary to convey its message effectively. The cast, including Spencer Neville as Soren and Nicola Peltz as Marley, delivers solid performances, but the overall impact of the film feels somewhat squandered.

This movie is great at evoking moods. That, plus the interesting characters, pulled me right in. Steven Silver gives a powerful and affecting performance as Tunde.