Five Films for Your Lockdown!! (Pt. 3) Blacked Out Edition

In honor of the rising acknowledgement of Black Lives (finally) mattering, I'd like add five post-modern pro-black films that are worth watching.

WARNING: This is list is pretty biased and you'll see why in the post.

1. If Beale Street Could Talk

     After his success of Moonlight, Director Barry Jenkins followed up with this stunningly beautiful and poetic James Baldwin adaption of the same name. One of the things I noticed first thing is the vast improvement of his production. Moonlight was around the 1-4 million budget mark, and Beale Street hits around the 12 Million mark. His direction, cinematography, camerawork, and audio production has massively upgraded and truly validates a film director with only two films under his belt, he's on the rise to greatness.  The film tells the story of a black couple in the early 1970's whose deep love is put to the test when Tish's (KiKi Layne) boyfriend Fonny (Stephan James) is put in jail for a rape charge, and she fights for his innocence.

The film is a dreamlike, majestic sensory experience with an overwhelmingly stellar score from Nicholas Britell, carefully elegant cinematography, and an emotion-filled atmospheric presentation. Barry Jenkins has outdone himself with telling an uncompromising story of love against societal odds. A high recommendation for fans of his previous film.

2. 12 Years A Slave

      Unless you've been living under a rock, you should already know this film won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2014. Steve McQueen is my number one favorite film director, releasing only four films, and all have been fantastic.  12 Years A Slave is his second most accessible film he's done but that doesn't compromise his consistent quality. Based off the book written by Solomon Northup who based it off his actual experience, Steve McQueen honors Northup by telling his story in the most honest and uncompromising way possible. The film doesn't hold back on its details of slavery, but McQueen also understands every single aspect of film-making to create an experience that will stay indented in your head long after you've seen it. McQueen is a master of cinematography, knowing what to show, and what not the show, respecting the intelligence of the audience to fill in the blanks. The performance from Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon, was definitely a role he was born to play. With Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong'o giving just as great of performances in their supporting roles. This is one of of VERY best films of 2013 and if you haven't seen the film please stop reading this post and watch the thing already!

3. Django Unchained

          Written and directed by the great Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Basterds), Django Unchained is a brutal, over-the-top, occasionally hilarious western gore-fest that's as well written and directed as its flat-out a blast to watch.  The performances are all excellent across the board with Christoph Waltz taking home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The film is also beautifully shot with amazing landscape shots, stylized cinematography, and tight, effective editing. The soundtrack also spices up the film's tone being used appropriately and memorably. There isn't too much to say about it except that this is a film I can watch dozens of times and never be tired of it. Pure brutal entertainment at its finest.

4. Moonlight
          Yup, another Barry Jenkins film and it's his debut feature. Moonlight was one of those films that gave my a different perspective on life. It's a film that also showed by that a post-modern black film doesn't have to stoop down the standards of Tyler Perry's films.  It's a film that broke the standards of what a film that takes place in modern times involving black people could be. It's a deeply personal and artistic film that is simple yet effective. This uses the basic three-act structure to tell a three-stage story of one individual's life as he takes the path to self-discovery. While this film does have only a few very minor flaws, it showed Barry Jenkins to be a director to look out for. This is a film that has stayed with me ever since I saw and it will always be a part of my life. Highly recommend.

5. Widows

       This is Steve McQueen's most accessible and mainstream film he's done after 12 Years A Slave, that doesn't detract from his quality.  This is a much more action-driven film that's a heist film as well as a political thriller. It's incredibly exciting to watch and while it can be only slightly predictable, it manages to still tell it's story with enough engagement to end on a satisfying note. The film reflects on a lot of today's societal issues, as well as communicate how people are not always who they seem despite what their motives may be on the surface. It's also one of the few of its genre to make the villain a formidable threat that you're forced to take seriously. It's no Hunger, Shame, or 12 Years A Slave, but McQueen shows variety regardless. As usual, McQueen's cinematography and direction is stellar, it's smoothly paced throughout, and the all-star cast is pitch perfect, with this being my favorite film Viola Davis has ever done. This is a film I believe everyone can watch and thoroughly enjoy. Definitely recommend.

Did you see any of the films? If so, which ones were your favorite?Leave a comment on other pro-black films you've seen and loved as well!