Tag: Taylour Paige

ZOLA (2021)

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Directed By: Janicza Bravo 
Written By: Jeremy O. Harris 
Based on the Tweets by: A’Ziah King 
Based on the article “ZOLA TELLS ALL: THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE GREATEST STRIPPER SAGA EVER TWEETED” By: David Kushner 
Story By: Andrew Neel & Mike Roberts
Cinematography By: Ari Wegner 
Editor: Joi McMillon 

Cast: Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, Coleman Domingo  Nicholas Braun, Jason Mitchell, TS Madison, Sophie Hall

A stripper named Zola embarks on a wild road trip to Florida. Based on a true story and tweeted on Twitter.

You think the film is going to be one way. Another downtrodden downbeat story that is exploitive and feels like tragedy porn In an urban community. But it isn’t it’s not as wild as some might have thought from the toro view but it is pretty out there. As this isn’t a sympathy story. It is more of a day in the life of characters in an extraordinary situation. Where each plays a substantial role.

The film Manages to be stylish and feel like a kind of pulp tale with it’s own voice that has to be true because it is too identifiable and crazy at the same time to be entirely made up. 

Riley Keough’s performance is memorable as the instigator who seduces her into this tawdry trip and also as a character who would normally be a disposable comedic character but here she is knowing yet naive. Someone who causes her own destruction and those around her. As her character has a so-called blaccent which feels like a new dangled version of blackface that her character takes pride In. She comes off as poor white trash or a person of low Intelligence and comes off as one of the worst characters in a film with plenty of dangerous ones. 

Even in the scene where she retorts and tells her own version of the story that we have seen so far. When she is at one of her lowest points. She tries to come off as innocent and the opposite of how she has been portrayed but will insist on insulting Zola like a character with a lot of race-based if not racist overtones in her version of the story. Filled with stereotypes and insults about hygiene. Especially when early in the film we are privy to see just who is the unhygienic one.

The filM Humanizes the characters no matter how outlandish or loathsome. Making the drama feel more full-fledged. Even though it is more of a humorous movie. That feels like a kind of relapse for the audience and the characters. Despite all the fear in all the craziness.

Zola constantly is the smartest character in the room but even she knows she is in over her head. As she tries to make it work for her as she is stuck. When Zola realizes she is in a pimp situation. She realizes she is in too deep and is just trying to survive the situation with unsteady factors. 

The film has little sex but plenty of sexuality and it tries to go into some erotic but is sold cheaply to us. While we see some female glimpses of nudity. We see full frontal of men 

There is grace. There is erotic and it is sexual but there is nothing quite sexy about it as anytime it might veeer towards that it reveals just how gross and messy the situation and awakens you from any fantasy you might try to derive out of it. Sometimes crudely and sometimes humorously. 

Even when the film has a mankind of being cuckolded and while you feel sympathy for him. He also comes off as one of the more comedic elements in his dumbness. As he is constantly humiliated not only by the woman he loves but by her so-called male friend who is more of a pimp and she pledges her love to the pimp over everything in front of him. Then the pimp introduces his other woman and Stefani still stays loyal. You wonder why he doesn’t just leave. 

While the film is crazy it’s not as off the wall as you might expect. Again you  have to go with what is happening and where it leads. 

When a line from the original Twitter feed is used. Usually in dialogue, There is a kind of alarm from Twitter. The film does have many memorable lines. 

Towards the end the film feels a bit like some Miami Vice episode. Though it still feels more homegrown. 

The film is short and to the point. As an on-screen adventure with only an indulgence or two. We learn very little about anybody’s past. There are little revelations when needed.

This is a movie that is definitely waiting to be discovered by an audience and deserves to be. As if the film Is given a chance most would find it entertaining, funny and definitely memorable 

Grade: B

JEAN OF THE JONESES (2016)

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Written & Directed By: Stella Meghie 
Cinematography: Kris Belchevski
Editor: Aren Hansen 

Cast: Taylour Paige, Sherri Shepherd, Gloria Reuben, Anna Hopkins, Erica Ash, Mamoudou Athie, Michelle Hurst, Demore Barnes, Cara Ricketts, Francois Arnaud 

Chaos ensues after the estranged patriarch of the Jones family dies on their doorstep. When the paramedic who answers their 911 call tried to win over acerbic Jean Jones, his attempts are disrupted by old conflicts that come to a boil at the funeral.

The film is short and sweet. Yet you want to see more. 

The film has a constant wit. With a wicked sense of humor that at times goes for the heartstrings but not without a good dose of resistance. That allows the film to be dramatic and funny at the same time.

The film shows how the absence of one person has affected the rest of them and how pettiness and secrets can damage even when not intended to 

The main character is an educated mess trying to find herself and is constantly literally tripping as in clumsy.

This film presents a modern metropolitan romance with a so-called urban twist. Seen through with characters of color. While being a family drama. 

The lead character is similar to the one on director Stella Meghie’s Other film after this THE WEEKEND only here a little sadder.

Like any New York-based romantic comedy with an ensemble cast. We get glimpses of their Individual dramas. Only this time amongst African Americans upper-middle class. Well, really more Caribbean Americans with a neurotic lead something we rarely see in African American films.

The film offers more of a light touch, not a tragedy where the characters are allowed to just be and not be perfect placeholders or model citizens. 

In the end, this is a fun film. That is as charismatic as its Script and leads 

GRADE: A- 

MA’ RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (2020)

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Directed by: George C. Wolfe
Written By: Rueben Santiago-Hudson
Based On the play Written By: August Wilson
Cinematography: Tobias A. Schliessler
Editor: Andrew Mondahein

Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts, Jonny Clyde, Jeremy Shamos, Taylour Paige, Dusan Brown

During a recording session, tensions rise between Ma Rainey, her ambitious horn player, and the white management determined to control the uncontrollable “Mother of the Blues”.

This film contains a smaller story than expected. One was aware it was a play before but wasn’t expecting it to still feel as stage bound.

As the film tries to open up the story and show more locations but there are very few attempts to leave more it error locations. Which consist of two locations. The liner room where they practice and the recording g studio. So that the film keeps reminding you of its theatrical origins 

Chadwick Boseman steals all of his scenes and is more at the forefront of the movie. Though at first, it seems like he will be more of a high-energy supporting player. 

Though Viola Davis is the title character. Where she makes a powerful entrance and a strong exit. She also feels liek a supporting player. Even though the film revolves around her character. As after all, it’s her recording session and the others are her band. Who she feels are more the hired help. Who should be happy to be working for her.

Through her character though high strung. We find out why she is that way. As it is all about respect and wanting to be treated with it most overall. She has a short temper when what she says isn’t followed and forces a hard situation and a flirtatious girlfriend.

One has to give extra credit to Viola Davis for gaining most of the appropriate weight to play the character and give her the exact look which is unflattering g with gold teeth and heavy running make-up, she might not be the actual star of the movie but she gives off star presence and in believability.

Though by the end she is just a supporting character and her presence really has little effect on the actual story or drama that ends up happening In the film. By the end, she hasn’t changed. Only the situation has changed and in a more tragic way that really has nothing to do with her. Not much changes for her, but more for the secondary characters

The film ends up becoming a tragedy in a way you can see coming hit not necessarily the circumstance or the collateral damage. 

Though shocking in the end. Still wish it had been longer and a little bit stronger. It’s a tragedy you thought was going to be one kid. If one and is read ends up somewhere totally different. 

As the film had Great cinematography and details as far as art direction.

It really makes you feel like you are In The period and of course, immediately makes you aware of the limitations for its African American characters and the rampant racism.

Grade: B