Film Review – Queen & Slim

As soon as I saw the trailer for ‘Queen & Slim’ I knew I had to see it. The tale of a modern day, black Bonnie & Clyde, it looked like a good choice!

The very first scene depicts the pair on their first (technically their only) date; and Queen is about to kick up a fuss because Slim’s food order has arrived incorrectly, but he stops her; explaining that the waitress is probably distracted with thoughts of her distressing home life. I couldn’t help but laugh as I said to myself “that is so me!” As I also can’t stand when people get things wrong, especially something as simple as a food order!

We see them have a back and forth; and begin their journey home, leading to that fateful event which kick starts their journey together.

I feel like this film came at the perfect time; with racial profiling and police brutality being such a prevalent issue, in a way we have kind of come to expect to hear the story of yet another black man or woman having been killed by police for doing absolutely nothing; and in a way this movie gives us a slight prediction of how things could take a turn for the worse.

I like that the film didn’t push the usual negative and stereotypical narratives of black men and women, and the relationships between them. Queen is a successful attorney, Slim is a nice guy, he doesn’t drink or smoke and seems very genuine, he also has a strong relationship with his father. Although Queen can be a little mean at times, we learn the possible reasons for this later on in scenes with her uncle Earl, a character who brings some comic relief into this dark and I tear story.

Before watching it, I was told that it was too long but personally I disagree. It wasn’t too long but there were a few moments that slightly confused me, like when they arrived at the Shepherds’ home, it wasn’t explained straight away who they were and why the pie were there. I also think that that there were a few moments that needed a bit of extra lighting but at the same time; I guess it was part of the cinematography of the film: I also loved some of the filming angles that were used.

The ending was inevitable, with everything that happens throughout the film but it was still unexpected and left me with my mouth hanging open! Also, it was only at the end that I questioned why the film was called ‘Queen & Slim.’ But if you watch it then you’ll get what I mean.

Overall, I’d recommend this film as I think it was really good; the acting was great and it was a very well written story.