Rated PG-13 for some strong language including a sexual reference and racial epithets, and smoking throughout
Profanity:
Some strong and racist language
Alcohol/ Drugs:
Drinking and smoking
Violence/ Scariness:
Some peril
Diversity Issues:
A theme of the movie
Date Released to Theaters:
April 3, 2020
Copyright Apple 2020“The Banker,” now available on Apple TV+, is three movies in one, all of them vivid, engaging, and compelling.
First, it’s a heist in plain sight movie, and all, or pretty much all, strictly legal. Two black men, Bernard Garrett (Anthony Mackie) and Joe Morris (Samuel L. Jackson) start a business in the pre-Civil Rights Act era when it was not only legal but the universal practice to keep people of color not just out of the neighborhoods where white people lived and worked but out of the places that make property ownership possible, the business that sell homes and office buildings and the people who provide the financing for those purchases.
Second, it is a “My Fair Lady”-style Cinderella makeover fairy tale movie, about taking someone who has the heart to be more than he is and teaching him the language, manners, and skills necessary to have credibility in the highest levels of society, or, in this case, business and finance. Garrett and Morris need a white man to pretend to be the president of their enterprise, so they recruit Matt Steiner (Nicholas Hoult), a genial construction worker, and teach him their version of “the rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain,” how to do (or pretend to do) complex valuation computations in seconds and how to play golf, so he can display the (apparently) effortless credibility needed to do big-money deals.
Third, it is a very personal underdog story of heroes to cheer for, two very different men, both played with exquisite precision, working together against near-insurmountable odds to overturn a virulently oppressive system.
Garrett has a head for numbers even as a young boy, where he listens in on the conversations of men of business as he shines their shoes. As a young man, he understands that the ability to own property is as critical to financial stability, social parity, and equal opportunity as the kind of political organizing that is getting started at the same time. Morris is already a savvy businessman with clubs and real estate holdings. Their personalities are very different — one a quiet, devoted family man, the other a good-time guy. But they both know how things work. They know how to make themselves invisible, pretending to be limo drivers or janitors to get access to the places of power while their front-man pretends to know what he’s doing. (One problem with the film is its failure to give Nia Long more of a role than the ever-supportive wife, though this ever-talented actress lends the character some dimension.)
We know from the beginning, opening on a Senate hearing with some harsh questioning, that powerful people are going to try to stop Garrett and Morris from taking some of their power. This movie, with MCU star-power portraying real-life superheroes, gives some of it back to them.
Parents should know that this film has some strong and racist language, some sexual references, scenes in clubs and bars, and some historical depictions of racism.
Family discussion: What did Morris and Garrett have in common? Who is most like them today? What should they have done about Steiner?
In 2017, Matthew A. Cherry created a Kickstarter campaign in the hopes of funding an animated short film about a young black father who learns how to do his daughter’s hair. Cherry had been thinking about the project, dubbed “Hair Love,” for several years but was inspired to make it happen after seeing a flood of Internet videos featuring black fathers gingerly tackling the unruly tresses of their daughters.
Three years later, Cherry has an Oscar nomination for his vision, which audiences first saw in theaters ahead of “The Angry Birds Movie 2.” In just under seven minutes, “Hair Love” follows Zuri, a 7-year-old with a lively mop of kinky curls, who wakes up on a special day and tries to do her hair with the help of a video made by her mother, a natural-hair vlogger (voiced by Issa Rae, the creator and star of HBO’s “Insecure”).
The local community, especially law enforcement, did not like having old cases re-opened and weaknesses of evidence and exposed. The hostility and obstruction seemed insurmountable. But Stevenson was undaunted. Unlike most heroic lawyers in movies (and real life), this story does not have family members complaining that he is working too hard or a love interest who feels neglected. Stevenson does not lose his temper or feel like giving up. The great gift of this movie is what sometimes, if you are not watching carefully, may make it seem like its pilot light is turned down too low. This movie does have some rousing moments (and some sad ones) but it does not follow the usual courtroom underdog stories that make the intricacies of the judicial system follow the beats of a feel-good sports story.
Jordan is that rare performer who is a superb actor and a full-on movie star. After his electrifying appearance in “Black Panther,” he shows his range as a lawyer whose only superpowers are his integrity and his constant courtesy toward everyone he deals with. client, friend, and foe. The quiet power of the respect he shows to his clients is critical to gaining their trust and to restoring their sense of dignity in a system that has done its best to take it from them. And it is wisely given as much weight here as any revelation of evidence or legal right left out of the original proceedings.
Director and co-writer Destin Daniel Cretton also treats Stevenson’s clients with respect, with an outstanding performance by Jamie Foxx as Stevenson’s first significant client. It’s a quieter role than we have seen him in for a while, and his subtle work here is extraordinary, telling us the whole history of a man who has never been able to expect fairness for himself or his family. Rob Morgan plays another prisoner, performed with heartwrenching simplicity and delicacy to bring home to us what brought Stevenson to devote his life to this cause.
Parents should know that this movie concerns men on death row and abuses of the justice system. It includes some strong language, including racist epithets, and references to sexual assault and violent crime an a non-explicit depiction of an execution.
Family discussion: Why was it important for Stevenson to address his clients and their families as Mr. and Mrs.? What kept him from giving up?
This outstanding new history of black filmmakers is available for free! It includes everything from Hollywood classics (Hattie McDaniel and Sidney Poitier as the first black performers to win Oscars) to the unsung innovators like Oscar Micheaux, who responded to the racism of D.W. Griffith’s “The Birth of a Nation” with “Within Our Gates, the pioneers of the Blaxploitation era, and Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” winning the Best Picture Oscar. The #Oscarssowhite protests, Motown’s Berry Gordy’s films like “Lady Sings the Blues” and “The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings,” and Tyler Perry establishing his own (wildly successful) studio. Highly recommended!
Queen & Slim Leads 2019 Black Reel Awards Nominees
Posted on December 11, 2019 at 5:25 pm
Copyright 2019 Universal PicturesThe gripping story of a couple on the run from the law following a traffic stop gone wrong, Queen and Slim, received 14 nominations and in the process became the third film in Black Reel Awards history to be so honored.
Director Melina Matsoukas’ piercing examination of race and justice tied both Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls and Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk, scoring multiple nominations. They included Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Actor (Daniel Kaluuya), Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female (Jodie Turner-Smith), Outstanding Screenplay (Original or Adapted) and Outstanding First Screenplay for Lena Waithe, as well as Outstanding Director and Outstanding Emerging Director for Matsoukas.
In addition, the film received multiple nominations in the Outstanding Song category, for Collide (Tiana Major9 & EARTH GANGO) and Guarding the Gates (Lauryn Hill), Outstanding Score and nods in every technical category, Outstanding Cinematography, Outstanding Costume Design and Outstanding Production Design.
Director Jordan Peele’s follow-up to his Black Reel Award winning film, Get Out, Us thrilled voters as well on the way to 12 nominations. Led by its visionary director, who garnered a record-tying four nominations including Outstanding Director, Outstanding Screenplay, Original or Adapted, and Outstanding Motion Picture. Peele also was recognized for Outstanding Voice Performer for Toy Story 4. Us also secured an Outstanding Motion Picture nomination as well as Outstanding Actress for Black Reel Award winner Lupita Nyong’o, Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female for newcomer Shahadi Wright Joseph, Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Score, Outstanding Cinematography, Outstanding Costume Design, and Outstanding Production Design.
The story of underground cult comedian Rudy Ray Moore, Dolemite Is My Name also scored double-digit nominations with 11. Led by Outstanding Actor nominee Eddie Murphy, the film received multiple nominations for its talented cast including Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female for newcomer Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Outstanding Supporting Actor for Black Reel Award winner Wesley Snipes, Outstanding Breakthrough Actor, Male for Titus Burgess. The film also garnered noms for Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Score, as well as Outstanding Costume Design for last year’s winner, Ruth E. Carter.
“I’m extremely thrilled with the choices that our Voting Academy made this year,” said Black Reel Awards founder and President, Tim Gordon. ”As we celebrate our 20th Anniversary, it is both humbling to reminisce about the journey, yet refreshing to see and experience so much new talent that graced the screen for the first time.”
Other highlights include Waves receiving nine nominations followed by the indie darling, The Last Black Man in San Francisco that scored eight nominations. Seven nominations went to the prison drama, Clemency, while both Harriet and Luce each took home six nods. In addition, three directors each received four nominations, Chinoye Chukwu, Julius Onah, and Peele.
The 20th Annual Black Reel Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 6, 2020, live streamed on BlogTalkRadio.
20TH ANNUAL BLACK REEL AWARDS NOMINEES
(Digital Nomination Copy)
Outstanding Motion Picture
DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
Eddie Murphy, John Fox & John Davis
JUST MERCY (Warner Bros.)
Asher Goldstein & Gil Netter
QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Pamela Addy, Andrew Coles, James Frey, Michelle Knudsen, Melina Matsoukas, Lena Waithe & Brad Weston
US (Universal Pictures)
Jordan Peele, Jason Blum, Ian Cooper & Sean McKittrick
WAVES (A24)
Trey Edward Schultz, Kevin Turen & James Wilson
Copyright A24 2019
Outstanding Actor
JIMMIE FAILS
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)
KELVIN HARRISON JR.
Luce (Neon)
KELVIN HARRISON JR.
Waves (A24)
DANIEL KALUUYA
Queen & Slim (Universal Pictures)
EDDIE MURPHY
Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)
Outstanding Actress
Cynthia Erivo stars as Harriet Tubman in HARRIET, a Focus Features release. Credit: Glen Wilson / Focus Features
“DON’T TURN BACK” (THE APOLLO)
Robert Glasper & Ledisi, performers
“GUARDING THE GATES” (QUEEN & SLIM)
Lauryn Hill, performer
“IT’S NOT OVER” (BRIAN BANKS)
Gizzle & Sam Fisher, performers
“SPIRIT” (THE LION KING)
Beyonce Knowles-Carter, performer
Outstanding Independent Feature – Awarded to the Director & Producers
BURNING CANE (ARRAY)
Phillip Youmans, director
Ojo Akinlana, Wendell Pierce, Mose Mayer, Isaac Webb, Cassandra Youmans Jakob Johnson & Karen Kaia Livers, producers
CLEMENCY (Neon)
Chinonye Chukwu, director
Timur Bekbosunov, Julian Cautherley, Bronwyn Cornelius & Peter Wong, producers
GUAVA ISLAND (Amazon Studios)
Hiro Murai, director
Donald Glover, Carmen Cuba, Jennifer Roth & Fam Udeorji, producers
THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
Joe Talbot, director/producer
Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh & Khaliah Neal, producers
LUCE (Neon)
Julius Onah, director/producer
John Baker & Andrew Yang, producers
Outstanding Short Film
AMERICA
Garrett Bradley, director
HAIR LOVE (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Matthew A. Cherry, director
IT’S NOT ABOUT JIMMY KEENE
Caleb Jaffe, director
SUICIDE BY SUNLIGHT
Nikyatu Jusu, director
ZAHRA AND THE OIL MAN
Yucef Mayes, director
Outstanding Independent Documentary
16 BARS
Sam Bathrick, director
NO LYE: AN AMERICAN BEAUTY STORY
Bayer Mack, director
THE REMIX: HIP HOP X FASHION
Lisa Cortes & Farah Khalid, director
Outstanding Emerging Director
CHINONYE CHUKWU
Clemency (Neon)
NIA DACOSTA
Little Woods (Neon)
MATI DIOP
Atlantics (Netflix)
MELINA MATSOUKAS
Queen & Slim (Universal)
JULIUS ONAH
Luce (Neon)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male
TITUSS BURGESS
Dolemite Is My Name (Netflix)
JIMMIE FAILS
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)
KELVIN HARRISON JR.
Waves (A24)
ALDIS HODGE
Clemency (Neon)
JONATHAN MAJORS
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female
MAME BINETA SANE
Atlantics (Netflix)
SHAHADI WRIGHT JOSEPH
Us (Universal Pictures)
DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH
Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)
TAYLOR RUSSELL
Waves (A24)
JODIE TURNER-SMITH
Queen & Slim (Universal)
Outstanding First Screenplay
ATLANTICS (Netflix)
Mati Diop & Olivier Demangel
THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND (Netflix)
Chiwetel Ejiofor
BURNING CANE (ARRAY)
Phillip Youmans
CLEMENCY (Neon)
Chinoye Chukwu
QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Lena Waithe
Outstanding Cinematography
HARRIET (Focus Features)
John Toll
THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
Adam Newport-Berra
QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Tad Radcliffe
US (Universal Pictures)
Mike Gioulakis
WAVES (A24)
Drew Daniels
Outstanding Costume Design
DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
Ruth E. Carter
HARRIET (Focus Features)
Paul Tazewell
HUSTLERS (STX Entertainment)
Mitchell Travers
QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Shiona Turini
US (Universal Pictures)
Kym Barrett
Outstanding Production Design
DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
Clay A. Griffith
HARRIET (Focus Features)
Warren Alan Young
THE LION KING (Disney)
James Chinlund
QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Karen Murphy
US (Universal Pictures)
Ruth De Jong
Nominations Per Film
14 nominations
Queen & Slim
11 nominations
Us
10 nominations
Dolemite is My Name
9 nominations
Waves
8 nominations
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
7 nominations
Clemency
6 nominations
Harriet
Luce
5 nominations
Atlantics
The Lion King
3 nominations
Just Mercy
2 nominations
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Burning Cane
Les Miserables
Toy Story 4
1 nomination
16 Bars
America
The Black Godfather
Brian Banks
Guava Island
Farming
Fast Color
Hair Love
Hustlers
In Fabric
It’s Not About Jimmy Keene
Knock Down the House
Little Woods
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
No Lye: An American Beauty Story
The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion
Suicide by the Sunlight
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
Zahra and the Oil Man
