Lena Waithe and James Frey are now two of my favorite writers! When I first got wind of this project, I assumed it was merely a Bonnie & Clyde (1967) ripoff. I was sorely mistaken. Queen & Slim is a thought provoking story of a first-date gone wrong. Don’t let the simplicity of that premise fool you. The film is so compelling that I did not want the story to end.

Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith are a force to be reckoned with. The two actors created magic in every scene. Throughout the narrative the duo grow on each other in an organic way. It is playful, emotional, and poetic. The cinematography is highly stylized like a painting from the Renaissance era. You can take a snap shot of any frame in the movie and hang it on your wall. That’s how vibrant it is.

There are many subject areas explored in Queen & Slim. Many that are reflected in our society today. The importance of family, community, justice, and the power of fame. Each character is deeply complex. The interactions among them are intriguing as well as entertaining. So much that most of them could have their own spin-off movie or TV show. I can’t wait to revisit this when it comes out on Blu Ray/DVD. Queen & Slim gets an 8 out of 10.