Film ReviewsLoving: An important story poorly toldMar 1, 2017 Anchorage Press
|
|
The movie Loving written and directed by Jeff Nichols tells the story of Richard and Mildred Delores Loving, a young couple who fall deeply in love and get married—what’s wrong with that? Oh, yes, this happened in the state of Virginia in late 1950s during a time when anti-miscegenation laws were alive and well. Richard was a white man, Mildred was a black woman. Their love and marriage were illegal.
The movie stars Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton as Mildred and Richard, respectively. The actors seem to be very well cast for the movie, holding it together with sheer talent despite a weak script. Ms. Negga’s performance is exceptional and earned her a nomination for best actress at 2017 Oscars. There was stiff competition for this category, but what a tragedy that she didn’t win. Ms. Negga has so much control of her craft that she is able to summon emotional night and day with just glance.
There are a couple of noteworthy themes in the movie that are reflections of the times—one is the ambivalence felt by Mildred about life in the city, which afforded them some anonymity, privacy and safety. This contrasts with life at home in the country, in which their marriage was a criminal act and they lived in fear of being taken away in the night. Ms. Negga’s portrayal of Mildred as she struggles to cope in the city is beautiful, she’s like a flower who wilts in the concrete jungle and springs to life in the vast open spaces of the country. Another theme is about the shifting reality for minorities brought on by a growing Civil Rights movement that was flourishing beneath their feet. It was front and center, but not everyone who was impacted had the opportunity to participate directly as a result of many complicated reasons—social, economic and safety among them.
Loving is slow-paced and the character of Richard is somewhat taciturn. As a cinematic strategy the latter can be successful, because it signals that still waters run deep (think of the work of Ingmar Bergman or Theo Angelopoulos); and indeed, when combined with the character of Mildred, their juxtaposition works, but when independent of Mildred, Richard’s reticence feels forced. The slow pace doesn’t work because it’s sustained too long and doesn’t go anywhere very interesting or unexpected. Jeff Nichols missed a great opportunity to give Ms. Negga and Mr. Edgerton material worthy of their talent. Loving is simply not on par with its contemporaries, Moonlight, Fences, or Hidden Figures to name a few because the script lacks intellectual fervor. The story of the Lovings is essential for the evolution of the United States’ Constitution, history and democratic health, but under the direction of Nichols, the story is simply poorly told. Nichols misses opportunity after opportunity to make impactful work. The legal history behind the case is so light, it may as well be missing in the film. Loving lacks a real sense and passion for the events that drive a shift in human rights litigation that would serve as a foundation for subsequent fights for civil liberties into the present day. The Lovings weren’t just fighting for their marriage to be recognized, in truth, they were fighting for fundamental shifts in redefining equality in America. Nichols makes it seem like the Lovings’ fight was more academic than real; and filling the screen time with a supporting cast who is great looking but flat does not cut it.
- Art House-
Bear Tooth
Monday, 3/6
8:00 pm
Run time: 2:03 h
Movie Rating: PG-13
The movie stars Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton as Mildred and Richard, respectively. The actors seem to be very well cast for the movie, holding it together with sheer talent despite a weak script. Ms. Negga’s performance is exceptional and earned her a nomination for best actress at 2017 Oscars. There was stiff competition for this category, but what a tragedy that she didn’t win. Ms. Negga has so much control of her craft that she is able to summon emotional night and day with just glance.
There are a couple of noteworthy themes in the movie that are reflections of the times—one is the ambivalence felt by Mildred about life in the city, which afforded them some anonymity, privacy and safety. This contrasts with life at home in the country, in which their marriage was a criminal act and they lived in fear of being taken away in the night. Ms. Negga’s portrayal of Mildred as she struggles to cope in the city is beautiful, she’s like a flower who wilts in the concrete jungle and springs to life in the vast open spaces of the country. Another theme is about the shifting reality for minorities brought on by a growing Civil Rights movement that was flourishing beneath their feet. It was front and center, but not everyone who was impacted had the opportunity to participate directly as a result of many complicated reasons—social, economic and safety among them.
Loving is slow-paced and the character of Richard is somewhat taciturn. As a cinematic strategy the latter can be successful, because it signals that still waters run deep (think of the work of Ingmar Bergman or Theo Angelopoulos); and indeed, when combined with the character of Mildred, their juxtaposition works, but when independent of Mildred, Richard’s reticence feels forced. The slow pace doesn’t work because it’s sustained too long and doesn’t go anywhere very interesting or unexpected. Jeff Nichols missed a great opportunity to give Ms. Negga and Mr. Edgerton material worthy of their talent. Loving is simply not on par with its contemporaries, Moonlight, Fences, or Hidden Figures to name a few because the script lacks intellectual fervor. The story of the Lovings is essential for the evolution of the United States’ Constitution, history and democratic health, but under the direction of Nichols, the story is simply poorly told. Nichols misses opportunity after opportunity to make impactful work. The legal history behind the case is so light, it may as well be missing in the film. Loving lacks a real sense and passion for the events that drive a shift in human rights litigation that would serve as a foundation for subsequent fights for civil liberties into the present day. The Lovings weren’t just fighting for their marriage to be recognized, in truth, they were fighting for fundamental shifts in redefining equality in America. Nichols makes it seem like the Lovings’ fight was more academic than real; and filling the screen time with a supporting cast who is great looking but flat does not cut it.
- Art House-
Bear Tooth
Monday, 3/6
8:00 pm
Run time: 2:03 h
Movie Rating: PG-13