2024 Ranking

Sadly a disappointment and lesser Steve McQueen for me. Has sequences of strong, memorably crafted direction and I adored Benjamin Clementine’s scenes. Unfortunately the screenplay isn’t threaded together particularly well, and the central relationship and separation never resonates. Some strong scenes in this on both ends of mother and son, but I felt a lack of urgency or even cohesion to all of them, which hurts it overall. Comes to life in parts and McQueen’s strengths do come through, but there’s also long stretches which I just didn’t connect to at all.

I will say, I’ve disagree with critiques of it being too on the nose. The film wears its message, themes very clearly on its sleeves and there’s parts where this works very well, and even becomes moving. Notably in some of the incisive speeches given against racism in Britain and some of the more sincere, casual heart to heart moments. They’re obviously written but that’s not a fault for me, as they do ring true. But there’s other sequences where where it just doesn’t ring true and feels overly simplistic, if not a bit caricature-y (the Dickensian robbers, and some of the mother’s predicament).

This Lovers Rock fan did appreciate the handsomely mounted dance/musical scenes, and how it shines a light on many marginalised British communities of the era. Can appreciate all of that even if the film as a whole, especially the ending, left me more than a little underwhelmed.