The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024)
★★★
This review may contain spoilers.
this was okay, I didn't hate it, I didn't love it, some pretty great acting in here especially from An-Li Bogan who is a stand out in this thing, the story feels a little weird pacing wise, the cinematography is serviceable, there are some pretty great shots in here, I wish there was some more uniqueness in them, the score towards the beginning is pretty cool but then it turns pretty normal score territory towards the middle of the film, the wardrobe in this film looks super cool, some great dynamic clothes, bold colors too, great part of the film, really cool concept as well, with some polish in other places this would have been fantastic, a polish on pacing, a polish on the score being more whimsical and dynamic, a polish on the cinematography, and this would have been pretty great.
notes below
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- I like the shots that they chose for the title credits, nice big wide shots with nice screen direction.
- I like the score, sense of wonder to it
- that Dutch angle in the barber shop was super good.
- Nicole Byer literally serving in the air in that outfit.
- clarity is dope.
- like that shot from behind on the stairs.
- the wardrobe in this film looks great.
- the actor for Lizzie An-Li Bogan is doing a really great job.
- this scene where they are talking in the park, the focal length is really good.
- like the cut from the vr room to the party, it flowed really well.
- "of course I know all about that I am basically a wizard"
- this third act has picked up a bit, now that we are learning about the stakes and such, I wish we got a bit more time with Lizzie, got to see more of that montage, I feel like I would be feeling that emotion of aww more during this "break-up"
- I like that push in that ends up very out of focus.
- I loved the choice to allow us to linger so long on him making the yarn sculpture.
- I like the concept of this scene, the pacing, the overlapping dialogue, the framing, we have been building towards this moment.
