The Photograph 2020 * 1/2 Stars

Director: Stella Meghie
Year: 2020
Rated PG-13
Rating: * 1/2 Stars
Cast: Issa Rae, Lakeith Stanfield, Courtney B. Vance

"Long distance never works". I agree wholeheartedly. The Photograph as a ponderous romantic drama, doesn't really work either. Practically annoyed, I sat through a hundred glossed over minutes only to say, "what was the point of all this courting, leading on of a partner, and googly eye-ness?"

Anyway, "Photograph" is for the most part, mildly arbitrary. It's about a woman whose photographer mother dies of cancer and she gets involved with a journalist who happens to interview her estranged father. Issa Rae plays said woman while San Bernardino native Lakeith Stanfield plays said journalist. Against an impersonating Louisiana landscape, their performances aren't terrible but there are plenty of eye-rolling moments between these two agonizing nutters.

So yeah, picture 2016's Moonlight but without any solidity and that's what you get with The Photograph. And just for kicks and giggles, picture something Spike Lee would have done on holiday (during his Mo' Better Blues phase) and "Photograph" will shabbily fill in the blanks. Finally, imagine Tyler Perry running out of writing wriggle room and The Photograph will give you that tangent-ed perspective.

Distributed by Universal Pictures, told through two interconnecting stories (one in the 1980's and one in present day), featuring an earthy R&B soundtrack, and harboring background music that channels a little Terrence Blanchard (even though it's done by Texan Robert Glasper), "Photograph" is fairly well-directed if not tarnished in crystal clear pretentiousness and wandering flashbacks.

This film is whimsical, kaleidoscopic, and sort of dream-like but that's the be-all-end-all. There's no revelation, no big reveal, no give out, and you wish what's on screen wasn't such an elegant snooze-r. If I had my druthers, I'd prevent any Redbox viewer from paying $1.80 to see "Photograph". I'd also take an actual "photo" and stare at it instead. Color space included. Rating: 1 and a half stars.

Written by Jesse Burleson