FFR #59: If Beale Street Could Talk

This week on FFR, we’re discussing Moonlight director Barry Jenkins’ wonderful new film, If Beale Street Could Talk. We get into the striking beauty of the film’s visual composition, the way it creates a feeling of community and solidarity that stretches beyond just what we see on the screen, and how it somehow manages to overflow with warmth and love, even as it gazes unflinchingly at the cruelties of systemic injustice.

We also dish about the highs and lows of the Golden Globes, Carolyn offers up a new video game recommendation, Ebony asks where the white women are in the conversation about R. Kelly, and Anita says the cheesiest thing she’s ever said in her life.

SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS:

0:50 The Golden Globes (Sandra Oh hosts, Green Book wins (boo!), Olivia Colman wins (yay!)

10:15 A special message from Anita

10:35 If Beale Street Could Talk

45:50 What’s Your FREQ-Out?

Carolyn on Return of the Obra Dinn, Ebony on the voices missing from the conversation about R. Kelly, Anita on Aquaman

RELEVANT LINKS:

Hannah Giorgis talks to Beale Street composer Nicholas Britell about the process of creating the film's wonderful score: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/12/if-beale-street-could-talk-nicholas-britell-composer-music-score/577879/