I’m going to be honest here. I’m kind of over going to support movies where the plot revolves around someone being shot. In working in news, it’s a little too close to home and it’s a real life situation that we are still dealing with today so…needless to say, I want new storylines.
But anyway, the story originated as a book written by Angie Thomas. The Hate U Give is about 16 year-old Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) who lives in the fictional Garden Heights but goes to school in a predominately white private school (sound familiar?). Carter struggles with feeling as though she has sort of a split personality. She’s one Starr with the black folks and another with the white folks…until one night changes her life. After a party with her black friends, she rides home with a childhood friend named Khalil (Algee Smith, who played Ralph Tresvant in The New Edition Story). They are later pulled over by police, Khalil is asked to exit the car and is subsequently, shot. The inner battle Starr has with herself is who she wants to be. There is a personal obligation she feels she has to keep her friend’s memory both alive and clean, being that the media is labeling him as a thug and touting the cop as a hero (sound familiar?).
Now that I’ve explained that, you can see how this movie would make me angry. Don’t get me wrong, it’s going to be a beautiful movie but this might be a one time viewing for me. Much like Detroit and Fruitvale Station, I can only take so much abuse on screen. Now, this film isn’t quite in the same vein as the films I mentioned but you get my point.
I think what sets this movie apart from the other is that Starr has to find out which Starr she wants to be. My assumption is that she wants to be the black Starr or a combination of both. I think most of the film will be about her journey to find out who she is and what she stands for. I also assume that her black friends understand what her white friends do not because this is not in their wheelhouse of norm. It should be an interesting juxtaposition.
When does this movie come out?
It’s in select theaters on October 5th (which is tomorrow) and goes nationwide October 19th. Check your local theaters to see when you can see it.
Is it worth it to go see?
Yes but more than likely, if you are black, you will be angry. Also, there are quite a few black actors that we know and love in this film.
Am I going to see this movie?
Yes but again, I will be angry. I just know it!
BLACK WATCH 