JamalSpunky
Well-Known Member
So back in late November or early December I was able to catch "Waves" in the theaters.
What an experience. It was easily one of the more powerful pieces of film I've seen this year and perhaps the last few years. Of the so-called "black" motion pictures in 2019 this, along with "Luce", may rank as the best, even though its writer/director is white. It was far superior in my estimation to "Queen and Slim" which I got around to viewing just a few days later and was thereby able to make an easier comparison. Unfortunately for "Waves" the box office turned out to be a disappointment. I get that. This movie isn't for everyone, much of it is hard to digest. I don't understand however why it has gotten such few awards recognition. Apparently despite its critical acclaim it is divisive among those making these decisions.
SPOILERS follow. You've been warned.
What an experience. It was easily one of the more powerful pieces of film I've seen this year and perhaps the last few years. Of the so-called "black" motion pictures in 2019 this, along with "Luce", may rank as the best, even though its writer/director is white. It was far superior in my estimation to "Queen and Slim" which I got around to viewing just a few days later and was thereby able to make an easier comparison. Unfortunately for "Waves" the box office turned out to be a disappointment. I get that. This movie isn't for everyone, much of it is hard to digest. I don't understand however why it has gotten such few awards recognition. Apparently despite its critical acclaim it is divisive among those making these decisions.
SPOILERS follow. You've been warned.
I knew going into the film that the film would be split into two halves: the first one to focus on the teen brother of the black family played by Kelvin Harrison and the second to focus on his sister who is a year younger played by Taylor Russell. I was also aware that family strife would be at the center of the story as a result of some issues involving the son and a tragic death that occurs.
That first half of the film is nothing short of stunning. Filmmaking at its freshest and bold. Great direction, great camera work, great acting, great music. An explosion of colors.
Harrison plays Tyler, an accomplished wrestler who is hiding from his family and his coach that he has sustained an injury that should cause him to shut it down for the season. But this is his final year and the sport defines him too much for him to let it go. The person he wants to share the info with the least is his dad (Sterling Brown) who is loving but also highly demanding. So he keeps it all to himself and his life starts to unravel as he can no longer perform in his arena like he once did. Matters are made worse when his girlfriend that he is passionate about (Alexis played by Alexa Demie) tells him that she is pregnant.
That first half of the film is nothing short of stunning. Filmmaking at its freshest and bold. Great direction, great camera work, great acting, great music. An explosion of colors.
Harrison plays Tyler, an accomplished wrestler who is hiding from his family and his coach that he has sustained an injury that should cause him to shut it down for the season. But this is his final year and the sport defines him too much for him to let it go. The person he wants to share the info with the least is his dad (Sterling Brown) who is loving but also highly demanding. So he keeps it all to himself and his life starts to unravel as he can no longer perform in his arena like he once did. Matters are made worse when his girlfriend that he is passionate about (Alexis played by Alexa Demie) tells him that she is pregnant.
Tyler supports her, takes her to an abortion clinic and waits while she goes in to have the procedure. But they are both unnerved by the abortion protesters who pester them as they arrive. Later when Alexis is done and is ready to go the couple gets confronted by another protester who says vile things to them, setting Tyler off a bit. Both of their emotions are frayed. As Tyler drives them back home Alexis tells him she didn't go through with the abortion. This leads to a heated exchange and Tyler says something to her so upsetting she gets out of his vehicle and walks home. Once he is unable to convince her to get back into the vehicle, the two continue their shouting match, him in the vehicle and her on the sidewalk.
Sometime later, maybe a day or two, when he is more calm and texts her she ends up sending him texts through which she breaks up with him. This gets him rattled. When he tries to text her back he finds out she has blocked him, when he calls he only gets her voice mail. Skipping ahead somewhat when the prom takes place Tyler appears to be out of luck. He has no date of course and he is staying in his house mostly to recuperate from his injury (after losing a match badly his physical situation became apparent to everyone, including his parents). He is in a very bad mental state and he doesn't help himself by checking on social media. He sees some mostly live videos of his friends and teammates having a great time. His ex-girlfriend is also at the prom looking to be enjoying herself with some new guy. He tries to block it out but he can't. So he starts to leave the house when he is confronted by his stepmom and then his dad who tell him he can't leave.He is able to get past his father (I forgot how it went down but it was executed believably) and get into one of the family vehicles.
You can guess where this is heading. He arrives at a house being used for dozens of kids at the after party following the prom. Included at this gathering is his sister, Emily. From a distance he sees his girlfriend go up the stairs with the guy she went to the prom with. Later on when she comes back down and walks towards a garage, he follows her. There are so many kids around and so much loud music no one notices. She is shocked to see him when the two are alone, asking why he was here.He asks her about the guy she was with which leads to another heated exchange. Turns out the guy is gay and one of he oldest friends but she pointedly says he wouldn't know that because he never took the time to get to know her friends. He winds up saying to her that he wants to be with her and that he wants them to keep the baby (she had told him in the texts that she would go back to the abortion clinic with her parents). But they are so angry with each other that she shouts she doesn't want to have his child or anything to do with him. This hurts him so he lashes out verbally. That hurts her so she stars hitting him repeatedly. He responds by striking her hard sending her to floor, head first. He didn't mean to do it, he definitely didn't try to kill her. He lost control for on moment and forgot his strength.
To wrap it up....she dies. Tyler gets arrested. Tyler goes to trial and is convicted, getting 30 to 40 years for the death of Alexis and her unborn child.
Yes, the black guy kills his girlfriend and goes to prison.
Before I comment on more on this let me briefly go over some of Emily's story which makes up the second half.
Sometime later, maybe a day or two, when he is more calm and texts her she ends up sending him texts through which she breaks up with him. This gets him rattled. When he tries to text her back he finds out she has blocked him, when he calls he only gets her voice mail. Skipping ahead somewhat when the prom takes place Tyler appears to be out of luck. He has no date of course and he is staying in his house mostly to recuperate from his injury (after losing a match badly his physical situation became apparent to everyone, including his parents). He is in a very bad mental state and he doesn't help himself by checking on social media. He sees some mostly live videos of his friends and teammates having a great time. His ex-girlfriend is also at the prom looking to be enjoying herself with some new guy. He tries to block it out but he can't. So he starts to leave the house when he is confronted by his stepmom and then his dad who tell him he can't leave.He is able to get past his father (I forgot how it went down but it was executed believably) and get into one of the family vehicles.
You can guess where this is heading. He arrives at a house being used for dozens of kids at the after party following the prom. Included at this gathering is his sister, Emily. From a distance he sees his girlfriend go up the stairs with the guy she went to the prom with. Later on when she comes back down and walks towards a garage, he follows her. There are so many kids around and so much loud music no one notices. She is shocked to see him when the two are alone, asking why he was here.He asks her about the guy she was with which leads to another heated exchange. Turns out the guy is gay and one of he oldest friends but she pointedly says he wouldn't know that because he never took the time to get to know her friends. He winds up saying to her that he wants to be with her and that he wants them to keep the baby (she had told him in the texts that she would go back to the abortion clinic with her parents). But they are so angry with each other that she shouts she doesn't want to have his child or anything to do with him. This hurts him so he lashes out verbally. That hurts her so she stars hitting him repeatedly. He responds by striking her hard sending her to floor, head first. He didn't mean to do it, he definitely didn't try to kill her. He lost control for on moment and forgot his strength.
To wrap it up....she dies. Tyler gets arrested. Tyler goes to trial and is convicted, getting 30 to 40 years for the death of Alexis and her unborn child.
Yes, the black guy kills his girlfriend and goes to prison.
Before I comment on more on this let me briefly go over some of Emily's story which makes up the second half.
It is almost a year later. The family is largely torn asunder after what occurred with Tyler. The mom blames the father for Tyler's situation, talking about how he pushed him too hard. Their relationship fractures and isn't repaired until the end. The father is dealing with so much at work and at home that he can't give Emily enough attention (she never blames him). The step mom is too distraught over Tyler to worry over Emily and ends up shutting herself off from the world. At school Emily now eats alone in the cafeteria. I'm not certain if she is in a new school or not but regardless she is a bit of an outcast at school and on social media because of what her brother did. So she shuts off from all of it. But a person comes into her life. A fellow student takes an interest in her, a boy named Luke played by Lucas Hedges.
Luke is also a wrestler but kinda shy. He and Emily bond quickly. They become an item. They fall in love. Luke has issues regarding his father who was abusive towards his mom. But his father is dying so Luke and Emily travel across state lines to visit him. As Luke learns to let go of the past regarding his dad, Emily does the same with Tyler whom she had come to hate because of not just what he did to Alexis but to their family. She comes to understand forgiveness.
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