Review
DULCIE PEARCE AT THE MOVIES
Miss Juneteenth is a story of hope and resilience
MISS JUNETEENTH
(15) 99mins
★★★★☆
THERE are moments in this Texan-based movie when you feel physically tired for Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie).
The devoted mum is juggling several jobs, a teenage daughter and feckless ex Ronnie (Kendrick Sampson), while constantly keeping her eye on the prize – the Miss Juneteenth pageant crown.
4
A former winner, “Turq” now wants her 15-year-old daughter Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), to have that sash.
Even though it did nothing to improve her own life (the first scene is her cleaning the toilet in a run-down bar), she is convinced it will pull her daughter up.
At times it seems Turq will do anything – including living without electricity – to make it happen.
Juneteenth is a Texas nod to the 1865 emancipation from slavery and the contest offers a full scholarship to young black women. But headstrong Kai is nowhere near as interested in taking part as her mum.
4
Writer-director Channing Godfrey Peoples has made a joyful film, juggling the tricky subject of mother-daughter relationships.
Despite their hardships, this film never gets lost in self-pity or cliché. It is a story of hope and resilience – and deserves the crown for that.
FILM NEWS
- BRIT actor Carey Mulligan has signed up to play the wife of legendary composer Leonard Bernstein, alongside Bradley Cooper.
- Three years since its release it has been announced that there will be a Boss Baby 2. Jeff Goldblum and Eva Longoria have already signed up.
- Three years since its release it has been announced that there will be a Boss Baby 2. Jeff Goldblum and Eva Longoria have already signed up.
SCHEMERS
(15) 91mins
★★☆☆☆
IT’S Dundee in 1979 and a skinny lad is being chased while a heavy-accented voice-over tells the viewer: “This is how it all started.”
So is this low-budget, Scottish film going to be just like Trainspotting?
4
No, but director and co-writer Dave McLean has clearly watched it a few times, as he pays homage to Danny Boyle’s classic.
Cheeky Davie (Conor Berry) is running away from a scorned husband after having a fumble with his wife.
Davie’s leg is broken by the angry man, shattering his dreams of playing football. He falls for nurse Shona (Tara Lee) and to impress her, pretends to be a gig promoter to get a date.
Along with a couple of pals he decides to put on an Iron Maiden concert. They have big ambitions but it is not all plain sailing and gambling-addict Davie is forced to turn to violent gangsters for cash – getting deeper in debt.
4
Most read in Film
This is so low-budget you’re not sure if the gig scenes are meant to look authentically lame or they literally couldn’t afford the extras.
But that’s not its fault.
It is its fault that Davie – a bad pal, boyfriend and son – is such an unlikeable character you couldn’t care less if he succeeds or fails.
Official trailer for rock biopic Schemers
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]
Topics