The Photograph

The Photograph

Starring Issa Rae, Lakeith Stanfield, Chante Adams, Rob Morgan

Directed by Stella Meghie

There was a time where calling yourself a photographer had some real in-depth meaning (I'm sure it still does, but it seems overshadowed by the millions of "wannabes" out there now) due to the intense patience, talent, and artful eye you had to take a moment in time and etch it into memory for eternity.  Nowadays anyone with a cell phone calls themselves a photographer, but they're nothing compared to the likes of Ansel Adams or Robert Capa, even if some of their pictures are decent.  In a fictional world turned real, you could say that most "photographers" today can't be compared to Christina Eames either, as she sets the stage for what's to come in the generational-telling film "The Photograph."

In Louisiana in the 80s, young Christina (Chante Adams) doesn't have much of a direction, at least according to her mother.  She spends her time taking carefully planned photographs that are spellbinding, but obviously won't put dinner on the table - and to top it all off, she falls for local fisherman Isaac Jefferson (Rob Morgan), who seems about as aloof when it comes to real world problems as Christina.  Yet there's a fire in her bones, and she wants more than anything to explore her talent outside her small world, but Isaac doesn't share the same vision - so she sets out to fulfill her dream by moving to New York City, choosing ambition over love.

In the modern day, Christina's now-grown daughter Mae (Issa Rae) is a successful assistant curator at the Queens Museum, and is still struggling over the recent death of Christina - a mother who wasn't really there for her.  She finds a photograph and notes Christina wrote to Mae and her father, which tells the story of why Christina was so distant and her regrets of leaving love behind.  Meanwhile, journalist Michael Block (Lakeith Stanfield) is doing a story on Christina's art, which leads him to Mae - and the two strike up instant chemistry and begin a relationship, but while Michael is all in on the prospect, Mae is reluctant to fall in love, afraid that she'll end up just like her mother.

"The Photograph" lives up to its title in the sense that it offers a dazzling visual style that's unique to the romance genre, a film that comes alive with vibrant jazz music and lovely set pieces, along with an old-style feel as it teleports us from the present to the past, as well as offering four likeable, charismatic, beautiful leads.  However, that's where it ends, as the actual meat of the film is filled with predictable dialogue and the obvious struggle for love that'll end just as you'd expect it to for a film like this.  It's beautiful to see, but not long after you'll forget most of what happened.

This is by no means blaming the actors, as they worked with what they had.  For the past, Chante Adams and Rob Morgan have great chemistry together, and you can see Christina's internal battle to really love and feel love against her desire to complete her dreams, and the fear that both of them can't be attained equally, while Isaac is the more laid-back of the duo, a man who doesn't understand why Christina can't have everything she wants either.  This transcends to the modern time, as Issa Rae's Mae has a constant struggle with wanting to love but fearing being loved, and Lakeith Stanfield is extremely laid-back and more than open to loving again, serving as a man who doesn't want what makes sense - he just wants Mae.  It's fascinating to see the two interact, as they have instant chemistry, and Issa Rae especially has this special quality about her acting - she comes off strong and composed physically, but you can see the insecurity in her eyes as she manages to tell a quiet story in her gaze.  Likewise, Stanfield has his own unique acting quality - he effortlessly floats through his performances with ease and a laid-back style reminiscent of James Dean, and you can see this in his character as well: he shows puppy dog eyes every time he sees Mae, and just comes off as a naturally charming fella.

What hinders the film is the story itself, a tale that would've been more intriguing if it wasn't so cookie-cutter.  Many people have struggled with the aspect of love, but here it's bland, predictable, and mediocre at best.  You sense the struggle, but know the outcome long before the credits roll - and not just the story of the past.  Yet maybe I'm just a jaded old soul who's given up on the hopes of ever finding true love, and this could be the next "Notebook" - maybe I'm wrong, but at least it's a much better love story than "Twilight."

With the aid of four highly capable leads, "The Photograph" manages to tell a well-woven love story between generations, even if the story itself is easily predictable - and much like good photographs, they can be appreciated one time.

The Score: B+