From Barry Jenkins (director of Moonlight) comes If Beale Street Could Talk. Starring Kiki Layne, Stephan James, and Regina King in the year’s most touching and soulful piece of film-making. After Moonlight’s big wins at the Oscars just a few years ago, everyone was clamoring for what Barry Jenkins would be doing next. When word dropped that he would be tackling James Baldwin’s novel of the same name, excitement escalated to astronomical heights with Barry’s follow-up film to what many consider, “one of the best films of the decade.” It was always going to be hard following up a film like Moonlight (one I didn’t have appreciation for until just a few days ago), but with the beloved source material being the foundation for Barry’s vision, I can safely say that Mr. Barry Jenkins has done it again. As mentioned previously, If Beale Street Could Talk is touching and soulful. Exemplifying a sense of warmth, comfort, and pain in each passing frame through its use of color and surreal direction. Jenkins manages to tap into all of what the medium has to offer from well-timed fades, screen-filling establishing shots, and what has become his trademark, close-ups. Many times we see directors get too aggressive with close-ups to the point of distraction and then losing its purpose. Here, Barry is on top of his game in cutting to personal, meaningful, and lengthy close-ups that exudes so much sorrow, empathy, compassion, and pain. This in part due to how exceptional all of the performances are. The most notable performer here is Stephan James. Who has gotten next to no recognition this year, yet pulling off one of the most powerful performances of the year. Showcasing range from the most energetic of yells, to the power of tears streaming down his face. Stephan James is a star. The other star here is Kiki Layne, the rock for Stephan James’ character Alonzo. Bringing a character to life that embodies the innocence of that era and does so in such an emotionally moving way. The two here deliver one of the greatest relationships we’ve seen on screen in ages. The chemistry here is top notch, and the way in which Jenkins captures it speaks with the earnest of voices that sets the film ablaze with a light crackling of flames. There isn’t much else to discuss here without spoiling every fine detail that makes up this film. It’s a movie that has to be seen to be believed due to its precise execution and ability to convey emotion at an all-time great level. Barry Jenkins showcases the beauty of the medium in all of it’s capacity. Perfectly using the decades old “Kuleshov Effect” time and time again to explore the emotions of characters. The Shakespearean dialogue also opens up the film to be viewed as some form of royal literacy found on the high shelves of a Queen’s bookcase. If Beale Street Could Talk is poetic, purposeful, earnest, and powerful in it’s execution. Barry Jenkins is nearly at the height of his powers in taking a familiar topic we’ve seen in a multitude of films this year and explores it without a single wasted frame. The way in which he explores personal and socio-political issues without an ounce of lust, in exchange for a tender, brotherly warmth is moving. Not much else needs to be said, If Beale Street Could Talk is an outstanding piece of film-making that serves as some form of poetic justice that signals that love will always trump the walls of evil. If Beale Street Could Talks gets a 94/100