The Photograph

Written and directed by Stella Meghie, the film is a gentle and attentive inter-generational tale with a first-rate cast.

Meghie’s films don’t conform to conventional plot structure; her approach is more musical, more fluid. As a result, her rhythms are sometimes a little off, as the plot wanders down this or that detour. On the plus side, she makes time for naturalistic conversations.

Although the film sometimes dips into muddled melodrama, those occasional setbacks can’t derail a story filled with warm, resonant characters trying to fathom their own hearts.

Meghie’s film is a paean to the push and pull between enchanting possibilities and chimerical probabilities. You don’t need to bring a handkerchief into the theater for fear of ocular leakage, but The Photograph’s modestly hopeful denouement is, truly, picture perfect.

In the end, it’s up to Rae (“Insecure”), at her most glamorous, and Stanfield (“Knives Out”) at his most romantic to put this over. And as they do, The Photograph develops into something rare in the movies this and most Valentine’s Days — a romance that feels romantic.

The Photograph comes down with a teary case of "The Notebook," laying on flashbacks that yank us out of the present, where our stars live, and into a past riddled with sentimental clichés.

Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield can’t save this dreary Valentine’s drama that lacks fizzle and emotional stakes.

The cinematography = excellent The script = natural and realistic The cast = cohesive Nuance black characters. Showing dark skin characters be vulnerable with 0 trauma And this **** Soundtrack / tracklisting? Robert Glasper did a phenomenal job. Sheesh

I have nothing to say 12345678901235816287182718728172817287182718275186281628168 :)

The Photograph is unable to avoid falling into some classic genre cliches, but strong chemistry from Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield make for an above average romance flick. The pacing can be inconsistent, but not enough to take away from the film's overall impact.

The Photograph – Needs Fresh Developer It can’t get much more boring than this turgid ‘romantic’ soap. It’s a movie that’s been created to sell a soundtrack, with rather bland, nonstop songs filling in for the lack of any worthwhile writing. Coochy love scenes standing in for any real emotional commitment does not a good movie make. Looks good but plays empty.

I rate this movie a 3 at best! I agree with JLuis_001 review. Emotionless and very predictable. I think maybe I was expecting more from this movie that what I actually got. I was expecting more of a black love story of the likes of the Notebook, or Brown Sugar, Jasons Lyric etc. This wasnt even close to any of those.There wasnt anything that seemed to be at stake of losing, the relationship seemed more like a friendship with benefits than anything else. I wish they had better chemistry and that there was definitely more background on the characters.