Cinematic Releases: Romance Develops -The Photograph (2020)

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To be honest, romance is not my genre. I don’t usually like sugary sweet movies that are overly sentimental. The thought of having to watch a Hallmark movie or a romantic movie on Valentine's Day makes me physically ill. And yet, I liked The Photograph way more than I thought I would

When famed photographer Christina Eames dies unexpectedly, she leaves her estranged daughter, Mae, hurt, angry and full of questions. When Mae finds a photograph tucked away in a safe-deposit box, she soon finds herself delving into her mother’s early life – an investigation that leads to an unexpected romance with a rising journalist.

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The Photograph does not have that nauseatingly sugary sweet sentimentality that plagues other romance films but there is a realistic, genuine love story here that provides the film with heart and soul. 

--> Lakeith Stanfield and Issa Rae look terrific on screen, the camera loves them both. Both Mae and Michael feel like complete characters that complement and contrast each other. There is a natural spark between them that makes them captivating. The supporting cast is stacked - with names like Rob Morgan, Lil Rel Howery, Courtney B. Vance, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Chelsea Peretti, and Jasmine Cephas Jones - but only Morgan and Howery really manage to leave major impressions. This is okay for me as our focus should be on our lovely leads and they deliver.
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Director Stella Meghie does a good job of capturing the sizzling sparks between Mae and Michael, capturing every shy glance the two share. This is a film that does a great job of using visuals and music to tell the story but the same cannot be said about the script. 

While the directing is strong, the script leaves much to be desired. It's not badly written at all but since it’s story is so laser focused on character and conflict-lite, this approach can occasionally nip its narrative propulsion in the bud. The cross cutting between the parallel romances of Mae & Michael and Mae’s mother & a suitor from her youth works well but the plot can be passive which leads to lulls from time to time. With a better script, I feel like this would’ve been great as the romance is incredibly bland and the film resorts to too many flashbacks that seem to just pad the run time.

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The Photograph ultimately isn’t the most lively love story around, but Rae and Stanfield’s captivating chemistry is just enough to recommend this for a nice night out at the movies.
-Liam O'Connor