"Slim"/Ernest (Daniel Kaluuya) and "Queen"/Angela (Jodie Turner-Smith) start their evening like every other ordinary pairing: meeting at a diner after a Tinder match up. In any other world, they might have just had the one dinner date and never spoken to each other again. An overzealous and bigoted cop pulls them over, which results in his death via self-defense. Knowing the "justice system" will not look favorably on their involvement, Ernest and Angela decide to make a life or death trek across the country in order to flee the country, but not before learning their tale has made an impact on more lives than they could even imagine.
I want to make something clear from the beginning. I have no education in Black history, iconography or culture. I am well aware that our economic, judicial, and even societal systems have been prejudiced against people of color for far too long and they desperately need to be overhauled, if not dismantled and rebuilt entirely. If anything, this movie is but one more example in media of the disparity in social justice. It may not reach everyone or affect them the same way, but it does provide a means to look into a culture that wants, needs and deserves more heroes and representation.
This movie feels like an example of modern day mythology. Not in that the events that set off the story didn't happen, far from it. But that people see the events unfold and craft narratives from the aftermath. The media and police calls them criminals. Some people call them revolutionaries. Bokeem Woodbine's character, Queen's uncle Earl, jokingly declares them the new "Bonnie & Clyde." From outside perspectives, the pair have become infamous outlaws shirking the authority of a system that, often times, doesn't need an excuse to brutalize and oppress people of color.
But as we travel with the perspective of both Queen and Slim, played with energy and real chemistry with Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya, respectively, we find that they don't see themselves as icons or legends. The filmmakers remind us that these are scared shitless people who are trying to escape a bad situation. They constantly worry about being tracked down and caught, keeping one eye open almost at all times. Their journey only pausing in brief respites between stops on their way trying to flee the country. It's discussed that, had a twisted stroke of fate not interfered, they never would've gone on a second date.
The couple's unexpected and newfound notoriety spurs to action protests across the nation, particularly in a young man who makes a rash mistake, even if borne of genuine and deserved outrage. When Slim and Queen learn of this, they're shocked that their actions have led others to such ends. "We didn't want this" Queen protests when asked if they told the young man to take up arms against police officers. It showcases the unforeseen and tragic ways that people can take inspiration from people who've suffered legitimate injustices. Unfortunately, it's rushed along as the movie approaches its finale.
By a technical standpoint (as much as I can tell, anyway),the tone of this movie sometimes takes wild and sharp turns from intensely serious to farcically comedic. There's a scene, right after a very scary showdown with a sheriff, where the leads go to a restaurant, pay a kid to go get them food, and when they are about to leave, run over the same child's father, who's talking them up as revolutionaries. All the while being taken to the hospital for the broken leg they caused. There's another scene where ErnestAs I had stated earlier, the last few minutes feel a bit rushed to getting into the climax. There's also pauses in the story that some might consider unnecessary, but I thought were at least decent character moments. I also found an interesting detail that despite the title, neither Ernest nor Angela are called Slim or Queen respectively. And we don't find out their birth names until the very end of the movie. But the film plays out in such a way that it almost doesn't matter.
Legends aren't born, they are crafted by the hands of fate. When that happens, sometimes the only thing one can do is ride the wave, even when you know it'll crash violently against the rocks. And you hope you have a great tale for others to tell. It is through legends passed down through generations and the important lessons their lives teach that people truly are immortalized.
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