Would You Take A Walk With Me?

It was bound to happen folks. BWLM reviews it's first date movie...kinda. While I'm sure that this movie can and likely will be seen on date nights, it's actually ABOUT a date...kinda.

Welcome to Southside With Me, the silver screen dramatization of the "first date" between America's most loved and hated power couple, the Obamas. The film follows a summer day shared between Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson on the south side of Chicago. It is the summer of 1989 and Barack (Parker Sawyers) is spending his first summer break from Harvard as a junior associate with the Chicago based law firm of Sidley & Austin. It is there that he meets his strait-laced advisor, Michelle (Tika Sumpter). Channeling common interest in community improvement, Barack invites Michelle to a local committee meeting. What follows is history, however what follows immediately is hysterical...kinda. Y'know, the stuff that first dates are made of where two people who like each other try to get along long enough to SEE if they like each other enough to keep going.

Our Commander-In-Chief to be is portrayed by strong chinned Parker Sawyers, who started his onscreen career in the Lilyhammer series in 2012. Sawyers captures Obama's jovial and astute nature well and others seem to agree, as his dance card has filled since word has gotten out. Much like her character (Michelle), Tika Sumpter has proceeded Parker in Hollywood. Her credits include consistent roles across several genres in both TV and film since 2004 including a 6 year run on One Life To Live and the movies Salt, Get On Up and the Ride Along series. You can even find her singing in the movie Sparkle. Wait, there's more. She's also a producer on Southside With Me. Sumpter capably embodies the First Lady's spirit in what many may feel is an actual behind the scenes peek into what the Obamas are like. 

What makes Southside With Me good (yes, it's good) is it's authenticity. The discussion isn't so much as about the film's historical accuracy as it is about it's life experience. The subtle awkwardness and sometimes discomfort of two folks feeling each other out is captured well. The dialog is exceptional and touches on several issues including community, race, respectability politics and mixing business with pleasure. I also enjoy the concept of writer Richard Tanne to explore this one day, the moment that led to the next of the Obamas instead of attempting to make it a romantic biography. That said, thumbs up. Go ahead. Take a walk on the South Side...

NOTE: If you want more of onscreen Obama, you only need Netflix. The streaming leader has purchased the worldwide rights to BARRY, a movie set during our Commander-In-Chief's time at New York's Columbia University...

Gendertrification???

We've seen onscreen depictions of what life would be like for the last man in the world. That is NOT the plight of Andrew Myers. He, at 37 years old, is the YOUNGEST man in the world. "How?" you ask. If you ask any present day woman, she'll just say "Praise Nature." Welcome to the mockumentary known as "No Men Beyond This Point."

This comedy-documentary written, produced and directed by Mark Sawers follows the effects of parthenogenesis, an evolutionary phenomenon that first surfaced in 1953 that lead to women reproducing asexually. The coverage switches back and forth between historical footage and Andrew's present day life as a housekeeper for Tara & Iris, a couple with 4 children. Tara is a straight laced, pro-woman who sees men as cheap labour, while her partner Iris, believes that the world could possibly be better with more men. The movie uses footage and expert analysis to discuss everything from the fall of Christianity to the unification of the world's nations as the male species becomes more scarce as not only are women experiencing fatherless births, but they're also giving birth almost exclusively to female children (until Andrew). The doc explores the rise of women as the dominant species and how even terminology, theories and thoughts relating to men are increasingly remote.

All seems lost as the disenfranchised men attempt to rise up. With the government focused on things they feel are more important to the continued evolution of women, men are herded on reservations and monitored until death. 

While the film, isn't extraordinary it takes an interestingly comical view at men and what the world would be like without them (in control). It's written solid and executed well. Few mockumentaries possess that "umph" and this is no exception. it IS, however a refreshing change from the overdone lost video camera footage angle. Check it out when you get a chance...