John David Washington and Zendaya shine in one of the best films of the year, now streaming on Netflix.
As a filmmaker (John David Washington) and his girlfriend (Zendaya) return home from his movie premiere, smoldering tensions, and painful revelations push them towards a romantic reckoning.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit last year, Hollywood was forced to shut down and one of the many projects that were affected was season 2 of HBO’s hit series Euphoria. But instead of falling to pieces and waiting for things to improve, creator Sam Levinson decided to create something new during the shutdown. That ended up being Malcolm & Marie, which also reunited him with Euphoria star Zendaya.
Then, once John David Washington joined the project, it was gonna be interesting to see how the film would turn out. Malcolm & Marie doesn’t just pair two of the brightest stars in Hollywood, it also was the first attempts to make a film during a major health crisis. The film gives its stars a lot to work with which elevates the script to a gripping result.
The film was made during the early days of the pandemic, so there were obvious limitations and restrictions on the set- like the fact it was shot entirely in one location. But, despite these setbacks, Levinson was able to make a beautiful film. Shot entirely in black-and-white, it gives Malcolm & Marie a timeless quality, like it could be set in any time era (despite some modern-day references). Everyone will be aware of the circumstances in which the film was shot, but audiences will quickly forget about it and get immersed in the film.
Washington and Zendaya and the only actors in the film (no supporting cast or even extras) and are more than up to the task of carrying an entire movie on their shoulders. That is what I found so captivating about the film, it demands the viewer’s attention throughout the film. Their brilliant performances help shape Levinson’s script, by adding more depth and emotion to their characters that aren’t written on the pages.
Washington and Zendaya have such excellent chemistry that it is easy to believe that they’re a longtime couple voicing their frustrations with each other. They are exceptional at both their verbal sparring and the quieter scenes where they play off each other brilliantly and give the audiences a look at their romance. Malcolm & Marie may be a late contender in the upcoming award season, but Washington and Zendaya both deserve a nomination, as this one of the best works of their careers.
Levinson’s screenplay is smart in its execution in that it constantly hits audiences with revels that build its character’s relationship in real-time. It begins with a small idea and just keeps building from there as the film goes on. Since there were limitations to what Levinson could do while shooting, the movie does fall victim to telling rather than showing. But, this is quickly forgivable and doesn’t hold the film back in the slightest.
Overall, Malcolm & Marie turned out exceptionally, particularly during the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. For that, Levinson and everyone involved should be proud of the work they did, as they were able to create something special when the world dealt them a bad hand. For anyone who’s a fan of Washington and Zendaya, or just wanna see how a film produced during a pandemic came out, Malcolm & Marie is worth checking out right now on Netflix.
What did you think of the film? Sound off in the comments.
