Justice For: ‘Waves’
In this edition of ‘Justice For’ I want to discuss Trey Edward Shults’ masterpiece in emotional and visual filmmaking, Waves.
This year I can think of five or six theater experiences last year where I felt truly staggered. All of them fit into a category of thrilling filmmaking with moments of extreme tension or violence. Except Waves. Waves was one of my most unique theater experiences of last year because it is a domestic family drama that was as moving from a narrative standpoint as it was a filmmaking one. Waves is masterclass filmmaking from a young director who is part of a class of filmmakers making incredible movies year after year.
If I’m honest with myself, I think Waves was a film that just wasn’t seen. Everyone I know who has seen it has responded to it greatly, and everyone I’ve shown the trailer to or who has seen the trailer has expressed their desire to see it, and yet it frankly came and went. Opening with an impressive $34,000 per theater average, higher than huge successes like Toy Story 4, Joker, and Frozen 2, it felt like it may take off, yet it finished in the middle of the pack for the studio. Under different circumstances, maybe a different time of the year, maybe better marketing, or a wider release; who knows, but I have a distinct feeling Waves could have been a much bigger hit and the movie world writ large would be talking about Sterling K. Brown’s Oscar-worthy turn as an overbearing father. Yet, Uncut Gems made a ton of money. I can’t make any claim to know how to get a film to make money, because while Waves can be quite intense and abrasive, it still appeals to a sensibility most people share, the struggle of being a good parent, the pressure of being a productive and successful young adult, and the need for forgiveness from those we love most. Uncut Gems is a film about sports gambling in the early 2010’s that is crass, violent, and visceral, yet it was an actual holiday season hit. There is the obvious connection between Moonlight and Waves, both being stories about people of color in Florida, and there is reason to believe that Moonlight paved the way for Waves to be successful both financially and in the awards season, but it just wasn’t seen enough.
With all that said, Waves is still one of my favorite movie experiences of the year and is deserving of more recognition from viewers and voting bodies alike. Trey Edward Shults has crafted a masterpiece of filmmakingt , from the beautiful script to the moving performances, the striking visuals to the incredible soundtrack and score. South Florida is already a beautiful place, but the combination of colorist, Damien Van Der Cruyssen and cinematographer, Drew Daniels make it seem otherworldly, gorgeous and vibrant. There’s a scene after the title card flashes that begins with a shifting colorscape and then quickly switches to the inside of Tyler’s (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) truck with Animal Collective’s “FloriDada” blaring through the truck’s speakers with Tyler and Alexis (Alexa Demie) yelling along. The camera circles the truck over and over, lingering on their faces as they sing along to different verses of the song. From the beginning of the film, Shults’ is flexing. This sequence is a microcosm of what makes Waves great, brilliant visuals, smart soundtrack choices, and a moment that feels incredibly human shared between two people who think they understand each other, but don’t. There are three wonderful performance at the center of this film that drive the emotion of the story. Sterling K. Brown as an overbearing father, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as a competitive high school wrestler with a world of potential in front of him, and the revelation of Taylor Russell as the younger sister who ends up experiencing the fallout from the actions of everyone around her. It isn’t often that I respond as incredibly well as I did that is meant to make you emotional, but Waves is that exception. It was deeply upsetting yet moving and I couldn’t help but think of my own life and the lives of others I hold dear. Waves is worth everyone’s time. Part of the goal of these blogs posts is to proselytize for films, and Waves is one that deserves every bit of it and more. Watch it with a loved one, cry, talk about it, and listen to Frank Ocean’s “Godspeed”.
Thank you for reading, later this week I’ll be talking about Jordan Peele’s sophomore film, Us, as well as posting some Oscar predictions come this weekend just in time for the awards on February 9th.