2019 Directed by Tayarisha Poe
Paloma, the new girl at an esteemed prep school, is drawn into the daily aggressions of warring senior class factions. She joins the Spades and becomes friends with the Spades’ leader, an enigmatic and scheming cheerleader named Selah.
Lovie Simone Celeste O'Connor Jharrel Jerome Jesse Williams Ana Mulvoy-Ten Evan Roe Henry Hunter Hall Francesca Noel Nekhebet Kum Juch Gina Torres Bella Ferragamo Kristen Ivy Haynes Greyson Cage Benjamin Breault Krish Bhuva Cody Sloan Ali Fisher Rae Bell Kevin Mambo Melissa McMeekin Ken Israel Sparkyl Lucas-Thomas Nickolette Mauch Gwenyth Murphy Jeryl Palana Kelly Sacramone Jessie Cannizzaro
Nancy Stephens David Chan Terence Nance Lucas Joaquin Tony Parker Drew Brees Alex Scharfman Michael Finley Julie Parker Benello Drew P. Houpt Jenifer Westphal Jill Ahrens Ryan Ahrens Ben Renzo Stephanie DeVaan Tayarisha Poe Derrick Brooks Chaz Ebert Lauren McBride Gottfried Tittiger Janet Tittiger Ken Whitney Liz Whitney
lovie simone owns the screen from the very second we first see her face, sitting on her throne as it is her right.
selah and the spades is the film that i’ve seen so many people tirelessly ask for. it’s so refreshing to be able to see such a complex, rich, and nuanced portrayal of black youth in such a well-crafted and promising universe. imagine liquefying the feeling of teen invulnerability into an intoxicating fusion of colours, then pouring it through a screen. that’s what this film feels like, in the best way possible.
i love the way that the film is shot: it so clearly exists through the lens of power and idolisation, making everything raw and bold and beautiful. the fact that it’s disorientating plays into its themes rather than against it; you, as the audience, never know where you stand.…
This was REFRESHING!
Absolutely adored this and this concept of a high school The Godfather-esque setting. This rough handheld cinematography was captivating considering the plot and tone.
The third act shot my rating up and the run in the woods had my heart thumping, I truly feared for the characters' lives.
I do think outside of Selah, some of the characters were weak and needed some fleshing out. I just wanted more, more of the factions, more of the shady dealings, more of them trying to evade the administration. So glad we're getting a tv show
Lovie Simone was a force!
super excited to learn that this is being developed into a tv show, because i feel like that's where this concept can truly shine! the direction here was great and felt very fresh and stylish, but the film as a whole was ultimately held back by pacing issues. i think the structure of a tv show will definitely be better for this and allow more development, i'll be looking forward to checking it out whenever it drops.
This movie felt like it was made by someone who you start talking to at the party and then you think like ok we have some common interests and then you talk to them more and start to realize that this person has no real substance to them and they’re an empty shell of a human being but you’re too far in and you can’t leave because all your friends are here
this movie felt like if a cw tv show took itself seriously and also thought of itself as the revolutionary voice of a generation
I can’t stop thinking about this movie
It was made
So many people worked on this
"Why not just do things that keep you from crying in bathrooms?”
Thrilled to hear that this is being adapted into a series! The world Tayarisha Poe has built here is so rich and densely populated with colorful characters, and it needs more space to reveal itself fully. As a film, the exposition ends up being rushed and confusing, and initially compelling aspects of the plot don’t end up blossoming as they should. Still, its ideas hold nevertheless, and the confident direction and lively performances make it worth the watch. It’s a fun time, even as the darker sides of the factions begin to dominate.
Poe has such a clear voice and confident hand, and debuts as ambitious as her’s should always be celebrated.
a refreshing, promising debut with an awesome aesthetic and beautiful, strong direction!!! so thrilled that it's being developed into a tv show as i feel like it will give the world, characters and plot more room to develop and really shine!
lovie simone should be a household name by now. it's so refreshing seeing young black women in both authoritative and emotionally demanding roles like this - especially in a high school environment. i heard murmurs that there would be a tv show based on this and i can definitely see this story adapting better in long-form. i need to see more from tayarisha poe as well because her direction helped create such an interesting environment and tone for these characters to work within. high school drama without romance and class isn't easy to pull off but everyone did their homework for this
Lovie Simone’s rendition of the complacent and devious main protagonist in Selah and the Spades demonstrates her representing a strong-mindedness which betrays her seventeen years of age. It's her despairing hunger to be an individual of leverage together with her stubbornness in relinquishing any semblance of control which help to make the film stand beyond the rest of the pack of comparable teenage ridden dramas. Fortunately, Simone is surrounded with a strong supporting cast with Celeste O’Connor being prevailingly wonderful as her thoughtful protegee, Paloma.
It's a sufficiently reasonable debut for writer and directer by Tayarisha Poe, and the script ably delivers conversations between its characters with competitive and energetic prosperity, and in spite of the fact that there is…
