Drama takes us on a journey as it deftly switches gears
Waves
(out of 4) Starring Kelvin Harrison Jr., Taylor Russell, Sterling K. Brown, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Alexa Demie, Clifton Collins Jr. and Vivi Pineda. Written and directed by Trey Edward Shults. Opens Friday at the Varsity. 135 minutes. 14A
“Waves” is demanding but audacious filmmaking by Trey Edward Shults (“It Comes at Night”), a story of a Florida family in crisis.
Kelvin Harrison Jr. (“Luce”) and Taylor Russell anchor a split narrative of an affluent Black family in which the pursuit of success at all cost leads to tragedy.
The camera’s on fire and so is the acting, as the story hurtles toward unforeseen outcomes.
High school senior Tyler (Harrison Jr.) is a star wrestler with many blessings, among them devoted girlfriend Alexis (Alexa Demie).
Tyler also has challenges, not least of which are the demands of his father Ronald (Sterling K. Brown), who will accept nothing less than excellence and complete dedication from his son.
“I push you because I have to,” he tells his son, stating the simple truth that Black kids can’t afford to be “good enough” in a dominant white society. But what room is there for human weakness and doubt in this equation?
Tyler’s story and its dramatic twists are strong enough to carry the movie, but writer/director Shults does something magnificently bold midway.
He changes the focus and tempo of the film, shifting the narrative to Tyler’s sister Emily (Russell), her stepmother Catharine (Renée Elise Goldsberry) and a character played by Lucas Hedges, whose role isn’t immediately clear, but will become so via a road trip.
“Waves” takes us on a real journey, leaving us breathless but also marvelling at the end.