Southside with You (2016)

Great Film overall

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

It's time to go to the punside with me, because there will be some corny puns in my review of The Obamas "first date" flick "Southside With You"; even though I have a feeling you might find them so corny that they will be in the grounds of pun impeachment. Anyways, "Southside With You" is a splendid, dialogue-orientated film that focuses on Barrack and Michelle's first date on a hot, summer Chicago day in 1989. Writer-Director Richard Tanne nicely handles the movie on the verbal interaction within our main protagonists, and foreshadows the communicative talents of who would be the future President and First Lady. Sure, you can call "Southside With You", "Before Sunrise: The Obama Moon" but there is nothing wrong with that; even though "Before Sunrise" is a much better movie. Parker Sawyers gives a presidential first-rate performance as the young Barack, and Tika Sumpter will make you think "She is Michelle" from the start in her turn as the future Mrs. Obama. So I think the popular vote will side with "Southside With You" if you give it a chance. **** Good

Although the 2 films were made by completely different people and studios, comparisons between 'Barry (2016)' and 'Southside With You (2016)' is inevitable.Both movies are about Barack Obama, the former 'Barry (2016)' was about his younger days in college as a angsty young man (before Michelle came into the picture) in search for an identity, a film which I very much enjoyed. In fact I put it on my 'best of 2016' movies list.So this movie should be right up my alley right? well I can't say that it was, 'Southside With You' has a far less interesting premise, it's basically a fluffy rom com turned political drama halfway through. And it's all in all not very interesting.And I have to say I found Michelle Obama as a character in the film rather annoying and self-centered, Barack was acceptable but he failed in comparison to the actor who played him in 'Barry'.Perhaps if you are really intrigued by Michelle and Barack as a couple it will be interesting for me, but I can't say I am personally so it's a miss for me.

Richard Tanne writes and directs his first feature film based on the would-be president Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson's first date during the summer of '89 in Chicago. Not your typical movie about a president but not the first unusual presidential movie this year, the other being Elvis & Nixon. It's an interesting angle to take, giving us a good insight of the man and woman that would eventually be the President and First Lady. It is in fact difficult to watch without thinking of the courting couple as already Husband and Wife, and world leaders The opening credits doesn't really match the film or the promotional poster that accompany the movie, adding a funky eighties style, something you might expect from an eighties movie or TV series, however, I suppose it helps sets time to a not-to-distant history. This could be a massive breakthrough for Parker Sawyers, who plays the ambitious, intelligent and charming Barack Obama. Capturing his mannerisms, voice and vocal style near-on perfectly. Though, it's debatable that his uncanny physical resemblance to the current president might help considerably. Barack Obama is definitely my favourite president and I'm actually sad to see him leave the White House, however, without getting too political, this film makes me like him ever more, especially showing his trait for always being late. (cue Gandalf) It displays his humility, his infectious empowerment and his direct-approach honesty, though honesty can always been a matter of opinion. Tika Sumpter plays Michelle Robinson, Barack's legal mentor who was the summer associate of the same law firm. I don't know enough about Michelle Obama but this gave a broad insight to here conventional home life and her experiences of gender discrimination within the workplace. I can only assumed Sumpter does the First Lady justice as she is a head-strong, realistic yet stubborn and enthusiastic character. Her coining of "cosmic justice" struck a chord with me, showing that whilst she's highly academic, there's a hint of something spiritual about her. Tanne's directions is good, plotting key locations and setting a wonderful pace and balance that reminded me a lot of Richard Linklater's "Before" films, being heavily concentrated on the script and following the conversation of the two. What's also quite impressive is that the film was shot in only 15 days. Knowing that Do The Right Thing was the first film they went to the pictures to see was nice to see, Spike Lee's controversial masterpiece, showing the key scene with Radio which is more so iconic today, alas losing Radio star, Bill Nunn only last month. The soundtrack didn't quite mix, especially as modern songs were used, such as John Legend's "Start" that was written solely for the film, who also happens to be one of the producers behind the movie. However Stephen James Taylor does a beautiful, minimalism score that really creates the romantic mood. The film is captivating, inspirational and a great first date movie regardless of who the key characters are. It's a worthy watch for people who are fans of great conversation. I do wonder what President And First Lady Obama think of this portrayal. Running Time: 8 The Cast: 9 Performance: 9 Direction: 9 Story: 9 Script: 9 Creativity: 10 Soundtrack: 7 Job Description: 8 The Extra Bonus Points: 0 Would I buy the Bluray?: Hmm, maybe. 78 % 8/10

'SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU': Four Stars (Out of Five)A romantic drama biopic, based on the true story of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's first date (if you can call it that). The film stars Parker Sawyers, as the future President, and Tika Sumpter (who you may remember from the 'RIDE ALONG' movies), as the future First Lady. It was written and directed by debut feature filmmaker Richard Tanne. The movie has received rave reviews from critics, and it's been a successful Box Office hit (at indie theaters). I enjoyed it.The story is set in Chicago, in the summer of 1989 (on one day). A young business associate, named Barack Obama (Sawyers), takes a young lawyer, named Michelle Robinson (Sumpter), out for the afternoon. Barack tries to court her, the entire time, but Michelle insists it's not a date; since the two work together (and she thinks it would be inappropriate). They go to an art exhibit together, a community meeting, and a movie ('DO THE RIGHT THING'). The film is a sweet little romance, and a nice little character study as well. It's definitely slow-paced, and nothing we haven't seen before, but because it's about the President, it seems a lot more interesting. I like how the movie points out that he smoked a lot of weed, and was always late to everything; it definitely makes him seem a lot more like an everyday person (with a lot of flaws like everyone else). I also think Sawyers does an excellent job in the role (and he looks a lot like him too). Sumpter, on the other hand, looks nothing like Michelle Obama; and her performance reminded me nothing of the First Lady either. She does give a good performance though, and she looks really beautiful, in her own way, as well. If you take out the fact that the film is based on the President, and his wife, than it's definitely nothing that memorable. It is a decently made little date movie though.Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIFMQ3xbt9g