The Last Black Man in San Francisco

There's an emotional appreciation to be had with the reliable slice of life indie films that take a common subject matter and treat it in a unique way. There's always something fascinating with the character interactions and how certain some scenes are filmed that gives them their own style. The problem with some of these is that their presence on the big screen during certain movie seasons are rather limited and they are prone to disappear in the blink of an eye. For example, Blindspotting was in theaters for a small brief period that wasn't promoted well and was only around for a small window of time. This brings us to The Last Black Man in San Francisco. The marketing for it was pretty scarce and I haven't heard too much buzz around it but had a gut feeling it could be another hidden gem that won't be in theaters for long. I entered the auditorium ready to see if this could be a much needed high point for the films I've seen this year so far and left it emotionally satisfied as well as teary eyed by the beautiful experience.

What's it about? The story follows an African American man in his efforts to reclaim his old childhood home in San Francisco. The best way to describe this would be a slice of life drama that doesn't over-dramatize the events being shown. The journey our protagonist undergoes is a great example of a fascinating arc that makes more sense once the story keeps moving forward. There's a bit of a pattern to the narrative: some scenes showing outdoor character interaction and minor progress with the plot (repeat). The cinematography becomes its own character as it shapes everything into a more interesting type of setting and its execution is gorgeous to watch. While there isn't that much to discuss when it comes to the story, the quality shines through when experiencing it for the first time.

How are the leading characters?  In regards to our lead protagonists Jimmie Falls (as himself) and Montgomery Allen (Jonathan Majors), the connection between them is excellent to see unfold throughout the film. With the story is partly based on his own life, Jimmie (who's playing a version of himself here) does a stellar job in his big screen debut as he goes through a range of emotions in in response to the struggle here. The way he manages to get the audience to empathize with his conflict here is endearing due to his talented acting that shouldn't be underestimated. Jonathan is delightful casting choice here as a strong supportive close friend who aids Jimmie while pursuing his own artistic aspirations of sorts. The chemistry between both of them is astounding as their interactions shows how deep their brotherly bond in a troubling life (it's very reminiscent of a similar relationship from Blindspotting).

Overall Consensus: The Last Black Man in San Francisco is an amazing emotional slice of life movie that's bolstered by excellent cinematography, great acting, and fascinating narrative structure. ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑🎟🍿 Runtime: 2 hours R

Reasons to watch it: You are a fan of slice of life independent films with emotional drama and nice doses of humor. You love stories that involve the relationship between 2 close friends. You want to see how the camera shots paint San Francisco into a gorgeous sight and how realistic the city is represented. You want to take a break from boring bland blockbusters.

Reasons to avoid it: You aren't a fan of slice of life independent films. You aren't interested in stories that involve the relationship between 2 close friends. You prefer watching blockbusters over smaller features.