Hello Summer! I have two film reviews, first up, “Miss Juneteenth,” it’s centered on the ‘Miss Juneteenth’ pageant in Fort Worth, Texas. Writer-director Channing Godfrey Peoples grew up in Texas, where teenagers compete for the crown of Miss Juneteenth. The beauty pageant winners are offered scholarships to historic black universities, in commemoration of the slaves in Texas being freed two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Life for Turquoise Jones, played by Nicole Beharie, is challenging and hard; you see, she didn’t have a chance to use her scholarship. As a single mom, she holds down a job of managing a bar and BBQ joint just trying to make ends meet. Her daughter Kai is rebellious, wanting to live her own life; she often defies her mom.
The Bottom-Line: I’m in 3 1/2 stars out of 4, director Channing Godfrey Peoples draws us into Texas charm, and the hard life of a single mom raising a daughter on her own. This heartwarming story has wonderful, outstanding performances and lessons for all. I didn’t want the movie to end, that’s how much the film invests in its mother-daughter character portrayal.
Check out the Radio Podcast on Hollywood 360 Radio Network: http://www.hollywood360radio.com/miss-juneteenth-★★★%C2%BD-and-the-short-history-of-the-long-road-★★★/
Sarah Knight Adamson© Jume 28, 2020