19) Queen & Slim
Equal parts poetic and intense, director Melina Matsoukas makes her mark as a challenging filmmaker with a no holds barred directing style that balances romance, power, and politics with confidence. The story of a man and a woman on the run after shooting a cop that was harassing them is both politically and emotionally charged. The film is a romance trapped inside a thriller, with the added drama of a frankly reluctant romance. At the same time, the overarching political text never undermines the romance, helped by excellent chemistry between Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith. It’s a fun and tragic Bonnie & Clyde story with enough unique elements, including a killer soundtrack, to forge an identity and legend of its own.
