Before "I Do"
Film
Review
by Kam Williams
Shaken
Fireman Faces Moment of Truth in Midlife Crisis Drama
Caleb
Abrams (Jensen Atwood) is single today only because his former
fiancee, Asia (Michelle D. Ivy), broke off their engagement the night
before the wedding. During the year since, the buff Baltimore fireman
has rededicated himself to his career while pursuing a love of
painting in his spare time.
However,
everything changes the fateful day he finds the body of a homeless
man (Edgar Gregory) after extinguishing a fire in an abandoned
farmhouse. Shaken to the core, Caleb cries on the shoulder of his pal
Shelby (Omar Gooding), a veteran colleague who warns that "you're
going to see a lot of things you wish you could forget."
Still,
the tragedy continues to exact an emotional toll, as witnessed by his
roommate, Imani (Danielle Ward), who asks, "Are you ever going
to paint again?" "I lost my passion," he confesses,
before conveniently turning the tables by challenging her to finish
the book she's been writing for the last decade.
In
addition, Caleb's frustrated father, Pastor Spoon Abrams (Michael
Pittman), notices that he hasn't seen his son in church for a month
of Sundays. "Are you too busy for the Lord?" he asks,
adding, "It's time for you to grow up."
Consequently,
at almost 40, Caleb suddenly finds himself contemplating his
mortality and facing a fear of growing old alone. And even though
he's been dating a new woman, Breanna (Andrea Kelly), their
relationship can neither fill the void left by the loss of Asia nor
erase the traumatizing image of the hobo's corpse from his head.
By
contrast, most of his friends seem to be adjusting to adulthood just
fine. Shelby and his wife, Jasmyn (Kathleen Purcell-Turner), are
eagerly expecting their first child. Marlon (Lamar Barnes) and Imani
have just announced their engagement and she's asked him to serve as
Best Man when they tie the knot.
Nevertheless,
still waters run deep, and there are a number of skeletons waiting to
burst out of the closet in Before I Do," the latest offering
from the very talented Kimberly Conner. Besides writing and
directing, Kimberly also co-produced the picture and appears in the
film in a support role as the coroner.
Thanks
to superb acting by a top-flight cast, it's easy to get lost in the
story, since it feels as if you're watching a real-life tale. The
character-driven drama deftly interweaves several compelling
plotlines en route to a satisfying, if cleverly-concealed resolution
it would be a crime to divulge. Rather than risk spoiling a whit of
this intriguing, urban soap opera, permit me to close with a lines
excepted from the poem "I Am Woman," a touching tribute to
black females recited by Imani:
"I
am woman, minus the thighs and flowing hair
Proud of my rich skin tone, coarse hair and full lips
I
am a woman with a story to tell
And
a past as deep and dark as my roots
I
am a woman, and despite what you think
When
you look down your nose upon me
I
possess dreams, aspirations and knowledge."
Kudos
to Conner and company for managing to make a thought-provoking,
cinematic treat for African-Americans designed to simultaneously
elevate, enlighten and entertain.
Excellent (4
stars)
Unrated
Running time: 60 minutes
Studio: Predestined Arts &
Entertainment / New Millennial
To see a trailer for Before "I
Do," visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVf6N6Ln0oQ
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