What is going on here exactly?
Ever since reviews dropped on Aleshea Harris’ “Is God Is,” I’ve been wanting to check it out, curious as to whether these raves were justified. It’s not playing here in France, so I’ll only be able to see it when I come back.
Did Amazon/MGM not expect reviews to be this good? It’s at 85 on Metacritic — that’s the highest score for any major studio film this year. They’ve also barely marketed the film, which is playing in only around 1400 theaters.
Have any of our readers seen it? Are critics off their rockers when it comes to this one, or are the reviews justified?
In the film, Kara Young (“I’m a Virgo”) and Mallori Johnson (“Kindred”) star as twin sisters Racine and Anaia, who honor their dying mother’s final wish to hunt down and destroy the family patriarch who tried to burn them alive. Harris — an Obie-winning playwright adapting her own stage play — writes and directs the film.
This could be some grindhouse fun. The visuals popped in the trailer, and the talent involved is certainly intriguing. The rest of the cast includes Janelle Monáe, Vivica A. Fox, and Sterling K. Brown, alongside Erika Alexander, Mykelti Williamson, and Josiah Cross.
Amazon/MGM is coming off the immense success of “Project Hail Mary,” a film they actually had confidence in that’s nearing a $660M global tally. “Is God Is” will actually make less this weekend than “Hail Mary,” which is now on VOD and in its ninth week of release.
Adeyemi’s relationship with lead Amandla Stenberg reportedly fell apart after the actress publicly discussed the author’s support of her casting.