Anthony Mackie joined the Avengers in 2014. Ten years prior he starred in Brother to Brother. He plays a struggling artist who bonds with the poet Bruce Nugent (A gentle performance from Roger Robinson). Writer and director Rodney Evans has a lot on his mind. He contrasts the Harlem Renaissance to the struggles of contemporary black, queer artists. His screenplay discusses black homophobia, white liberal guilt, homelessness, and the way history gets rewritten. He then throws some clumsy melodrama into the third act. At 90 minutes there’s little room for it all to breathe. Anthony Mackie’s grounded performance keeps it an engaging watch.
Here is a spoiler filled recap. Trigger warning for homophobia, racism and violence.
My love has eyes like starlight
Scene One: College Classroom
ANTHONY MACKIE (An earnest painter): James Baldwin was rejected by Civil Rights leaders for being gay.
BULLY: This class is about black politics. Stop talking about that gay crap.
ANTHONY: Baldwin equated homophobia with racism.
WHITE LIBERAL: Hey bro. As the only white student in this class I have opinions.
ANTHONY: You’re cute.
Scene Two: Dorm Room
ANTHONY: My parents kicked me out for being gay.
WHITE LIBERAL: That sucks bro. Let’s smoke a joint and watch porn.
(Anthony kisses White Liberal. They have sex.)
WHITE LIBERAL: I never done that with a dude. But black guys are so hot. Your body is [CENSORED]…
ANTHONY: Please don’t talk anymore.
Scene Three: Homeless Shelter
ANTHONY (Works at reception): Name?
BRUCE NUGENT: Bruce Nugent.
ANTHONY: The poet? He died in 1987.
BRUCE: It’s magical realism. Don’t overthink it.
ANTHONY: How did a respected writer end up homeless?
BRUCE: I was never respected.
Scene Four: Harlem. The 1920’s.
LANGSTON HUGHES: I’m Langston Hughes. The celebrated author.
WALLACE THURMAN: I’m Wallace Thurman. Another celebrated author.
YOUNG BRUCE: I’m nobody.
WALLACE: You should write for my new magazine.
BLACK CRITICS: Your magazine is too vulgar! Black readers want respectability.
WHITE CRITICS: Your magazine is too tame! White readers want violent stereotypes.
LANGSTON: Bruce! You let Thurman publish your stories under his name!?
YOUNG BRUCE: We’re friends. Not everyone wants to be famous.
LANGSTON: I take my career seriously. We’re through.
Scene Five: Art studio
BRUCE: What happened to your face?
ANTHONY (bruised): I displayed my art in a gallery. A white critic said my work wasn’t “accessible.” Then some black homophobes beat me up outside.
BRUCE: That’s a lot of conflict this late in the story. Let me draw you.
(They draw each other’s portraits. Bruce dies. Later, Anthony scatters his ashes in the sea.)
ANTHONY: I’ll write a school essay about how Bruce’s experience parallels mine. Kinda anticlimactic but it’s time to end the movie.
THE END
Dew-fall dies at a breath
You’ll leave this film with a reading list. Nugent, Hughes and Baldwin only share brief snippets of their writing. The film is more focused on their struggles. Racism, homophobia and societal expectations all take a toll. The film tells us many artists of that era weren’t respected till after their deaths. It’s unclear what Anthony Mackie’s artist will do going forward. But he’s gained a newfound understanding of his history.
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