At the Movies

Film Overview: Straw (2025) | The Ace Black Film Weblog



Style: Drama Thriller  

Director: Tyler Perry  

Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Sherri Sheppard, Teyana Taylor  

Working Time: 108 minutes  

Synopsis: Single mother Janiyah (Taraji P. Henson) lives in poverty and struggles to take care of her daughter Aria, who has extreme well being points. Throughout one dangerous day, Janiyah is fired from her job, loses her automobile, and is evicted from her residence, whereas Aria is seized by involved social staff. The determined Janiyah confronts her ex-boss then instigates a financial institution theft stand-off. Financial institution supervisor Nicole (Sherri Sheppard) is caught among the many hostages, and police detective Kay Raymond (Teyana Taylor) tries to untangle the disaster.

What Works Nicely: A robust mix of Canine Day Afternoon, Falling Down, and John Q, right here director and author Tyler Perry explores the depths of despair confronting the working poor. Together with her daughter’s sickness stretching funds past the breaking level, Janiyah finds each door slamming in her face, till the cascade of catastrophes leads her to the financial institution with a gun. What follows is an emotional showdown encompassing a number of generations of black girls, perspective clashes, instantaneous movie star tradition, and surprising empathy. Taraji P. Henson’s forceful but poignant efficiency propels the drama, and Perry surrounds Janiyah with largely black characters representing the neighborhood’s spectrum.

What Does Not Work As Nicely: The emotional dial is all the time on excessive, however the vitality stage within the third act notably sags. A blundering intervention by the FBI is a misstep within the in any other case rigorously constructed circle of catalysts surrounding Janiyah. Perry successfully deploys one twist, however provides one too many resolutions.

Key Quote:

Nicole (to Janiyah): It looks like you had quite a bit to recover from in the present day.

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