The Hate U Give Calls For Change

Amanda Stenberg as Starr Carter

I knew going into George Tillman Jr.'s adaptation of the Young Adult novel by Angie Thomas would be great but I didn't expect it to be phenomenal.

Starrr and Khalil (Algee Smith)

Raised in a black neighborhood but attending an all-white school, Starr Carter (Amanda Stenberg) witnesses her childhood friend Khalil (Algee Smith) shot by a white cop. As the sole witness, Starr is put into the limelight and is at first fearful of what to say. With the help of her family and friends, Starr makes her stand to let the whole world hear what she has to say.

Black cinema has been on winning streak this year from Ryan Coogler's Black Panther, and Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman. Some I have yet to see (Sorry to Bother You & Blindspotting) and others I am eagerly awaiting (Green Room & Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse). Not since Fruitvale Station has there been a movie presenting the all-too-real parallels occurring in today's society of blacks and police brutality with such gravitas and weight. In that movie we saw Oscar Grant, a man trying to get his life back together. We witness Starr's friend Khalil in a somewhat-similar situation but like Oscar, whatever chance he hoped for is unjustly taken away because of the color of his skin.

Starr's parents Maverick (Russell Hornsby) and Lisa (Regina Hall) arguing with Uncle Carlos (Common). 

In the aftermath, we see the reaction from every side from Starr's father (Russell Horsnby) who knows what its like behind bars, her uncle (Common) a police officer, her white friends including her boyfriend (K.J. Appa) who will never experience such prejudice, and a drug kingpin (Antony Mackie) who has some ties with Khalil.

Starr talking with her boyfriend Chris (KJ Apa) 

Amanda Stenberg is no stranger to YA movies (The Hunger Games, Everything, Everything, and The Darkest Minds) but in The Hate U Give she demonstrates her full potential as Starr Carter in emoting fear, anguish, disgust and conviction. Stenberg's performances along with the rest of the cast including Regina Hall as Starr's mother and Issa Rae as an activist, are top notch with Russell Hornsby looking as a big contender come awards season.

Maverick talking to a younger Starr and her brother. 

The only regret I have is not reading the book before watching the movie. Wouldn't be the first time I didn't read the source material first. I wan't aware of the Harry Potter and Narnia series until after watching their first movie installments (Speaking of which, for you Harry Potter fans, get those tissues ready when watching this movie). If there is anything I learned from that, is that I'm really looking forward to reading the book.

The Hate U Give is a powerful and timely movie that I more than implore you to go watch. It truly is a phenomenal movie.

Final Verdict: A+