When You’re Too Obsessed With Channing Tatum to Eat the Rich

As a woman of color who has navigated through various social circles and experienced the allure and deceit that wealth and power can bring, I found “Blink Twice” to be a disappointingly shallow exploration of its themes. The film’s failure to delve into the complexities of interracial attraction, class dynamics, and power imbalances was particularly disheartening.

Among the most captivating leading men in Hollywood history, there’s a knack for challenging their charming personas by taking on roles that disturb their wholesome reputation. Tyrone Power, known for his trustworthy romantic roles, played a smug murderer in Billy Wilder’s 1957 film “Witness for the Prosecution.” In 1959, Burt Lancaster, with a mix of brutality and vulnerability, took on the character of a sordid newspaper columnist in the bleak noir film “Sweet Smell of Success” that he produced. Paul Newman showcased his versatility in 1963 as the pompous son with a cutting smile and empty gaze in “Hud.” Denzel Washington portrayed a brutal and corrupt cop using his privilege against vulnerable Black and brown communities in the loathsome film “Training Day” in 2001. I find particularly fascinating how Cary Grant added a chilling edge to his persona in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Notorious” and “Suspicion,” where his usual charm and elegance appeared both as a protective shield and concealed weapon. Such transformative roles require an actor who is not only capable and willing to disrupt their own carefully constructed image but also a script with vision, a director with a fierce style, and an understanding of the stories a star’s body tells.

As I delved into the world of “Blink Twice” (originally titled “Pussy Island“), I was intrigued to explore Channing Tatum‘s unexpected transformation from lovable hunk to a dangerous tech mogul. This character switch, showcased in the Magic Mike films where he portrayed a man deeply interested in female satisfaction, added a darker edge to his previously sweet-natured image.

It’s disappointingly tame how the movie “Blink Twice” approaches the subject of the wealthy elite, focusing more on admiration for Chris Tatum’s physical appearance than exposing any flaws. The film, in essence, fails to recognize its own error in idolizing its lead character, Slater King, portrayed by Tatum, while neglecting its main character, Frida, played earnestly by Naomi Ackie.

In simpler terms,

Initially, it seemed like the movie might delve into the connection between Kravitz’s character’s fascination with Slater’s charm and wealth, and the trend among some Black women of relying on men to escape economic struggles – a sort of modern-day version of tradwifeship but with a more glamorous image. However, the movie fails to explore the finer aspects of this theme, such as the destructive competition among women for male affection, the manipulation and control exerted by men, especially the wealthy ones, and the harmful effects of gaslighting.

As Slater guides Frida through the island, he exudes a friendly demeanor, flirting subtly with a playful glimmer in his eyes and a self-assured yet not arrogant smile. He crackes jokes, maintaining an open body language. Their connection is palpable to all those around them, giving off an air of a captivating romance that the movie chooses to skirt around indirectly. However, it soon becomes apparent that the island and the questionable actions Slater has been engaging in with his malicious companions will be unveiled. The film, or more accurately Kravitz’s lens, seems to have succumbed to its own fantasy of Slater. This is evident in the champagne flutes filled with raspberries, the poolside lounging, the lush island landscape, the rustic interior design of the buildings, the constant laughter and cheer, and the underappreciated labor force maintaining the beauty. Time slows down and becomes leisurely until Frida can’t even remember the day. When Jess vanishes and no one else recalls her existence, the film should flip its perspective and reveal the darkness lurking beneath. Instead, it appears more interested in depicting excessive wealth and luxury as everyone’s secret dream. Even as the film reaches its third act, involving snakes and perfumes, the directors’ touch remains too delicate. Cinematographer Andrew Newport-Berra, who impressed me with his work on The Last Black Man in San Francisco, shoots the film with a bright, bubbly quality that is reminiscent of a Netflix dating series and as shallow as its subject matter. This aesthetic could be effective if the frame were more dynamically filled, if there were more visual subtext, if it captured a script with a sharp-eyed perspective on the hidden dangers and the men who embody them. But it doesn’t. When Frida finds it peculiar that their respective suites come equipped with white linen clothes in their exact sizes, Jess doesn’t find it odd, just another aspect of being “rich.”

As a captivated spectator, I find the unique lack of racial depth in this story particularly intriguing – it refrains from delving into the complex dynamics surrounding Frida’s fascination with a wealthy white man or her struggles as a dark-skinned Black woman navigating a predominantly white environment. On the surface, the film puts Tatum’s acting skills to the test. As the narrative unfolds, Slater’s dialogue mirrors that from the video played before the gala, repeatedly expressing remorse until he appears almost hysterical, with spittle flying and a tense, crouched posture. However, like many self-absorbed individuals unwilling to face their own truth, he fails to specify what exactly he’s apologizing for. It isn’t entirely Tatum’s fault that he struggles to embody the role convincingly, but his performance ultimately falls short, lacking the vitality and creativity needed to make Frida’s enchantment enthralling. Additionally, Kravitz’s cinematography seems overly smitten with Tatum, focusing excessively on his physical features rather than delving into the deeper aspects of the story that an actor of Tatum’s caliber could convey. The film is visually captivating, but its shallow script and superficial focus prevent it from achieving the depth it aspires to. Blink Twice presents itself as a dazzling trinket, yet demands more substance than it can offer.

2024-08-19 19:54

When You’re Too Obsessed With Channing Tatum to Eat the Rich

Read More

Minority Mindset