EL SEGUNDO HERALD May 7, 2020 Page 5
Entertainment
Queen & Slim is an
Emotionally Charged Odyssey
By H. Nelson Tracey for cinemacy.com
Four years ago, Daniel Kaluuya was an
unknown British actor whose most substantial
credit was a supporting role in the Johnny
English sequel. Fast forward to today, he’s
an Academy Award nominee, and more
importantly, a chameleon with something
new to say in each role. Perhaps now, he
can even be considered a marquee headliner.
Queen & Slim, available to rent on VOD,
continues Kaluuya’s ascent to stardom. In
accompaniment with three talented women,
they have created a bold new movie rare
to be found from a studio release. Jodie
Turner-Smith is the Queen to Kaluuya’s Slim,
and a brand new face on the silver screen.
Writer Lena Waithe, an established name in
young Hollywood, brings us the screenplay.
And director Melina Matsoukas, one of the
biggest names in the music video scene,
makes a grand feature film debut with this
emotionally charged film of the moment.
Queen & Slim is an odyssey in the classic
sense: our two lead characters take a journey
they did not sign up for, and along the way,
encounter characters that shape and inform
this trip, each with some interpretable subtext.
This vignette approach certainly is reminiscent
of Bonnie & Clyde, but also brings to
mind a wide swath of other inspiration, from
Homer’s Odyssey to American Honey.
Queen & Slim start their journey in Southern
Ohio and zigzag their way across the
United States. Each location is deliberately
given a name and place, unlike some road
movies which hide where characters are
supposed to be. I counted at least five states
(or areas within those states) that are given
name recognition. Matsoukas has a visual
style that makes even simple transition moments,
like a car driving across an empty
Film Review
Dr. Melissa Moore from page 2
for technology infrastructure, deferred
maintenance, and capital outlay projects.
Under her watch, El Segundo voters, in
November of 2018, passed a $92-million
general obligation school bond that provides
funding to improve school facilities and ramp-up
technology. Moore noted that with construction
projects being deemed essential, the District
could move forward on projects associated
with their Long-Range-Facilities Master Plan.
“One piece of sunshine,” she said of the
continuing construction. “With no students
Family Fun: Dr. Moore with her three sons, two daughters-in-law and grandson! From left to right: Alex Moore, Kim, Anders,and Scott
Moore, Dr. Moore, Kelly Moore and Chase Moore
present, this is an opportune time to get
work done.”
Moore, who received her doctoral degree
in education from USC, came to the ESUSD
after serving as the assistant superintendent for
the Yucaipa-Calimesa Unified School District.
Among her professional accolades, she was
selected as the Superintendent of the Year by
Region 14 of the Association of California
School Administrators.
She espouses a “let’s find a way” mantra
when dealing with District challenges, and
none have been bigger than dealing with the
fall-out of the COVID-19 virus.
She is bent on keeping a positive outlook,
saying that the ESUSD is “trying to develop
a mindset that is nimbler and more dynamic.”
She said that she is looking at this “as an
opportunity” to develop innovative approaches
to educating students. “We are all doing the
best we can to react and plan for whatever is
coming our way.”
Although California Governor Gavin
Newsom has spit-balled the idea that schools
could re-open in late July or early August,
Moore doesn’t see that as realistic for the
ESUSD, saying that there would be definite
logistical and calendaring problems to open-up
classrooms prior to the scheduled start date
of the 2020/21 school year which is set for
August 26. She posits that any re-opening
of classrooms will be done “in a thoughtful
and deliberate manner,” with the “safety of
our students and staff” as goal number one.
With the harsh realities of the pandemic
shutdown mounting, which will include a
Sacramento budget cut for California school
districts, Moore refuses to be negative during
this fluid time in history.
Outside of her work responsibilities,
Moore likes to de-stress by taking Pilates
classes, and when possible, going to movies
and concerts, networking with El Segundo
residents, and doting on her one-year-old
grandchild. “
“I feel that I am now a member of a special,
elite club of being a Grandma,” she said.
“Every day, every week, I try to find
moments of gratitude,” she concluded. She
is looking at this crisis through a positive
lens, framing it as “an opportunity to re-set,
look at the world a little differently, slow
down a bit, look at the beautiful sky, smell
the flowers, and show each other a little
empathy and compassion, and see how we
can help our fellow man.•
Queen and Slim, courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Town Hall from page 3
we’re going to come and talk to you
about it,” the police chief said, repeating
an often-overlooked reason for the ban on
public gatherings of any size. It puts officers
checking on a house party in contact with
strangers and their guests - one of whom
could be carrying the virus and not show
any symptoms.
For the protection of officers and the public,
the police department is handling less-urgent
calls differently, Whalen said. Non-priority
reports can be taken over the phone or
online to minimize face-to-face contact and
make everyone safer. Both the police and
fire chiefs thanked the men and women in
their department for contenting to provide
excellent service to the city under trying
circumstances since the local coronavirus
emergency was declared for El Segundo on
March 17. •
The El Segundo Herald
wants to sincerely thank
all the advertisers that are sticking
with us, during this difficult time.
XOXO
XOXO
XOXO
XOXO
When Community Counts
We want to serve the community the best way we
possibly can. As we always do, we want to bring some
positivity and light to what we all are going through.
You can help.
Please send us photos of what you are doing as
individuals, families or businesses, while staying home
and sheltering in place. Write a brief paragraph of
the strength and pride of your community, a happy
memory or of a good deed that you’ve witnessed.
I’m sure there are plenty.
Send anything positive to: web@heraldpublications.com
Stay safe. Shop locally. Support our business
community. Love your family, neighbors, community
members and your local paper.
Much love from us.
Send your photos
and/or memories to:
web@heraldpublications.com
See Film Review, page 9