Thread by @MavoyOfficial

If I say THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD is my favourite work of @BarryJenkins, it will sound like I’m diminishing his writing a little bit, I’m not! But the long form allowed him to fully develop his examination of „The American Spirit” 10/10 #TheUndergroundRailroad @TheUGRailroadTV

This is truly the history of arthouse television. Like Twin Peaks, like Chernobyl, like - I dare to say - Fanny And Alexander, Dekalog and Berlin Alexanderplatz. This is the Event.

Even more, it could be my fave work by ANY Black filmmaker.

|”Definitive film on slavery” is usually associated, I think, with 12 Years A Slave, which many years ago opened my eyes to the world of Black suffering I didn’t know. That film was produced by Brad Pitt, who also co-starred in it.

The Underground Railroad is also produced by Pitt, but interesingly, one of its strengths is the fact that there’s no Brad Pitt character in here.

Not all the white people in Colson Whitehead’s story are evil and thankfully, it never gets too cartoony. But it’s very different than even comedic take on „saviory” abolitionists of The Good Lord Bird. Here, the good whites are usually helpless and confused about their role.

Even the villain, Ridgeway, played by perfectly cast Joel Edgerton (mostly associated by me with super racist character, Tom in The Great Gatsby) is getting his own arc and extended backstory, which got some complaints from the bored reviewers who would rather move on from him.

I admit I forwarded some of his story. But indeed, it’s an unusual one, and I can say, surprisingly, he wasn’t raised this way. His father is played by Peter Mullan, whom you may know as James Delos in Westworld. Ridgeway believes in something he calls "The American Imperative"

Jenkins’ directing is excellent. I wouldn’t dare comparing him to white man if he didn’t make the comparison himself, but he admitted being influenced by the watch of – wait for it and understand my excitement – Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker, one of my favourite films of all time.

I defo see Stalker in this. Not only because there’s literally a lot travelling in the forests. But I also see Andrei Rublev. You remember this scene of powerless Rublev in the destroyed temple? ADORE this shot. You’ll find a similar feeling of despair in TUR. Some Malick too!

Unlike Tarkovsky and Malick, Jenkins isn’t religious (I’m not sure of it, really). But his commentary on religion in the series is very good and complex. You’ll see it as a tool of oppression but for Black characters, it can be also sincere and helpful.

Ridgeway considers his role a divine mission but Black man, whose prayer is brutally interrupted by the slave catcher, calls him out for it.

I really got involved in the story of our main protagonist Cora, played by little known SA actress @ThusoMbedu, who honestly deserves to become such a huge Hollywood star like Mavoy Movie Award winner Lupita Nyong’o. BRILLIANT!

But there’s a lot to love here when it comes to acting. There’s WONDERFUL @aaron_pierre1 as Caesar, a man who escapes with Cora. In later episodes, we have @dubjackharper , as you know I’m watching The Good Place at the same time, so it was a little awkward at first.

Even when the actors appear briefly, they can make a great impression too – I’m thinking about people like Lily Rabe, Sheila Atim, Chukwudi Iwuji, Peter De Jersey, wonderful child actress named Mychal-Bella Bowman @mychalbella (remember the name!) and so many more.

Cinematography of James Laxton is simply INSANE.

I already SANGED HYMNS about @NicholasBritell work on If Beale Street Could Talk, one of the best musical scores I’ve ever heard, and this might be even better but I’ll wait with saying that until I go through all three volumes, three hours. Yes, I’ll do it.

The final titles of every episode are being soundtracked by some legendary artists of American music, including Marvin Gaye, Kendrick Lamar, OutKast, Childish Gambino and Sister Rosetta Tharpe

I could probably add something else, but that’s it for now. I really wanna read a book now. Luckily, Poland even got a special edition promoting the series, so I’ll be getting it soon – just like I’m happy to have a film edition of Beale Street!