STRAW, now streaming on Netflix, comes off like a flawed mix of Falling Down and Driving Miss Daisy.
The film stars Oscar-nominated actor Taraji P Henson as single mother Janiyah whose whole world unravels over the course of one day.
Things go from bad to worse as she struggles to care for her ill daughter. She is ultimately pushed to the verge of a complete meltdown by the indifference of a world non-phased by her very existence.
The cruelty of others only fans the flames of Janiyah’s floundering endeavours to make ends meet and keep her head above water. The supermarket cashier is forced to confront impossible choices in a day from hell as those around her offer no safety net or comfort for her fruitless toil.
Directed by Tyler Perry, Straw holds no punches in breaking the camel’s back and depicting the trauma of black women with a heavy hand, one bereft of even a hint of capability, honour, or tenacity.
Spike Lee once expressed frustration about Academy Award-winning film Driving Miss Daisy and its depiction of race and class. Lee was of the opinion that it offered a more comfortable portrayal of black characters for white audiences — effectively painting a more compliant and meek representation. The same could probably be said of Perry’s latest schmaltzy effort.
Henson gives a masterclass performance in the lead role going from anguish to outrage, all the way to optimistic yearning. However, what lets her down are the movie’s hare-brained plot twists and hackneyed stereotypes.
Straw pulls at the heartstrings, it’s a real emotional rollercaster, but it lacks nuanced oversight and is all far too predictable. Dog Day Afternoon this is not, and while it is worth a watch, even just for Henson’s performance, it did push me to breaking point.
(3/5)
