There are multiple reasons why people are excited about the upcoming Netflix film, “Malcolm & Marie.” First, it’s a late entry into the Oscars race, but with names like Zendaya and John David Washington, the film already has considerable awards buzz. Second, the film marks the latest collaboration between Zendaya and Sam Levinson, who are both doing great work on “Euphoria.” And last, but not least, the film was conceived, written, and produced completely during quarantine last year and marks one of the first features to carry that distinction.
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And as seen in the trailer for “Malcolm & Marie,” outside of the fact that the film is all shot in one location and features a cast of two, there’s hardly any sign that the feature was hindered in any way by COVID-19. Dubbed “a story about love” and not a “love story,” “Malcolm & Marie” focuses on the two title characters, a couple that has to deal with the ups and downs of love, going from romance to screaming to crying to heartfelt discussion. All shot in beautiful black and white, feeling like a throwback to indie films of decades past.
The (understandably) slim film features the aforementioned Zendaya and John David Washington. “Malcolm & Marie” is written and directed by Sam Levinson. The filmmaker is probably best known for being the creator and showrunner of the Emmy-winning HBO drama series “Euphoria.” He also wrote and directed “Assassination Nation” and is a writer on the upcoming erotic thriller, “Deep Water.”
“Malcolm & Marie” will arrive on Netflix on February 5. You can watch the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
Writer/Director Sam Levinson teams up with Zendaya and John David Washington for an achingly romantic drama in which a filmmaker (Washington) and his girlfriend (Zendaya) return home following a celebratory movie premiere as he awaits what’s sure to be imminent critical and financial success. The evening suddenly takes a turn as revelations about their relationships begin to surface, testing the strength of their love. Working with cinematographer Marcell Rev, Levinson creates a film of rare originality; an ode to the great Hollywood romances as well as a heartfelt expression of faith in the medium’s future.
