The Last Black Man in San Francisco

Name: The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Genre: Drama
Released: June 7, 2019
Duration: 121 min
Rating: 82
Cast: Danny Glover, Finn Wittrock, Jamal Trulove, Jimmie Fails, John Ozuna

2019

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 76 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 76 Ratings

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The Last Black Man In San Francisco

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: June 7, 2019 | Not Rated

Starring: Danny Glover, Finn Wittrock, Jamal Trulove, Jimmie Fails, John Ozuna, Jonathan Majors, Mike Epps, Rob Morgan, Thora Birch, Tichina Arnold, Tonya Glanz, Willie Hen

Summary: Jimmie Fails dreams of reclaiming the Victorian home his grandfather built in the heart of San Francisco. Joined on his quest by his best friend Mont, Jimmie searches for belonging in a rapidly changing city that seems to have left them behind. As he struggles to reconnect with his family and reconstruct the community he longs for, hisJimmie Fails dreams of reclaiming the Victorian home his grandfather built in the heart of San Francisco. Joined on his quest by his best friend Mont, Jimmie searches for belonging in a rapidly changing city that seems to have left them behind. As he struggles to reconnect with his family and reconstruct the community he longs for, his hopes blind him to the reality of his situation. [A24]… Expand

Director: Joe Talbot

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 121 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Soren Andersen

Jun 18, 2019

Though his character bears Fails’ name and the picture is autobiographical, it’s not a documentary. Fails and co-screenwriter Rob Richert have embroidered on his experiences to create a story that melds realism with make-believe. Read full review

100

Manohla Dargis

Jun 6, 2019

Mostly, the movie has a cascade of images and ideas, reference points and glimpses of everyday beauty that flow and swirl and, over time, gather tremendous force. Read full review

Carlos Aguilar

Feb 1, 2019

Aside from exploring the housing crisis benefiting developers and startups, “Last Black Man” hones in on male friendship from the standpoint of two young guys whose fraternal bond surpasses any need for the posturing associated with toxic masculinity. Read full review

Inkoo Kang

Jun 5, 2019

San Francisco may be waging war against its most vulnerable residents, but if you can enjoy its beauty, as Jimmie and Montgomery do for a magical few days, its unique picturesqueness makes it easy to love. Read full review

Empire Kambole Campbell

Oct 21, 2019

Half mood-piece, half character study, The Last Black Man In San Francisco is a deeply moving lament on the effect of gentrification on the people on the Bay Area’s margins. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Jul 5, 2019

It’s a rom-com where one of the participants is the self-described “last black man” and the other is a house. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Feb 1, 2019

While Talbot and Fails claim to have walk-and-talked their way all over San Francisco, the script — and especially the dialogue — is the most disappointing element of their first feature. Read full review

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User Reviews

jradMIT

Jan 17, 2020

This is a great movie. It will be too slow for some people, and a lot of people will not be able to grasp the underlying meanings and understand the real life parallels, or appreciate the stripped down dialogue. But the film really is beautiful and provides a surreal experience that isThis is a great movie. It will be too slow for some people, and a lot of people will not be able to grasp the underlying meanings and understand the real life parallels, or appreciate the stripped down dialogue. But the film really is beautiful and provides a surreal experience that is thought provoking. The experience is similar to a play. Like I said it won’t be for everyone, especially those who don’t like a more abstract movie, but it really takes you into another world and draws a parallel to this one at the same time.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

jaketjak

Jul 17, 2019

Through the sweeping soundtrack with its moments of tension and pace-pushing...to the daydreamy views of the city and the moments of gorgeous minutiae...this film elicits the youthful dreams/illusions of grandeur in the viewer, if you let it. Preoccupied with ourselves, we all get caught upThrough the sweeping soundtrack with its moments of tension and pace-pushing...to the daydreamy views of the city and the moments of gorgeous minutiae...this film elicits the youthful dreams/illusions of grandeur in the viewer, if you let it. Preoccupied with ourselves, we all get caught up in justifying our faults and finding societal failures. This film allows our daydreams and grim realities to coexist, for a time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

swelleanor

Jul 4, 2019

This is a beautiful film, with wonderful visuals and a moving story. It also got more laughs in my theater than some recent major studio comedies I could name.It's true that it's a slow, poetic film and not necessarily an easy one. I think this would be a good one to make sure to see in aThis is a beautiful film, with wonderful visuals and a moving story. It also got more laughs in my theater than some recent major studio comedies I could name.It's true that it's a slow, poetic film and not necessarily an easy one. I think this would be a good one to make sure to see in a theater, if possible.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tjd27540

Jul 4, 2019

After reading all of the reviews for this movie, I had high expectations for it. This is always risky. There are many wonderful little moments contained here, and the acting is very good, but I had the feeling several times, especially at the end, that this film could have been compressed byAfter reading all of the reviews for this movie, I had high expectations for it. This is always risky. There are many wonderful little moments contained here, and the acting is very good, but I had the feeling several times, especially at the end, that this film could have been compressed by 30 minutes and still have told the same story just as well.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

AvishanH

Sep 18, 2019

Smart shots,good acting and editing...
It had all the ingredient to be a great movie but somehow couldn't manage to get there.Not a bad first experience for Joe Talbot.He definitely raised the bars for his next works

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Trypsinogen

Jun 22, 2019

I'm black, I live in the Bay Area (though never lived in San Francisco proper) and I still don't get what this movie is about. I found myself repeatedly asking, "Why is this a movie? Is this going to go anywhere?" Spoiler: It didn't, at least not really and to nowhere special. Or maybe thisI'm black, I live in the Bay Area (though never lived in San Francisco proper) and I still don't get what this movie is about. I found myself repeatedly asking, "Why is this a movie? Is this going to go anywhere?" Spoiler: It didn't, at least not really and to nowhere special. Or maybe this is supposed to be some artsy **** that just all went over my head somehow? Was a small audience I saw it with and several people walked out. If I wasn't with someone, I would've walked out as well because it was just too boring. Very disappointing.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

jhep

Jul 16, 2019

This film strikes me as wildly self-indulgent. I saw it with my brother and we agreed to walk out after about an hour. The script is largely non-existent. Much of the dialogue is impossible to follow and cries out for sub-titles. Within the first hour we get to see about 1 minute of DannyThis film strikes me as wildly self-indulgent. I saw it with my brother and we agreed to walk out after about an hour. The script is largely non-existent. Much of the dialogue is impossible to follow and cries out for sub-titles. Within the first hour we get to see about 1 minute of Danny Glover, which is a terrible waste. I so enjoyed Glover's performance in Jim Jarmusch’s very impressive “The Dead Don’t Die” that the fact that he was in this movie got me wanting to see it. All in all a very disappointing and disorganized mess that goes to the "whimsy well" at least once too often and then makes a habit of it. Final note: because only young black male actors are allowed to use the N-word, the film goes overboard and uses it "in your face" ad nauseum. Who knows maybe that’s why so many white, middle class, liberal film critics felt compelled to give it a glowing review after squirming and sweating in their seats for a couple of hours?… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

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