episode of Black Mirror (S7 E3)
Videos
Seeing alot of people saying Issa Rae can’t act, and I think it’s not completely true. So far I’ve only seen her in a handful of movies/shows. In all of those she’s been great. I think the issue is that she doesn’t have much range. She’s good at playing a specific type of character, and for the things she’s been in that normally works.
However for “Hotel Reverie”, I thought Brandy needed to immerse herself realistically into the old Hollywood world. Maybe try attempting an accent, or acting a bit old timey. I can’t explain it but the entire time it just feels like “Issa Rae if she was in Black Mirror”. I understand it’s sorta the point but she always felt stiff and out of place, like why did Brandy beg for this type of role and yet isn’t even able to act convincingly for it? Everyone was raving about her acting and I was waiting for her to adjust a bit to the movie and start acting well. The entire time I was just thinking “wtf is this final cut going to look like?” Even the trailer looked like shit 😭 I think if they focused less on the romance aspect and more of Clara forming her own identity or becoming Dorothy (even tho i love the idea of romance between Brandy and Clara!) the episode would’ve been saved for me. I genuinely like Issa Rae and would never want to believe Awkwafina could out act her in anything…. no shade. At least Awkwafina didn’t do the blaccent.
Not trying to be mean! I think the episode had potential and a really cool premise. I just wish it didn’t feel like a San Junipero ripoff done not as well.
As an Issa Rae lover she did not belong in this episode. Emma Corrin carrieddd. I keep seeing that Issa Rae’s dryness and awkwardness was intentional and I just don’t think that’s the case because that’s usually how we see her. There’s literally no other version of Issa Rae we’ve seen. It would’ve been far more captivating to see her in a different light. There was not a single scene that drew me in to their story. I was not convinced for a second those 2 were in love. I can see how it’s kind of a (black) mirror? because she also didn’t belong in the literal movie as a black female doctor in the 40s,,, but like,,, to me this was an opportunity for her to shine and she just didn’t );
Side note: even Kevin hart (who I don’t even enjoy as a comedian) does quite well in some of his serious/drama roles.
Still love Issa btw!!!!