A wave is the perfect metaphor for the feeling with which Waves leaves you. It feels like a sudden crash of emotions; the highs and lows of life are all experienced through the lens of an African-American family living in South Florida. Primarily, we are taken inside the lives of the son, Tyler, and daughter, Emily. Throughout the film, they experience hardships that send ripple effects through their communities. Ultimately, the story explores ideas about how to love and forgive in the face of hate.
Writer/Director Trey Edward Schults’ vision of the film is extremely unique; his voice and personal connection to the stories of these two individuals is so apparent that it makes for an incredible watch. Coming from a family that suffered from addiction, learning to reconnect with his estranged father dying from cancer, and suffering a shoulder injury while wrestling are all real experiences that he puts into the film. The structure of Waves also stands out; the climax of the movie occurs at the halfway mark. It leaves Waves with a lot of room to ruminate on its ideas, and indeed, it does to a maximum. There are many emotional moments in this film which (besides shouting “Oscar bait!”) make you want to cry. It flirts with a line of emotional manipulation (something I’m not a fan of in movies) but ultimately sticks to a grounded story that makes the emotional moments cathartic, not contrived.
As usual per most of Schults’ films, the performances are excellent across the board. Sterling K. Brown perfectly plays a stern father with a soft heart. Taylor Russell (Emily) and Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Tyler) also give standout performances; each portraying their arcs excellently. Ultimately, all of these are very showy performances, but also play some moments very restrained.
Visually, the movie looks fantastic. Its lush colors and vibrant color palette all play beautifully into an almost hyper-realistic setting. The aspect ratio, as with his previous films, changes throughout the film. However, it only loosely relates to the story. Its changes sometimes lines up with when the audience perspective shifts, but otherwise, becomes distracting.
On another note, the soundtrack and score are amazing. They play off of each other perfectly and the soundtrack incorporates music which defines a more recent generation. Additionally, the sound design of the movie incorporates itself with the beats of the score. For example, in one particular scene, when a car door is open, the alarm to close it synchronizes with the score to create a satisfying melodic mood.
Ultimately, I’m not sure exactly how to pinpoint my feelings about this film. I certainly did not feel joy after the movie, nor was I left with a sour taste of sadness. It was something in between; a feeling that almost encapsulates the flow of life. In the face of tragedy, this family learns how to love each other again. I certainly loved the original vision behind Waves, and the personal touch in the visuals and sounds.
4.5/5 STARS