Ava DuVernay Praises 'Straight Outta Compton' for Capturing 'Plight of the Black Artist'
The Selma helmer extensively recounted on Twitter what it was like to watch her pivotal Los Angeles memories as captured in the N.W.A. biopic.
By Ashley Lee
Straight Outta Compton has found an advocate in Ava DuVernay.
After the Selma helmer watched the N.W.A. biopic at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in South Central Los Angeles on Saturday night, she shared her positive review over 18 tweets on Sunday morning.
“Congratulations to F. Gary Gray and all involved. Another classic now under his belt. Your craft and care is on full display. Bravo, brother,” she wrote. “He captured the plight of the black artist in general, once consumed by systems and structures not made for them. The struggle is real.”
Also praising “all the terrific acting, solid production design, swoon-worthy cinematography and fab costumes + hair,” the L.A. native, who made her feature film debut with the 2008 hip-hop doc This In the Life, extensively recounted what it was like to watch her pivotal Los Angeles memories as captured in the film, which exceeded box-office expectations with its debut of $56 million.
“Sunday on the ‘Shaw. … Hundreds of black young people cruisin’ down Crenshaw. The raw energy. The cars. The brothers and sisters. The majesty of it all,” she said, among other comments about the Rodney King riots and the portrayal of women in hip hop. “It was maybe a one-minute sequence in the film but it all came rushing back. This film did that for me on multiple levels. It’s fantastic.”
Read More: 'Straight Outta Compton’ — Could It Be an Oscar Contender? (Analysis)
Read her tweets below:
I saw @ComptonMovie last night w/ friends at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in South Central with a beautiful, alive, invested audience.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
Invested because many of them, like me, were there. Teens at the very time and in the very place depicted on screen. It had better be right.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
And damn, they got it right. Under @FGaryGray's brilliant direction + @MattyLibatique's gorgeous cinematography, I was transported back.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
I saw the militarized Batterrams again. Rolling up our streets like invaders in a war. My friend asked, "Is that real?" Yep. That happened.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
I saw the cavalier way that women were treated in hip hop spaces early on. Window dressing at most. Disposable at worst. Yep, that happened.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
I was in the street during the Rodney King Uprising. After that unjust verdict. Feeling anger. And community. And fire. And love. Happened.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
I remember the truce. So when that shot of red and blue bandanas tied together flashed on screen? Wild applause in my theater. It happened.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
The music of my youth and how it came to be and why it was what it was. We rapped along, clapped, laughed, cried. For all that has happened.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
All the stifling of our voices as young black people in that place at that time while a war was going on against us. @FGaryGray captured it.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
He captured the plight of the black artist in general, once consumed by systems and structures not made for them. The struggle is real.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
To be a woman who loves hip hop at times is to be in love with your abuser. Because the music was and is that. And yet the culture is ours.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
From depictions of the origins of "Bye Felicia" to watching Cube bring his wife Kim to business meetings. That's hip hop. A curious thing.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
But for all the terrific acting, solid production design, swoon-worthy cinematography and fab costumes + hair, one sequence brought a tear.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
I leaned forward in my seat and put my hands to my face and gasped. As did many around me. Someone shouted, "HELL YEAH!" This sequence...
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
Sunday on the 'Shaw. I can't tell you what it was, what it felt like. You had to be there. @FGaryGray gets you as close as you'll ever get.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
Hundreds of black young people cruisin' down Crenshaw. The raw energy. The cars. The brothers and sisters. The majesty of it all. A tear.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
It was maybe a one-minute sequence in the film but it all came rushing back. This film did that for me on multiple levels. It's fantastic.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
Congratulations to @FGaryGray and all involved. Another classic now under his belt. Your craft and care is on full display. Bravo, brother.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) August 16, 2015
