'Malcom & Marie' stars David John Washington and Zendaya. Netflix
'Malcom & Marie' stars David John Washington and Zendaya. Netflix
'Malcom & Marie' stars David John Washington and Zendaya. Netflix
'Malcom & Marie' stars David John Washington and Zendaya. Netflix

Review: Relationship drama 'Malcolm & Marie' frustrates, but Zendaya proves she's a Hollywood treasure


  • English
  • Arabic

Malcolm & Marie

Directed by: Sam Levinson

Starring: John David Washington and Zendaya

Three stars

Malcolm & Marie shouldn't exist.

It only does because, after several weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic, teen drama series Euphoria's writer, director, and creator Sam Levinson and its star Zendaya were so desperate to get their creative juices flowing again that they decided to collaborate on a self-contained film that they could shoot safely.

Levinson says he wrote the relationship drama about an evening-long argument between prestigious up-and-coming filmmaker Malcolm and his girlfriend and inspiration Marie in only six days, with constant input from Zendaya. John David Washington quickly joined the project after he heard 10 pages of dialogue over the phone, while all three of them were so eager to create that they funded the film themselves.

What's most impressive about Malcolm & Marie is that this energy and enthusiasm permeates throughout. From the very first scene, Washington's verve and vigour eats up the screen, while Levinson struts his stuff behind the camera, too. His choice of black and white photography, which exquisitely glistens thanks to the cinematography of Marcell Rev, immediately establishes a stylishness that is present in its set design, setting, music, and even its dialogue.

'Malcolm & Marie' was shot in black and white. Netflix
'Malcolm & Marie' was shot in black and white. Netflix

It's just a shame then that Malcolm & Marie doesn't actually have anything original or impactful to say. That's particularly troubling since almost all of its 106-minute long running time is made up of its titular characters having intense discussions and arguments with each other.

After returning home from the Hollywood premiere of Malcolm’s latest movie, Marie admits that she’s annoyed because he forgot to thank her during its introduction. This sparks a number of revelations about their past, their relationship, and their future, while they also spend time debating film criticism, the role of cinema, authenticity, and various other topics.

This abundance of subjects and themes only hinders proceedings, though. In fact, at its worst, Malcolm & Marie sounds like the very thing it spends a lot of time making fun of; a bad and indulgent movie review.

Luckily for Malcolm & Marie, Levinson makes up for his tepid script, which really does sound as though it was written in less than a week, with his direction. Not only does every single moment of the film look pristine, but Levinson gives Washington and Zendaya the freedom and time for their performances to flourish.

For the opening 15 minutes, it's Washington's relentless excitement that dominates. All the while, though, Zendaya simmers in the background. When it's time for her to come to the forefront of Malcolm & Marie, she quickly takes command, and by the end, she is the one who has gone to deeper places and revealed more of herself and her vulnerabilities. Her performance is all the more remarkable when you consider that she is only 24, and off the back of her Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy award win for Euphoria, it makes her future work all the more exciting.

'Malcolm & Marie' was written during the Covid-19 pandemic and its star Zendaya, who funded the film along with Levinson and Washington. Netflix
'Malcolm & Marie' was written during the Covid-19 pandemic and its star Zendaya, who funded the film along with Levinson and Washington. Netflix

Washington more than holds his own opposite Zendaya, though, and he looks much more comfortable and confident in Malcolm & Marie than he did in Christopher Nolan's bombastic and borderline incomprehensible Tenet. But while Zendaya is able to make up for the shortcomings in the characterisation of Marie, he doesn't quite provide the same pathos and weight to make Malcolm as well-rounded.

Without him, though, and the perfect chemistry that he forms with Zendaya, Malcolm & Marie wouldn't just deflate, it would be unbearable. The energy and edge that they're able to bring together means that it is always captivating. It's just frustrating that it doesn't do anything worthwhile with our attention.

The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

Huroob Ezterari

Director: Ahmed Moussa

Starring: Ahmed El Sakka, Amir Karara, Ghada Adel and Moustafa Mohammed

Three stars

Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks

Following fashion

Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.

Losing your balance

You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.

Being over active

If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.

Running your losers

Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.

Selling in a panic

If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.

Timing the market

Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E268hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E380Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh208%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EA Sports FC 25
SERIES INFO

Schedule:
All matches at the Harare Sports Club
1st ODI, Wed Apr 10
2nd ODI, Fri Apr 12
3rd ODI, Sun Apr 14
4th ODI, Sun Apr 16

UAE squad
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed

Zimbabwe squad
Peter Moor (captain), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura

England's lowest Test innings

- 45 v Australia in Sydney, January 28, 1887

- 46 v West Indies in Port of Spain, March 25, 1994

- 51 v West Indies in Kingston, February 4, 2009

- 52 v Australia at The Oval, August 14, 1948

- 53 v Australia at Lord's, July 16, 1888

- 58 v New Zealand in Auckland, March 22, 2018

Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

MATCH INFO

AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports

Stan%20Lee
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Gelb%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Results:

5pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600 metres

Winner: Dasan Da, Saeed Al Mazrooei (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m

Winner: AF Saabah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m

Winner: Mukaram, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel

6.30pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 2,200m

Winner: MH Tawag, Richard Mullen, Elise Jeanne

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) | Dh70,000 | 1,400m

Winner: RB Inferno, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m

Winner: Juthoor, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy

Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

About Proto21

Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group

Civil%20War
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alex%20Garland%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kirsten%20Dunst%2C%20Cailee%20Spaeny%2C%20Wagner%20Moura%2C%20Nick%20Offerman%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Malcolm & Marie

Directed by: Sam Levinson

Starring: John David Washington and Zendaya

Three stars