Stylish but barely mediocre overall

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

LovingThere aren't many historical drama genre features that satisfies the audience through its mellow tone which is apt for the structure of the script. There aren't any high-pitched dramatic sequences that may stand out in here but it does flow like a melting butter that never fumbles its way down the road. Jeff Nichols; the writer-director, has written a gripping layered screenplay that is exceeded by its brilliant execution and editing that ups the ante of the feature and communicates with the audience in each and every frame. The feature fails to score on technical aspects like background score, production and custom design although it is shot beautifully which makes it supremely watchable. The performance objective is the game changer where Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton are in their A game on their parallel role as a couple struggling with its generation. Its first half hits hard and fast and establishes the stakes appropriately after which the maker takes their time on the second half and goes as deep as possible. Loving is a heartfelt soothing experience where there are lots of mutual aspects to connect and feel the characters projected and then the rest of it is carried off by stellar performances.

The story of Richard and Mildred Loving, a couple whose arrest for interracial marriage in 1960s Virginia began a legal battle that would end with the Supreme Court's historic 1967 decision. Loving has it's flaws for sure but it's way better than reviews say in my opinion. Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton are fantastic and they have a really good chemistry together plus it's just sad seeing such a lovely couple going threw hell and back. Now the film as i said isn't perfect it misses some historical parts, it drags sometimes and i just wish that Edgerton's character could fight back sometimes. Michael Shannon also has a cameo as a photographer for LIFE and it's just a simple role really but still quite shocking seeing him. Overall the movie is dramatic, the leads are really good and it does touch in certain parts but it's not as good as it maybe it could be? (8/10)

The sad, shameful story of Loving comes undiluted from an American past we consistently fail to acknowledge. In 1958 Richard Loving (Edgerton), a white resident of Caroline County, Virginia wedded his young love Mildred Jeter (Negga) a colored woman. Subsequently, the couple was arrested for violating Virginia's miscegenation law, and given the choice to either leaving the state or serving a year in jail. "Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents," the judge wrote. "The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."Unsurprisingly, Loving stands against the above sentiment with uncommon poise and magnanimity. By virtue of existing and existing at a time when racial relations in America seem to be headed backwards, Loving can be considered a valiant parable. Upon further research one can also appreciate the film's historical accuracy; Mildred Loving did in- fact mail Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the Loving case itself was not a purposeful cause by activists, but rather a couple who naively thought the state would turn a blind eye to their love.Yet somewhere in between Loving's pre-production and post-production all semblance of enthusiasm, charisma, and charm was lost. Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga, otherwise accomplished actors, stumble through scene to scene pigeon-toed; understating everything from cautious late-night drives to the struggle of maintaining an engine block. Of course the gamble to understate everything could have worked, if we were given room to breathe. But sadly the editing is too coarse to allow our able cast to carry the scene through. It's as if director Jeff Nichols didn't have faith that audience members would have patience so he tried to have it both ways – deliberate pace; snappy editing.What's left in the scattershot is just gravitas – a film so confident in its message that it doesn't feel the need to back up its careful, albeit beautiful compositions with any real drama. Loving's complete lack of urgency follows the film like a cipher, disabling it from becoming anything more than a slow-paced drudge. Perhaps I'm more speaking to the politics of the day but the contents of this film deserves a bullhorn not a whisper.

A good film about a really important case in our nation's history. And it brings to late a shameful period of our collective past that we should never forget. Amazing that a case like this involved a family named Loving! Ruth Negga is awesome in her role, though Joel Edgerton never warmed up for me. And the film drags a bit, costing it a star in my mind. But the story is five stars all the way, and it is a film that should be seen by all! And that last image... wow. Powerful.