ESC'S Darryl Maximilian Robinson Shares His Mini Review of Writer / Director Kahlil Joseph's Skilled Homage To Black Artistry "BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions"!

DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON PRESENTS A MINI-MOVIE REVIEW OF KAHLIL JOSEPH'S 2025 BLACK ART FILM TRIUMPH "BLKNWS: TERMS & CONDITIONS."

Reunions can be funny things. And sometimes rewarding ones. A longtime caucasian friend of mine and fellow artist, Jesse Livingston Watt ( who was a member of this Chicago veteran theatre artist's St. Louis multiracial theatre group, Excaliber Productions, Ltd. in the 1990s, and who I had not seen in more than two years ), invited me to join him at a screening of the intriguing film "BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions" at the comfortable and charming confines of The Lumiere Cinemas at The Music Hall in Beverly Hills. A current local talented and gifted City of Angeles visual artist, painter, videographer and stage technician, Mr. Watt wanted good company to see this provocative and unique piece at one of the few fine venues in Los Angeles currently showing the work. And I was glad to see and reunite with an old friend again at a festive film experience ( well presented at The Historic Lumiere Music Hall ) that was both memorable and a truly inspired piece of screen craft.

THE GOOD NEWS: With the great assistance of co-writers Onye Anyanwu, Sheba Anyanwu, Kristen Adele Calhoun, Madebo Fantude, Saidiya Hartman, Irvin Hunt, Elodie Saint-John, Kaneza Schaal and Christina Sharpe, director and screenwriter Kahlil Joseph has created a new and refreshing piece of film art that successfully turns the idea of the conventional storytelling of the Black American and African Diaspora experience completely on its head.

THE BAD NEWS: Because of the more than a century long complete and total lack of interest by the forces of The Historic Hollywood Film Power Structure and The American Educational System In General to truly appreciate and celebrate the many and real contributions of Black Creative Artistry, and specifically, The Black American and African Intellectual ( despite the many wonders of our new and emerging technology ), this fine piece may never reach or be seen by many audiences of all races who could learn and grow and enjoy this cinematic journey.

THE GREAT NEWS: Kahlil Joseph's film is a positive step forward in both Black American and African filmmaking that evolves and shares the independent, alternative, cross-continental, movement of screen craft in such a manner ( that over time ) may still indeed reach new and wide audiences despite the traditional racial, corporate and numerous political obstacles that would impede it.

THE EXPERIENCE: On a large, floating-in-air, sci-fi-style, futuristic vessel ( just measurable feet above the Atlantic Ocean, with what appears to be some kind of energy beam propelling it above the water ) two black fictional characters on the promenade deck of ship that will become known as The Nautica in "BLKNWS: Terms and Conditions" engage ( more than once ) in a sometimes playful, sometimes serious banter. One asks the other: "Do you remember The Future?" And the other ( who gives the impression they are fully aware of what the future holds ) responds:"I remember The Past."

This moment occurs approximately mid-way through the film. And it is quite poignant considering that by that time we as an audience have seen ( through a rich and lush smattering of literary references, archival videos, discography, autobiographical comments, animation, memes and multiple on-screen messages from the info desk of "BLKNWS" ) A HISTORY OF THE BLACK AMERICAN AND AFRICAN EXPERIENCE AND DIASPORA!

It is no accident that as a director and writer Kahlil Joseph connects us through a marvelous and massive collection of literary art, visual art, musical art, discography, academic discussions, historical references, fictional drama, theatrical performance art, memes, fantasy and his own personal biography to the two most important themes and personalities of note in his piece: The Black Star Line of the late Marcus Garvey and The Encyclopedia Africana begun, yet unfinished by the late W.E.B. Du Bois.

For Joseph and his gifted fellow artists, the journey to and from The Resonance Field is all. The entire film resonates like a gigantic, vibrant collage painting of Blackness throughout the history of the world come to life. Music, Dance, Literature, Paintings, Sculptures and The Entire Internet are utilized as tools to enhance the understanding and richness and legacy and importance of Black Humans in our known existence and beyond. For, yes, long before the advent of Christianity In Africa, Black People knew what Spirituality and Love in their homeland was.

But this commentator will allow the fine and wonderful appearance by the great African playwright and Nobel Prize Winner for Literature Wole Soyinka in "BLKNWS: Terms and Conditions" to reveal that to you.

Joseph is blessed in his work to have a very talented and versatile cast, particularly the skilled and accomplished Theatre Artist Kaneza Schaal, who gives a fine performance as The Curator Funmilayo Akachukwu of The Art Exhibit and The Nautica Ship ( and who also skillfully enlightens us as the young W.E.B Du Bois in his early days as a social scientist ). Peter Jay Fernandez effectively evokes the late, great academician W.E.B. Du Bois in his latter years striving to complete his final work in Ghana. And Shaunette Renee Wilson gives a solid portrayal of the determined journalist Sarah. The production design, costume design, sound design and animation of the film are all excellent.

"BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions" is more than intriguing and insightful and informative as a film. It is a highly successful screen depiction of the greatness of Black American and African Art and a true tribute to The Black Intellectual throughout the world. Kahlil Joseph's work is one of the best films of year.

Final Rating: Four Out of Five Stars. Outstanding.