Been So Long | Netflix Film Review

Stop me if you have heard this one: Single, guarded, tiger mom Simone goes out for a night on the town with her professional, perpetually childish best friend, Yvonne. While out, they land themselves in their favorite bar, a rundown, failing, little visited, desert-themed bar in the middle of London, Arizona. It is in Arizona, on her first night out in ages, that Simone meets Raymond, a recent parolee. He is followed by his own personal murderous Gollum, handsome stranger who changes the song in Simone’s heart…oh, did I forget to mention in the slew of adjectives I was tossing out like candy that Been So Long is a musical? Yeah.

What we have here is a set of heavily layered primary characters with multiple motivations, who react irrationally and rationally. People who use song and dance to express just how layered they are. However, it can get convoluted from time to time.

The fact is we are dealing with A LOT of characters, some of the important ones showing up two-thirds of the way through the movie, but then song and dance are used as a way to make the “tell the viewer” portions of the story more engaging. It’s an interesting juxtaposition; take a heavily layered and convoluted story and then sing and dance it at the audience. For me, as a viewer, it found a way to keep me engaged in moments that would normally lose me.

The visual expression is no different. In some ways, it feels like staring at a Jackson Pollock painting for too long. Splattering of color and light used in ways which feel accidental yet beautiful to some, but to others will appear completely planned and adds depth and life to an already lively story. Light and color lead your eye through the screen creating picturesque stills worthy of an art exhibit. Director Tinge Krishnan’s vision is truly something to marvel at.

Michaela Coel – who has had roles in Black Mirror, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and most notably star of the comedy series Chewing Gum – plays Simone hitting every detailed point. The transitions from issue-to-issue feel natural, and if there wasn’t a huge swath of this movie told in song and dance, it would be easy to forget you aren’t watching a real person. The performance is heartbreaking, laugh-inducing, and infuriating. Arinze Kene plays Raymond, Simone’s new love interest. Typically this role is left for a character who is little more than a mobile cardboard cutout, but Arinze plays him just as nuanced as Simone. He has his own issues, motivations, and hopes that all weigh heavy, changing him throughout the story.

The rest of the cast breathes life into the depth of our leads. George MacKay plays Gil, a homeless guy? Maybe just some escaped patient? They actually don’t give too much background with him, but he looks like Gollum from Lord of the Rings and people clearly noticed, so he pulled off a singing and dancing version of it. It’s a great little role, but it’s a head-scratcher to why he is here. Joe Dempsie – Gendry from Game of Thrones – plays Kestrel, Simone’s ex and the father of her child. Dempsie is able to take the deadbeat dad looking for atonement role and make it something endearing and understanding. Most notable and hardest to find information about is Mya Lewis, she’s Simone’s daughter Mandy. She’s one of those kids that seem to be able to effortlessly put adults in their place, fun to watch and stands in no one’s shadow.

Putting words down for a review of Been So Long is actually difficult. Words never seem to be enough to capture every bit of nuance, especially for something with so much life to it. How do you describe the power of a sunrise to someone who hasn’t seen it before? Because trust me, Been So Long is one vision you need to witness for yourself.