Greetings All,

I brought in the Holiday season with A Journal for Jordan, and I wanted to share my thoughts. Before we get started, check out the following trailer if you haven’t seen it already.

Based on the New York Times Bestseller by Dana Canedy—A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor—and directed by Denzel Washington, A Journal for Jordan stars Michael B. Jordan and Chanté Adams.

After being deployed to Iraq, First Sgt. Charles Monroe King (Jordan) keeps a journal for his infant son in case he doesn’t make it home, telling him about love, honor, and manhood. His girlfriend and mother of his child, Dana Canedy (Adams), later recounts the love story with King and his journal with their son once he comes of age.

Any film with Denzel Washington’s name attached to it, for the most part, can do no wrong (subjective opinion). And A Journal for Jordan helps support this claim.

From the opening sequence, I knew I was going to enjoy this beautifully constructed film. The chemistry between Michael B. Jordan and Chanté Adams was natural and balanced, so much so that Jordan’s star power didn’t affect or overshadow Adams, who held her own extremely well. The cinematography, although unpretentious, was rhythmic enough to aid in connecting the main plot points of this true story, giving the performances and timeline of events credence. And the overall tone, unexpectedly, blended passion, melancholy, and inspiration, which added depth to a foreseeable story arc.

My only gripe, however, was with the transitions between the multiple time periods of the film in connection with the journal. Although Denzel Washington did a great job displaying the relationship between the two characters, which makes the audience more emotionally invested in their love story, they were not the film’s anchor point—the journal was. Therefore, the journal should have been emphasized more in alignment with the multiple time periods of the story; a much smoother narrative outline would’ve fixed this issue.

Overall, I did enjoy this much-needed love story. It was a positive showcase of young love, and it honors those who selflessly leave their family to serve our country—unfortunately, without much recognition.

Grade of B

Until Next Time…

(Sources)

Photo Credit: Wallpapersden