Straw – Netflix – 1 hour and 45 minutes
| Stream Only on Netflix | |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Janiyah wakes up her daughter, Aria, and takes Aria to the bathtub. Aria had a seizure and hurt herself in the tub. So, Janiyah wipes her back after removing Aria’s science fair project from the tub. Aria informs her mother that she has a $40 lunch debt. Janiyah promises to pay it so Aria can have the regular school lunch. Janiyah runs to her car with Aria for work while her landlord screams for the rent. Janiya promises that she will get paid today and bring the rent on her break. She gives the homeless man, Benny, her last dollar and drops Aria off at school.
Janiyah starts her shift, and an unruly customer throws a bottle at her feet. Her boss, Richard, yells at Janiyah to clean the mess. Janiyah’s friend and co-worker, Bunny, checks on her. Janiyah’s okay, but the school calls. They reported Aria’s bruises to child services and need to see Janiyah now. Richard tells Janiyah to be back in 30 minutes, or he will fire her. Janiyah runs to the Benevolent Bank and Trust to retrieve $40, but the bank won’t let her withdraw it. If her account is too low, they will close her account. She drives to the school, but it’s too late. Child Protective Services takes Aria.
Janiyah drives to work but gets stuck in traffic. She tries to move around and almost hits another vehicle. The man, Oliver, chases her and crashes into her car. Janiyah’s car stalls, and Officer Sam asks for her license and registration. Then, Oliver screams that he should shoot her for cutting him off. He’s an off-duty cop. Sam tells Oliver to step back and asks Janiyah to comply with her instructions. Janiyah hands Sam her information, but the registration has expired. Janiyah pleads for time, but Sam must take the car. Janiyah attempts to get in her vehicle, but Sam warns that Oliver will come back. Sam impounds Janiyah’s automobile, and she walks to work in the rain.
Janiyah sees another woman at her register. She took too long, so Richard fired her. Janiyah asks for her check on Richard’s desk, but he says no because they mail final checks. She returns home and finds her items, including Aria’s medication and school project, on the ground in the pouring rain. She gathers the project and medicine and puts them in a clear backpack. She pleads for another chance, but the landlord says no.
Janiyah enters Richard’s office and begs for her check. He refuses as a man enters. The man reads Janiyah’s name tag and calls her by her name. He pulls out a gun and demands the money in the safe. The man grabs Janiyah’s bookbag, and she fights back. She snatches the gun and kills the robber. The robber’s accomplice flees the scene. Richard remembers the robber said her name, so he calls the police and tells them she set it up. Janiyah rages, shoots Richard, and takes her blood-stained check from his desk, leaving the money behind.
Janiyah walks to the bank, but the security guard says it’s closed. However, the bank manager, Nicole, allows her inside. Janiyah steps up to Tessa’s counter, sighs, and asks Tessa to cash her check. Tessa laughs at the red marks on the check, assuming it’s crayon. She asks for her ID, but Janiyah doesn’t have it. Tessa won’t cash the check. Janiyah panics because she needs the money. She states that she’s been to the bank in the past, and they know her. Janiyah pulls out the gun and demands they cash it now. Tessa and the other teller, Rayah, assume she’s robbing the bank. They give her money while Tessa presses the silent alarm. Janiyah pushes the money away and demands the cash she earned while the police call Nicole. She informs them that someone is robbing the bank. Then she sees Aria’s project blinking and assumes it’s a bomb. She warns the police. The security guard locks the doors as police surround the building.
Detective Kay Raymond and Grimes investigate the robbery and shooting at the grocery store. They watch the tapes and see Janiyah fleeing the scene. Grimes listens to Richard’s 911 call and believes Richard’s account. However, Kay views something different and familiar. She follows Janiyah’s path to the bank and makes contact with Janiyah inside. She must convince Janiyah to come out peacefully before the FBI takes her down. However, Kay has one question. What was Janiyah’s last straw?
Wow. Tyler Perry is back with a thought-provoking, heart-breaking, and breathtaking movie with a stunning twist. Taraji, as Janiyah, gives the best performance of her career, while Teyana and Sherri play stellar supporting roles. You can feel Janiyah’s pain, desperation, and frustration resonate off the screen as she runs into a host of unfortunate circumstances. Viewers may not know her circumstances, but many understand the feeling of the world being against them. The movie has kind people willing to help, but Janiyah doesn’t ask for assistance until her back is against the wall. She gets unwavering support when her pleas accidentally go viral. That moment will make you misty-eyed. The picture shows different viewpoints on Janiyah’s actions. Some call her ungrateful, but others disagree. It’s a debate you will have with others as you watch. This film will captivate you from the beginning, and the end will shock you. It is worth a Netflix subscription.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars
Can I get my check? – Janiyah
God’s gonna bless you – Benny
What’d you want me to do about it? – Richard
She wouldn’t do it. I’m telling you she wouldn’t do it – Bunny
She was robbed by a man. She was set up by a man. She killed a man. – Det. Raymond
I know you. – Nicole
People don’t know how expensive it is to be poor – Isabella
Share this:
Categories: Ashley Versher, Glynn Turman, Mike Merrill, movie, Netflix, review, Rockmond Dunbar, sherri shepherd, Sinbad, Straw, Taraji P Henson, Teyana Taylor, VOD
thatdarngirlmovie.reviews 