Sylvie's Love (2020) User Reviews

Real

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 8/10 · 23 December 2020]

I can understand why some people won't like this film. It's not typical Hollywood. And for a while, I wasn't even sure why I kept watching. And then it came to me. This was like watching real people in real lives.

Who the heck is Nnamdi Asomugha? Heck...I can't even pronounce his name! But then again, I'm not a football fan. The man has an interesting real life story. But I'm impressed. He plays this part "real", and probably understated. I think that's why I liked his performance. I look forward to seeing him in other things. He's an up-and comer.

I guess I should be familiar with Tessa Thompson. I'm rather sure I've seen her in other things...but this time I noticed her. Again, she played this character "real".

The film is a bit slow. Not tedious. Just "real". I questioned a bit the lack of the color line that did exist in America during much of the film. But, that's okay, because that wasn't the point of the film. I think there were opportunities missed -- such as almost leaving out the tension within the jazz combo. But that's okay, because that would have distracted from the love story.

I was a bit disappointed to not see a little more ofRegé-Jean Page as a member of the combo...he's another up-and-comer...but that would have distracted from the main story line. Eva Longoria is interesting as Carmen, although it is not a major part.

They did a nice job dating the story as it went along through the use of pop music.

I struggled here between a "7" and an "8", and settled on an "8" because this film felt "real". It's not going to be for everyone. but I enjoyed it.

Just like the classics

[tammy-226 · 8/10 · 23 December 2020]

A beautiful tale of life and love told like favorite classics.

Sweet love story

[tsreels · 8/10 · 23 December 2020]

Sweet love story with twist that in real life you would not want. I love both the main characters demeanors refresh and calm.

Enjoy your holidays with a warm glance at film romance from bygone days with a modern take.

[JohnDeSando · 27 December 2020]

Harlem in 1957 encapsulates the societal and musical changes that had been coming on since the '20's: Jazz must cede center stage to rock, and people of color must strive to become the heroes of their own stories. Sylvie's Love is a pleasant romantic melodrama that itself captures the demands of changing times for those two worlds.

Although the film embraces the old cliches to further its formula, Sylvie (Tessa Thompson) is a new woman of color, gladly leaving her father's record shop to become an assistant on a TV cooking show while still open to love, most prominently Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha), an aspiring sax player. Although tensions arise from two ambitious lovers is stock stuff in these dramas, Sylvie's Love has an authenticity that elevates the romance into effective drama, partly because writer/director Eugene Ashe guides Thompson and Asomugha to play their characters in the lower register-fewer tantrums, more realistic sensibility.

In fact, so modern is this throw-back romance that the relationship between Sylvie and Robert centers more on what they will do with their lives than on the outcome of their passion. While she struggles with leaving her dream job as a producer (a position rarely ever awarded a black woman at the time) or following his dream to play and eventually lead a combo.

The modern sensibility here is Black, Latinx folk finally getting the chance to equal their white counterparts, and they are faced with the same career decisions modern white couples face in moving on to career success. So, while the film offers up little in new sensibility, it does bring us to date on the enduring struggles for minorities in the good ol' US.

Better than what I expected

[timothymadison · 6/10 · 28 December 2020]

I know Tessa Thompson is a great actor, but I was surprised by Nnamdi Asomugha's performance, he did an awesome job. Usually people who transition from the NFL to acting, do not fair well. Overall the movie was good, it depicted the intensity of a love affair that survived the vicissitudes of life.

Jazzy Love Story

[seansoulo73 · 7/10 · 27 December 2020]

As a fan of period pieces and jazz, this film was the perfect blending and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. The lovely Tessa Thompson played the lead role well. Why her co-star reminded me of NBA star Russell Westbrook was kinda crazy, but he did a great job opposite Tessa. Women love deeply and Sylvie loved this man through time and space. It is a film that keeps you rooting for love...for that happily ever after!

A Beautiful Classic Romance

[skdietrich · 10/10 · 23 December 2020]

This is a beautifully wrought movie with incredible cinematography and acting. It transports you to another era, allows you to forget yourself for a while, and makes you believe in true romance again. It is poignantly done bringing to light the complexity and realities of life in the sixties. I highly recommend.

An honest movie

[Boskizzi · 7/10 · 13 May 2023]

An honest movie, for a lovely and peaceful evening dedicated to love. I confess to having watched this film lured by the musical aspect and 1950s settings. I am a record collector and I warn jazz lovers that the part about the record store and concerts is not predominant. No matter, here we are talking about a love story with ups and downs, where in the end... well, it's easy to imagine how it ends, but I won't be the one to spoil it. I don't think I would have watched this movie without the lure of its setting, but in the end I did and so, here I am reviewing it. I would say it's decent, nothing too demanding.

Beautiful Love Story

[cydills-85158 · 10/10 · 23 December 2020]

So refreshing to see a beautiful love story being told without all the nudity and "humping". When you have a good story line and good dialogue you don't need all the tousling in the sheets to get you point across. You know they were intimate and had extraordinary sex because she got pregnant. The music, the time period and street sets were all so realistic. It made me nostalgic and reminded me of when movies were movies. Will definitely be watching it more than once.

after while crocodile

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 22 December 2020]

Greetings again from the darkness. For those who enjoy an old fashioned Hollywood romance, with set design and costumes taking priority over the intricacies of a story, then writer-director Eugene Ashe has the cure for what ails you. In contrast to the numerous films this year addressing topics of socially-conscious issues, this is an unapologetic, soapy, melodrama with beautiful actors and some cool jazz.

Tessa Thompson (CREED, 2015; AVENGERS: ENDGAME, 2019) stars as Sylvie, a young woman working in her daddy's (Lance Riddick) Harlem record store while her fiancé is off fighting in the war. Her co-star is Nnamdi Asomugha (a 10 year NFL career, mostly with the Raiders) as Robert, a saxophone player in the Dickie Brewster Quartet. They have their 'meet-cute' moment, and despite the fiancé and Sylvie's career aspirations of being a TV producer, they fall in love. The chemistry between Sylvie and Robert works because Ms. Thompson can light up the screen with her smile.

Director Ashe starts the movie in 1962 as Sylvie and Robert bump into each other by mere chance. It's then that we flashback 5 years to their first meeting in the record shop. It doesn't take long to establish that Sylvie is an expert on music and television, and has an independent streak that would be considered unusual for the era. As the two fall in love and appear well-matched, Robert's group lands a prestigious gig in Paris. Just like that, the relationship is over.

Falling in and out of love over many years isn't the right description for what happens to Sylvie and Robert. No, they are always in love (whether together or apart) ... it's just that life happens, and timing can be cruel in such matters. Additional supporting performances include Jemima Kirke as the Countess and Robert's agent, a character based on Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter; Wendi McLendon-Covey as Lucy, a TV actor on a cooking show; Erica Gimpel as Sylvie's appearances-obsessed mother; Eva Longoria as Carmen, replete with a New Year's Eve song and dance routine; John Magaro as a music producer; and Alamo Miller as Lacy, Sylvie's fiancé and husband. Despite her limited screen time, Aja Naomi King is a standout as Sylvie's friend and party-girl-turned Civil Rights Activist. Her character is one of the few that gives any indication of what's happening socially in the country at that time.

It's a film that fully embraces the melodrama - a predictable love story, contrived to the point that Sylvie keeps a secret so personal that we would ordinarily find her despicable; yet in this film, her actions are presented as compassionate. Mr. Ashe's film is a soap opera that looks fantastic, while glossing over the real challenges faced by blacks in the era. It's truly a throwback in style, era, and substance. The people are beautiful. The cars are shiny. The music is hypnotic. Production design by Mayne Berke and Costumes by Phoenix Mellow add to the elegance presented by Ms. Thompson and Mr. Asomugha. You surely know if this is your type of movie. See you later alligator. Available on Amazon Prime December 23, 2020

Stevie Wonder killed Jazz

[nammage · 4/10 · 26 December 2020]

I have a lot of negative reviews; not because I dislike a lot of films but 'cause I mainly review films I wanted to like but didn't or just a random review without reason (which is why I have some good reviews.) This one "I wanted to like." There's nothing special about this film. It's a regular clichéd romance film reminiscent of the early 2000's. There's no real investment in a character, there's not enough of an emotional quality to any of the characters to really attach yourself to, in my opinion. The flashback in the beginning doesn't even play well because it comes too quick without an establishment of why it's flashing back, you know? So, it's seemingly meaningless in its delivery; and it goes to the present without any real indication that so much time has passed.

If one looks closely they can see this is clearly paint-by-numbers. The direction, and the writing. But not really that good of a paint-by-numbers because while it displays all the attributes nothing really seems natural (natural would denote the occasion of coloring outside of the lines.) I did love the beginning (minus the flashback scene, as mentioned above), it had a good feel to it but then it quickly just faltered from there. The clichés were boundless and not even well put together. There's no real dramatic moments (even the horrible secret that the lead female character holds about her daughter which is only a 'secret' to one person -- everyone else knows.) No real comedic moments. No real romantic moments. No real anything.

The two best things about the film is the music and the cinematography. Those are the best aspects of the film and if this was a documentary on Jazz/Classic Rock and not a love story, probably would have worked. What I really disliked was that everyone sounded the same. The same voice tones, pitch, vernacular etc., except for the character of Sylvie's father, Lucy and the French guy; but the French guy didn't even sound French even though the actor playing him is French. There's actually a short scene where a white woman mentions how Sylvie's 'husband' sounded 'white' over the phone. While I wouldn't agree with that, I did notice the sameness in most everyone. That's just not realistic of the time period. Of course, many things in this isn't realistic for the time period but the focus is the love story but it failed at that, for me.

The worst part: Sylvie does a horrible thing and that's it. No consequence. The last 30 minutes of the film seems to be contrary to how anyone would react to those types of situations; madly in love or not. And the daughter. While some children are in their own worlds this one seemed to be fodder. She was there as a prop not a character. That, in itself, is horrible. Also, this film made it seem as if Jazz was dead in the 60s, hard for Jazz musicians to sell a record. Um, Coltrane's "Ascension"? Or Miles Davis's "In a Silent Way"? Or Wayne Shorter's " Speak No Evil"? Or Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong etc., All huge in the 1960s. Apparently in this film Stevie Wonder killed Jazz.

Sylvie's love is just beautiful

[willied4 · 10/10 · 24 December 2020]

I just loved this movie. Finally a good,interesting story of a black man,black women and love. I will watch this movie over and over again. Ms. Thompson was just fantastic and of course her handsome leading man was tender and loving. Let have more of this please and you can include the civil rights movement it would just tell the truth about what was going on during this period.

A SPECIAL ODE TO NOSTALGIA & LOVE

[joecleanjc · 7/10 · 25 December 2020]

Not sure what others saw or even talking about for that matter but this movie was GOOD like any film there's room for improvement HOWEVER not only was I interested the whole time I like the fact that I saw familiar faces from films gone by to the current faces of Hollywood especially Black Hollywood if you will AND to see the description hold true throughout the film was the most impressive thing to me It was about Sylie's love and her love interest course in life even watching with a open mind I couldn't gather anything predictable but hey to each its own I liked this film a lot

Anticipation of Joy?

[sharco-29009 · 3/10 · 26 December 2020]

Sylvie's Love cinematography is mesmerizing, I could see it as a fantastic coffee table book, as a movie not so much. Sylvie is a Black woman with big dreams of working in the television industry. Great! I can get into that. Robert is a musician with big dreams of working in the music industry. Great! I can also get into that. What Sylvie's Love gives the audience as a love story just doesn't work well. Where was the conflict that kept these two apart? Nothing even remotely remarkable. Sylvie's fiancé Lacy is away serving the country. She spends a lot of time with Robert, becomes pregnant by Robert, but still marries Lacy anyway, who knows he's not the father. Her husband leaves her. She reconnects with Robert despite her explanation of why she didn't tell him about their child. The sparse storyline just glosses over any adverse effects to the child. The number of break-ups between the two is beyond nauseatingly shallow lack of communication. A real let down when you anticipate the joy of getting lost in a good movie that is underdeveloped and poorly executed.

Needs about another half-hour runtime

[bpolhemus · 7/10 · 28 December 2020]

Great cast, fabulous sets and costumes, fantastic slice of life, fair script.

Just a few too many plot-holes, a few too many inexplicable events (why would the dad spill the beans about Michelle's parentage on his deathbed?)

I love that it touches on events in the civil rights era without letting that take over the story for political correctness' sake. That it was about two people in a difficult relationship who try to figure things out the best way they can. A universal story.

Just a bit more runtime to develop the characters a little better, to allow events to unfold a bit more naturally, would have gained another star-and-a-half in my book.

All That Jazz (and No Where to Go)

[jadepietro · 6/10 · 10 January 2021]

IN BRIEF: Lovely to look at and pleasant to hear, but there's not much there in this dopey love story.

JIM'S REVIEW: (MILDLY RECOMMENDED) Love and jazz is in the air in director/ writer Eugene Ashe's Sylvie's Story, a soap opera romance about...what else.? Two young people fall hopelessly in love. The setting is Harlem, during the late fifties and Mr. Ashe creates a vivid Douglas Sirk's Technicolor world of bouffant hair-dos and hourglass silhouettes. Despite all the fine trappings and Declan Quinn's lovely camerawork, the film never really gels. As the film progresses, its predictability level becomes gag-worthy.

Tessa Thompson plays Sylvie, an independently-minded attractive woman who meets-cite with her soulmate, Robert, a jazz saxophone musician. Of course, there are obstacles in their way: she: an previous engagement to wed; he: an up-and-rising gig in Paris. Will these lovers ever find happiness? Well, what do you think? Bring on the heartache.

The actors try valiantly to sell their story, but the problem is with a formulaic narrative that telegraphs the complications long before they arise. Much of the romantic entanglements of this ill-fated duo are caused by their poor decision-making, not bad timing as Mr. Ashe would have one believe. So the empathy level is nil. (My eyeballs had a real workout through this movie as these peepers kept rolling with each wrong turn.)

Composer Fabrice Lecomte's jazz score may be smooth and mellow, but poor Sylvie's life has so many melodramatic bumps on the road to love, foremost being a mawkish screenplay that might appease soap opera fans. Those who have a higher aesthetic standard may be singing the blues. In Sylvie's Love, music and love may conquer just about anything. But, try as it may, the movie can't overcome its truly cornball story, no matter how well you play it. (GRADE: C+)

This movie is wonderfully sweet

[tanganyicaflorence · 10/10 · 11 January 2021]

I absolutely love this movie. I am not a romance person as the ridiculous ups and downs usually throw me off, but this film had no ridiculous ups and downs. Just real, pure, honest love.

It felt real. The acting is wonderful. The cinematography is wonderful. The music is wonderful. The setting is clearly defined here. The plot, the theme, it feels so current and so past tense all at once.

Truly a job well-done to everyone involved. 💖

All That Jazz

[yusufpiskin · 7/10 · 13 January 2021]

There's nothing fancy about this movie. There's nothing intense or complicated and that is the majesty of Sylvie's Love. It's a visually stunning and simple story told in the most cinematically beautiful of fashions.

The costumes, art direction, and cinematography transport you into a different world and a different time. The film has the ability for you to feel nostalgia from a decade you may have never even lived in.

Tessa Thompson is absolutely breathtaking, playing an amazing character that we can all root for and enjoy as we watch her grow and mature from a starry eyed youth to a cynical yet sassy strong woman, but is always magnetic.

Nnamdi Aspmugha is charming playing a character in a quiet confidence that is a true romantic lead who is both humbling and sexy while being grounded enough to understand.

The actual love story is imperfect, not in quality but in the challenges the two main characters face staying together by proceeding through internal and external setbacks showing a resilient love at the very end made of pure magic.

The story accurately portrays every interesting facet of love. It's imperfect and messy but it's worth the pain. Through this depiction the movie has the quality of a classic, and achieves such deserved description.

This movie is now streaming on Amazon prime.

REFRESHING

[filmpheen · 10/10 · 23 December 2020]

I Loved this Film so much. Just Beautiful. It was Refreshing, Intelligent, Charming, and Visually & Musically stunning. The chemistry between Tessa and Eugene was beyond captivating. I wanted them to be together. My Daughter even asked if they were a Real couple! Thank you, for giving us 'SYLVIE'S LOVE'...and brightening up our Holiday.

Nice Romantic Movie..but..

[crobinsn · 6/10 · 13 December 2021]

Typical romantic story of "star-crossed" lovers that works mainly because of Tessa Thompson and a surrounding cast that was clearly needed to support the one weak link for me, Nnamdi Asomugha, the romantic male lead. I'm not saying he can't act but, compared to the other cast members, he seemed a little bit over his head. I think a more seasoned actor could have added a little more "sizzle" to the scenes with him and Thompson's character. The tension he brought seemed a little to contrived for me. I mean Rege-Jean Page, was able to pull off that "bad-boy player" image with the ladies, better than I thought given the "black American jazz musician" backdrop story line.

A remarkable scenography still fails to make up for a shallow, redundant drama

[sistolina · 5/10 · 24 December 2020]

It pains me to write such a negative review of a film that looks and sounds so beautiful. Costumes, soundtrack, scenery, scenography, mood and atmosphere are wonderful, then acting is good and it's amazing to immerse oneself in the lovely atmosphere of the 50s and 60s in NYC.

Although wrapped in a brilliant gold paper, Sylvie's Love is as trite as they come. The characters are shallow and act out of whims, their motivations non existent and their evolution as people is just as bad.

Especially the love story, which supposed to swipe us off our feet, is callously redundant, stereotypical and based on tired tropes that should be honestly over in 2020: a woman is engaged to a man at war in North Korea, has an affair with another man, a musician that ends up living her to go on tour in Europe. They meet again 5 years later. Guess what happens.

It is cheating and lying still considered romantic? Was it ever? We need to talk.

When a Man loves a Woman

[aciessi · 8/10 · 5 February 2021]

Sylvie's Love is a sweet love story. It exists in a lovely, technicolor world better than our own, but set in our past. Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha set the screen on fire. The soundtrack roars with some of the best music on earth. It understands it's era and genre. It feels properly old-fashioned. If you thought this film was too basic and cliched, you missed the point entirely.

Beautiful romance film with great performances but slow direction.

[cruise01 · 6/10 · 4 January 2021]

3 out of 5 stars.

Great cast. Great performances. Cute romantic story about Sylvie and Robert which they go back and forth trying to do what is best for each other. But the film is a bit slow and boring at times. But cute romantic film.

No Trope Left Behind

[chron · 5/10 · 24 December 2020]

This movie was nicely filmed, albeit with a couple of editing problems. The acting was superb. There was some chemistry between the two leads, and the tenderness made it on to the screen.

Unfortunately, the plot showed absolutely no originality. Every single cliched plot point to manipulate a response out of the audience was used. The characters had obvious solutions to their issues, but failed to see the obvious because of... who knows... melodrama I guess.

It got to be hard to watch.

Good but not the movie it aspired to be

[nancyldraper · 7/10 · 2 December 2021]

I loved the old time Hollywood feel of this movie and the music is gorgeous. The photography was clean and classic. It has a great cast, but, and I just can't quite put my finger on what, something was missing for it to be elevated to the level of the classic that it so clearly aspired to be. It was good but never quite made it to superb. I give it a 7 (good) out of 10. {Romantic Drama}