If Beale Street Could Talk Barry Jenkins Regina King Kiki Layne Tish Stephan James Fonny

Tatum Mangus/Annapurna

Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk,” based on James Baldwin’s book, draws us in with a deliriously beautiful love story to show how the criminal justice system unjustly targets black men. On our new “Low Key” podcast, Aaron Lanton and Keith Dennie talk about how much the film hit home for them –and not just because they grew up in Memphis, the home of Beale Street. You can listen on Apple or right here:

On every episode of “Low Key,” Keith, Aaron and I talk about low-key pop culture moments we think others may have missed. We hope no one overlooks “If Beale Street Can Talk.” The film uses Memphis’ most-celebrated street as a metaphor for black life in America.

As black men who grew up in Memphis, Aaron and Keith related to the film on many levels — and some resonated painfully.

Also Read: 'If Beale Street Could Talk,' 'Black Panther' Land Nominations for Scripter Award

Aaron’s initial reaction? “I need a hug,” he says near the start of the podcast.

The film focuses on a young couple, Tish (Kiki Layne) and Fonny (Stephan James), who are soon to be parents. They struggle along like most young parents, and the family drama over the pregnancy comes out in an extended meeting of their two families that is tender, sweet, funny and eventually explosive.

“The reason it felt tense, I was like, ‘Oh s—, I’ve seen this fight,'” said Aaron.

Also Read: Why Barry Jenkins Makes You Look in His 'Beale Street' Characters' Eyes

We also focus on a key scene with Daniel (Brian Tyree Henry), an old friend of Fonnie’s who has just come home from prison. The scene shows how Daniel was blatantly framed for a crime, and as we watch, we realize how easily it could happen to Fonnie — or countless other young black men.

“When I watched it, I forgot to breathe for a second,” said Keith. “It was terrifying, honestly. … It had that feel like when someone in a horror movie is telling a ghost story or whatever, and it’s kind of foreshadowing that the same thing’s going to happen to the main character.”

We also talk about my one issue with the movie (which involves Regina King’s Golden Globes-winning performance, but isn’t a criticism of her.)

Also Read: Regina King Vows All Her Projects Will Be 50 Percent Female

And we discuss whether Barry Jenkins, Spike Lee and other black directors often carry the unfair burden of explaining American history to white audiences.

“If Beale Street Could Talk” is in theaters now, and it goes without saying that we recommend it.

Here’s another chance to click on the audio:

12 Podcasts That Should Be Turned Into TV Shows (Photos)

With a slew of recent podcast-to-TV adaptations -- from "My Brother, My Brother, and Me" to "Startup" to "2 Dope Queens" -- the industry is primed for even more. With so many podcasts to choose from, which ones should get the small screen treatment? We looked at ones that make for the best long-form series that tackle a unique subject and that have the elements to translate into a visual medium. Here are our picks.
"You Must Remember This"

Karina Longworth has a unique perspective on classic Hollywood that is readily apparent the moment you put on an episode. Just listen to her "Dead Blondes" series, which is running at the time of this writing, and it's clear we need more women educating people about "Hollywood's first century."
Wikimedia
"99% Invisible"

It's like "This American Life" but for the smallest, least interesting sounding stories. Somehow, the producers make something like cargo containers seem interesting. I'd be very curious to see how that would work on TV.
99% Invisible
"The Black Tapes"
A fiction podcast about a batch of supernatural tapes and people with a lot of secrets seems like it should've been a TV series to begin with.
"The Black Tapes"
"Hardcore History With Dan Carlin"
The internet is filled with history podcasts, but few are as intricate and detailed as "Hardcore History." I think it's time to bring back classic History Channel with some long, educational, but entertaining documentaries on history.
"Hardcore History"
"Hello From the Magic Tavern"
It's an improvised story podcast about a guy who fell into a dimensional portal behind a Burger King and ended up in a magic land. It has a homespun, low-key feel that could work as a show if you kept it looking as amateurish as possible.
"Hello from the Magic Tavern"
"How Did This Get Made"

There are plenty of bad movie podcasts on the internet, but few go beyond the typical format, where a bunch of friends talk about, well, a bad movie. "How Did This Get Made" has a number of different segments, a slew of celebrity guests and a visual element that would translate well to TV.
"How Did This Get Made"
"Judge John Hodgman"
Comedian John Hodgman is a judge in this podcast, where he takes the most mundane and absurd cases from everyday people. Now you just need to put that in a "Judge Judy"-style setting.
"Judge John Hodgman"
"Pod Save America"

Any of the Crooked Media podcasts would work on television. The podcasters are incredibly smart and educated in politics (two of the hosts were speechwriters for President Obama) and have a lot of inside scoop. We have enough politics on TV, but Jon, Jon and Tommy can be the "no-bulls--" commentators we need, combined with a bit of White House gossip.
"Pod Save America"
"With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus"
"With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus" is a spiritual successor to "Comedy Bang Bang." Each episode has a different celebrity guest, who engages in improv with Lapkus in a false talk show scenario. It works over audio, but costumes and a set will only heighten the entertainment factor.
"Special Guest With Lauren Lapkus"
"This American Life"
"This American Life" already ran as a Showtime series for two seasons that ended in 2009. Please bring it back? We want to see and not just hear where and how the show's subjects live.
"This American Life"
"Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me"
NPR's weekly trivia show is already good as it is, but imagine if you could see the special guest comedians or the contestants instead of having them call in on the phone?
"Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me"
"Alice Isn't Dead"

The sister podcast to "Welcome to Night Vale" isn't as popular, but it might work better as a visual adaptation. The narrator is so good at explaining the grotesque horrors around her that we almost want to see some of them in action.
"Alice Isn't Dead"

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Which ones can translate the best into a visual medium? We broke down some of our favorites

With a slew of recent podcast-to-TV adaptations -- from "My Brother, My Brother, and Me" to "Startup" to "2 Dope Queens" -- the industry is primed for even more. With so many podcasts to choose from, which ones should get the small screen treatment? We looked at ones that make for the best long-form series that tackle a unique subject and that have the elements to translate into a visual medium. Here are our picks.

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