Selah and The Spades Review + Interview
Hey Cuties,
How are you doing? We are a month into this Stay Home Quarantine situation and I know you need something else to watch. So I am here to deliver some new-new to you. Selah and The Spades is the next movie you need to watch, it drops on Friday, April 17th on Amazon Prime Video.
The Synopsis
In the closed world of an elite Pennsylvania boarding school, Haldwell, the student body is run by five factions. Seventeen-year-old Selah (Cell-uh) Summers (Lovie Simone) runs the most dominant group, the Spades, with unshakable poise, as they cater to the most classic of vices and supply students with coveted, illegal alcohol and pills. Tensions between the factions escalate, and when Selah’s best friend/right hand Maxxie (MOONLIGHT’s Jharrel Jerome) becomes distracted by a new love, Selah takes on a protégée, enamored sophomore Paloma (Celeste O’Connor), to whom she imparts her wisdom on ruling the school. But with graduation looming and Paloma proving an impressively quick study, Selah’s fears turn sinister as she grapples with losing the control by which she defines herself. In her feature debut, writer/director Tayarisha Poe immerses us in a heightened depiction of teenage politics. This searing character study encapsulates just how intoxicating power can be for a teenage girl who acutely feels the threat of being denied it. Exciting newcomer Lovie Simone’s performance beautifully embodies both Selah’s publicly impeccable command and the internal fears and uncertainty that drive it.
The Podcast Interview
I had the honor of interviewing Celeste O’Connor, she plays Paloma in Selah and The Spades. She is relatively new to the big screen, but a genuine breath of fresh air. Listen to our interview.
The Factions
The Spades (Run by Selah) They will push you past your limit so that you know what your limit is. Maxxie: 2nd in command of The Spades + Paloma: Protege of The Spades
The Perfects (Run by Two Tom) Keeps the administration blissfully unaware of the student body’s ongoings.
The Sea (Run by Tarit) They’ll help you cheat your way through anything for the right price.
The Bobbies (Run by Bobby) Responsible for every illegal party that’s ever been thrown in a dorm basement after lights out.
The Skins (Run by Amber) Deal in anything you can gamble on. Football is the Fall, basketball in Winter, softball every Spring.
The Cast
Written and Directed by: Tayarisha Poe
Produced by: Lauren McBride, Drew Houpt, Lucas Joaquin
Starring: Lovie Simone, Celeste O’Connor, Jharrel Jerome, Jesse Williams, Gina Torres
The Details
Streaming Date: April 17th exclusively on Amazon Prime Video
Rating: R
Run Time: 89 minutes
Hashtag: #JoinTheSpades | Twitter: @JoinTheSpades | Facebook: @JoinTheSpades| Instagram: @JoinTheSpades
The Review
I enjoyed Selah and The Spades, it was a flashback to High School in the best and worst of ways depending on your experience. I could easily connect the characters in the movies to my friends, myself and others while in High School. Although this movie is about a boarding school, it has way more spice than I expected. I used all of my emotions and I will watch it again. I also like the girl power they display around controlling your own body.
The Trailer
Tune in on Friday, April 17th on Amazon Prime Video
Did you have a positive High School experience? Chat with me in the comments below or FB, IG, and Twitter.
This looks like something my daughter would love! I just got Amazon prime so I may have to check it out myself.
Please do, it was really good.
Oooo, I didn’t know anything about this series. Looks good.
I really enjoyed it, I need to watch more of Amazon Prime Video.
This looks good. I had an on ok high school experience. I got through it but won’t do it again lol. I will add this to my list to watch.
hahahaha at I won’t do it again.
What an awesome interview she did a great job as Paloma in the film. I loved this film for so many reasons Mimi. I grew up as a kid/teen in the early 00s so we didnt have barely any black teen protaganist girls who could star in a movie like this. I cant even name any…Bring it On, Mean Girl, Cruel Intentions and even a sprinkle of Clueless is wrapped up all in one with Selah being the black girl we needed to see on screen a long time ago. I hope we see more melanated teen in films like this!
Yes! They nailed it with this movie. I loved Clueless but I couldn’t relate to the characters at all. This one here though I totally got.
I’ve seen this mentioned on Twitter last week so now I’m going to have to check it out! Great read.
It was really good, I enjoyed it.
Lovie Simone is amazing on Greenleaf. So I can’t wait to see her in a lead role on this show.
She really is, she kicks it all the way up in Selah and the Spades.