Naz & Maalik

By: ddinaa

The movie as is could have been edited down to 20 or 30 minutes, leaving room for more content. It was pretty slow showing the young men trying to make a buck by hawking lotto tickets and other stuff. The tension between their faith and sexuality and between the Muslim community and FBI was minimal. I got the impression that the young FBI agent was a rookie with her interactions with the young men. Nonetheless, the acting was good, making it bearable to watch. The movie also served to humanize (to us not acquainted with Muslims) the Muslim community. Still, the ending was not satisfying. It just left the viewer hanging with no resolution.

By: Amos Lassen

Naz (Curtis Coo Jr.) and Maalik (Kerwin Johnson Jr.) live in Brooklyn and at first, we think we are watching the story of two young men hanging out together but as we watch, director Jay Dockendorf injects two themes into the film and they deal with who there two youngsters really or.

Naz and Malik

We meet Naz and Maalik on a peaceful Friday afternoon where "gregarious Maalik" and "unassuming Naz hustle street corners in their neighborhood selling lotto tickets and perfume-and reveling in the afterglow of a night spent together." They are totally unaware that they are being followed by Agent Sarah Mickell (Annie Grier) of the FBI, who is keeping an eye on the teens because of a tip received from an informant. Naz and Maalik are hiding something, but it's not what the agent thinks. The youngsters realize that something may comes out and they have to decide whether they are going to open up about?? their relationship to their friends and family. The film then takes on the issues of gentrification and the surveillance of Muslims in America. It highlights the lack of connection between gratuity and actual experience that comes from living.

The film goes on to explore government surveillance of Muslims, the tense relationship between black men and police, sexuality, and Brooklyn's increasing gentrification, all through the lens of this one day. This was a brilliant move by the director as it shows the reality of gay, black, Muslim life.

The camera follows them thus taking us along with Naz and Maalik as the film links together many moving story parts, fleeting moments that set off a domino effect of events, unknown to the main characters. FBI surveillance is an important aspect of their experience, and their day, and this is what gets things going. However, their interactions with Agent Sarah Mickell nearly as successful as the ones between the two of them, or with other characters. Mickell is awkward and seems completely misguided, out of her range as she randomly targets them. But then that might just be the point of the film.

The lead actors give wonderful performances. They get along well on and their performances when they have to change worlds is very well done. They constantly think about how to present themselves to the world and to each other. They code switch between devout Muslims, urban teens, and gay youth. It is hard enough with the FBI watching and monitoring every move.

The young actors wonderfully maneuver the ground that exists between best friendship and love, while at the same time explore their religion and their bodies equally.