What stands out about Tina Mabry’s direction in “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” is her confident command of visual storytelling, particularly in portraying the deep bond between these best friends. She never misses a beat, ensuring that every frame is rich with the sense of time and place, which anchors this well-paced memory piece in authenticity. It’s a film that deftly navigates themes we all know too well: alcoholism, heartbreak, adultery, cancer, unplanned pregnancies, shattered dreams, murder, and loss.
The story spans from 1950 to 1999, tracing the intertwined lives of three friends: Clarice (Uzo Aduba), whose kindness often becomes her Achilles’ heel; Barbara Jean (Sanaa Lathan), a delicate beauty burdened by her fragility; and Odette (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), the fiery narrator who blazes through life with the intensity of a live wire.
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We first meet these women in their youth (portrayed by Abigail Achiri, Tati Gabrielle, and Kyanna Simone), and it’s impossible not to become deeply invested in their journey. The film demands our attention, taking us through their long, eventful lives with a narrative pace that never falters. The plot twists are expertly timed, ensuring there’s never a dull moment.
One scene that particularly stands out features a young Odette stripping down to her bra and panties, preparing to take on an abusive man in a no-holds-barred fight. It’s a striking image that lingers long after the scene ends.
The cast delivers uniformly outstanding performances, with Mekhi Phifer, Russell Hornsby, and Vondie Curtis-Hall offering particularly strong support. Mabry and Cee Marcellus adapt the screenplay from Edward Kelsey Moore’s novel of the same name.
“The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” streaming on Hulu, August 23.
