By: Kimberly Grant
Black love has been an ever-present fixture in many “black films” for decades; especially the 1990s. However, dubbing a film a “black film” feels like I’m limiting it to be just a novelty. For the interest of this review, we’ll just say A Journal For Jordan is a film releasing on Christmas Day 2021.
Is It Love?
Journal is actually a drama written by Virgil Williams and Dana Canedy (based on her article “From Father to Son, Last Words to Live By”). In the film, based on a true story, Dana (played by Chantè Adams) takes the audience on a decade-long journey of her relationship with First Sergeant Charles King (Michael B. Jordan).
Charles is in the U.S. Army as a drill sergeant, then as the head of a unit of men shipped off to Iraq during the War on Terrorism. Piggybacking on Charles’ journal to their son Jordan, Dana writes to her son to share her side of her love affair with Charles.
In a time of dating apps and sending nudes, A Journal For Jordan feels like a relic. It’s actually refreshing. Charles and Dana somehow manage to have a long-distance relationship throughout their almost decade-long love affair.
Most of the film’s setting happens in the early 2000s. So, Dana and Charles don’t have WhatsApp, Zoom, or even FaceTime. Just good ole telephones and sometimes mobile phones. The lack of technological advancements in the film almost makes it a love letter to a simpler time when boy meets girl and they fall in love. Not, boy sees girl’s photo on a dating app and asks for a nude.
For Love of Country
This Journal is also a love letter to the families of servicemen and women. The ones who get left behind so that their loved one can fight for our country. There aren’t enough stories about their struggles. (Lifetime series Army Wives comes to mind.) The missed birthdays. The missed holidays. And even having to be the mom and dad to their children. That level of sacrifice should be celebrated more often.
Adams as Dana puts a face to all of the men and women who hold down the fort and try to keep the household intact. Not only is Dana basically a single mother. She’s an editor with The New York Times and she manages to still have a life. That’s not to say she doesn’t want a man. She embodies many women who may not need a man around, but would love to have one. That’s an image we need to see more often, as well.
The Men Who Give Direction
Played quite well by Jordan, Charles is the type of man who is disciplined with a big heart. Not only does Charles serve his country, but he serves the men and women on his team. He goes the extra mile to make sure his people know that he cares and will be there for them. It makes rooting for Charles easier. It’s also makes for a bittersweet ending.
Denzel Washington sits in the director’s chair for Journal. This isn’t his first directorial effort, so the bar is already set high for this film. I’m glad to say that Washington still has the magic touch; both in front and behind the camera. Although, I have one critical note: the next film needs to not make moviegoers cry.
This Just Might Be Your Jam If….
If you like films that make you feel the feels while celebrating the sacrifice and service of our military, A Journal For Jordan is your kind of movie. If you want to see what it was like when two people liked each other and actually built a connection, Journal is your movie. And, if you like seeing Michael B. Jordan in all of his glory, this is your movie. Happy watching!
Interested in an action movie that’s pure energy? You can read my Spider-Man: No Way Home review here.
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