Culture Gal Caroline Cao’s Cinnamon Film Review—Now Playing on Tubi!

By Caroline Cao | July 5, 2023 | Entertainment

From our resident culture expert of all things film and theater, it’s Caroline Cao’s Cinnamon film review, the latest indie darling from the Tribeca Film Festival starring Pam Grier.

Jodi Jackson (Hailey Kilgore) has a singing voice much greater than her unlucky circumstance. She dreams of a better existence as she works the soul-sucking night shift at a gas station. One night, the place gets robbed.

But there’s a twist to this robbery.

After this early reveal, the gears of the film change We explore a wholesome love story between two unlucky souls. Before the robbery, Jodi fell in love with street thief Eddie (David Iacono), a doe-eyed fellow who would put his life on the line for her.

Even when its screenplay diverges from the heart of the film, Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr. spins a promising directorial debut by swiveling around the audience’s expectations.

During their courtship, the camera swirls around the lovers as Kilgore sings like an angel (cinematographer Ayinde Anderson does excellent work) and Iacono gazes with pure awe. He vows that they will get the money to fund her music career.

As they scheme to flee to LA, complications arise when they get mixed into the Black cowboy mob, led by its frightening matron, played by seventies movie icon Pam Grier.

Lifting the spirit of ‘70s blaxploitation films, Cinnamon has a tricky balance of comedy and gritty stakes. The storytelling of Cinnamon is alive with unimpeachable dynamism. I can’t wait to see what Montgomery directs next.

Although it has concluded its theatrical screening at Tribeca Film Festival, Cinnamon is available for free on Tubi.