Taraji P. HensonandTyler Perrynow firmly belong to the hall of Hollywood’s greatest actor-director duos. The two have made four movies together so far, each of them a hit. Their latest project,Straw, has gotten the internet buzzing, with some criticizing it for a lack of logic and others praising it for being a poignant portrayal of the less desirable aspects of the American dream and a perfect depiction of the challenges faced by single mothers worldwide.
Over the years, Henson (who received an Oscar nomination for her performance inThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button) has sung plenty of praise for Perry, stating that he is the only filmmaker who pays her what she believes she is truly worth. The actress has vowed to never stop working with the filmmaker and has also called out his critics.
So, where doesStrawrank among their collaborations?
4’The Family That Preys' (2008)
The Family That Preys
The Family That Preysrevolves aroundthe tensions between a wealthy white family and a working-class black family.The matriarchs are friends, butfissures start developing in their bond when their adult children start having an affair, jeopardizing their marriages. The two women thus embark on a soul-searching road trip, hoping it will cool the heat. Taraji. P. Henson has a supporting role in the movie as Pam, a babysitter.
Can’t All Races Just Get Along?
An evergreen comedy drama inspired by America’s never-ending racial apprehension.The Family That Preysfeaturesdazzling visuals, excellent acting from all the cast members, and a winning score by the great Aaron Zigman. You’ll appreciate all the characters. Some are the shockingly cocky and know-it-all types, others maintain an impetuous streak, and others remain dastardly.
However,even though the film tackles serious themes, it never goes deep enough to satisfy intellectuals. It often resorts to the usual bickering, backstabbing, and banter that’s commonly seen insoap operas. Besides that,Henson isn’t given much to do, which is a shame considering that she was operating at the peak of her powers when the movie was made. She received her Oscar nomination forThe Curious Case of Benjamin Burtonduring this period.
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I Can Do Bad All By Myself
April (Taraji P. Henson) fromI Can Do Bad All by Myselfisan alcoholic lounge singer in an abusive relationshipwith no major career prospects. Her life is difficult enough, so she doesn’t want any more burdens. But more burdens always come when you don’t want them, right? Soon,she is forced to adopt her late sister’s three troubled childrenafter Madea (Tyler Perry) catches them stealing. Will she manage to take good care of them?
Too Much on Her Plate
Serving as the fifth installment in theMadeafranchise, this thrilling musical drama bests other installments featuring the grumpy mama and leaves many other versions of similar stories in the dust as well.Perry does well by restricting the hilarious Madea to a supporting capacity, since this is a story that calls for more self-evaluation than laughter.
Many of the film’s standout moments come from Henson’s interactions with Adam Rodriguez, who plays a Colombian immigrant who ends up being April’s lover.The musical moments are all soul-nourishing, too,an expected outcome because Perry made sure to include big names like Mary J. Blige and Gladys Knight in the cast. ButI Can Do Bad All by Myselfisn’t without its flaws.Events often drag beyond satisfactory timeframes, and the dialogue feels basic on many occasions.
2’Acrimony' (2015)
How long should you be patient with your spouse? Tyler asks this important question inAcrimony. After supporting her husband, Robert (Lyriq Bent), for 18 years, Melinda Moore (Taraji P. Henson) grows tired and dumps him.Not long after she leaves, the invention he has been working on — a one-of-a-kind self-charging battery — attracts investors, turning Robert into a multi-millionaire. When Melinda learns he is planning to marry another woman and enjoy his newfound riches with her, she goes full psycho and spirals into a path of self-destruction.
No Reverse Gear
This chilling, disarming film deftly explores an impossible scenario: what should you do if your partner keeps showing promise but doesn’t seem to realize their potential? It’s the kind of dilemma many couples find themselves in, hence the reason the film became such a huge hit. For once,Perry never brings warmth to the fable, refraining from punctuating these events with comical moments.He understands how serious the situation is, so he focuses on moments that will leave audiences debating whether Melinda is the villain or the victim.
Once again, Taraji P. Henson gives a powerhouse performance.You’ll be more wowed by her work in the final act when she loses it and decides she must kill Robert.It’s all a wild spin on the misguided “If I can’t have you, nobody can” mantra, and the eventual outcome will leave your mind blown. No one else might say it, but this is up there withFatal Attraction, Gone Girl,andRebeccaas one ofthe greatest romance thrillers of all time.
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1’Straw' (2025)
Straw’s alternative title could easily beWhen It Rains, It Pours. Here, single mother Janiyah Wiltkinson (Henson) gets rained on literally and figuratively.Her daughter is sick and hungry, she is late on her rent, and her condescending boss won’t get off her neck. Overwhelmed, she ends up killing him when he refuses to pay her early. Then sheholds an entire bank hostage when the teller refuses to cash her check without an ID. How will this end for her? And is everything really as it seems? There are some interesting answers.
The Straw That Broke Janiyah’s Back
Among the stellar cast, Teyana Taylor and Sheri Shepherd elevate the film with sublime, utterly natural performances. Butthis is the Taraji P. Henson show. The people at the Academy Awards will probably never look in this direction, but there’d be widespread joy if the lead actress got an Oscar nomination for her work here.Henson is brilliant, channeling anguish, despair, and courage at the same time.
Tyler Perry’s writing technique is also worth saluting. The writer-director simply dumps one stressful situation on top of another, so that when the protagonist finally loses it, we understand what pushed her to the edge. May no one ever find themselves in such a situation.
