Obama biopic 'Barry' on Netflix, after praise for 'Southside with You'
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
Netflix has announced a release date and released a trailer for the upcoming biopic 鈥淏arry,鈥� the newest film to depict the early days of President Obama.聽
鈥淏arry鈥� stars Devon Terrell as Mr. Obama, with the film telling the story of the president鈥檚 time at Columbia University. The movie co-stars Ashley Judd, Jenna Elfman, and Jeremy Sample.
The film is set to debut on Netflix on Dec. 16, the newest movie to be released by the streaming service following such efforts as the drama 鈥淏easts of No Nation,鈥� Adam Sandler comedies such as 鈥淭he Ridiculous 6,鈥� and the Christopher Guest film 鈥淢ascots.鈥澛�
Obama鈥檚 life before his presidency was recently adapted for another movie: the film 鈥淪outhside with You,鈥� which stars Parker Sawyers as Obama and Tika Sumpter as first lady Michelle Obama. The movie depicted the couple鈥檚 first date when the two were living in Chicago, with the duo seeing 鈥淒o the Right Thing鈥� and going for ice cream. The film co-stars Vanessa Bell Calloway, Phillip Edward Van Lear, and Taylar Fondren.聽
"Barry" will have an impressive act to follow, as the film "Southside" was mostly well-received by critics, with Jake Coyle of the Associated Press calling it 鈥渘uanced and charming.鈥�
The film is 鈥渁 sunny, strolling odyssey through African-American life in 1989,鈥� as the director and cast聽鈥渃ompress into a single day something broader and more meaningful than White House trivia,鈥� Mr. Coyle wrote.
鈥淏ut the film is essentially devoid of politics,鈥� he noted. 鈥淚ts tenderness, warmth, and modesty (it's a mere 84 minutes long) is an all-the-more-welcome change of pace in this election year.鈥�
Meanwhile, named it one of 鈥渟even indie films you need to know about鈥� at the end of this past summer, a list of 鈥渋ndie features that didn鈥檛 make a splash but are hits nonetheless.鈥�
