Joel Edgerton plays Richard Loving, a white male from the background of Cherokee-Rappahannock-Niggra, living in a niche mix of black & white society. It's a balmy blend of culture with warm colours, serene atmospherics & fabulous tone! Even the man's job is to 'set everything equal'. The film begins off with a clear screenplay of steady progression taking advantage of simple dialogues & delivering an uncomplicated conveyance of story, show-casting the lives of the lovely couple.
As their dramatic need is to live together in a happy marriage, oppositions are thrown at them. No African-American & Whites are allowed to live together as per the laws in Caroline, Virginia. Who could have lodged the complaint against them? How will Richard bail his wife out? These are the running questions! Conflicts are flung at him bit by bit to witness his confrontations. From being barred to meet his wife, he turns from a helpless state to leaving the state into a new neighbourhood. It may seem like all problems are solved as their dramatic need is achieved by the end of Act I. It makes you wonder what's the story going to be for the next 1.5 hours.
It's only at this point the picture starts to get disoriented. Characters make dumb decisions. We realize the couple's, especially the lady's complete dramatic need, that is to live with her family while being married. They take a huge risk coming back to a state where they've been banished from for 25 years, placing an even bigger risk on their marriage. However, leniency solves this issue again for the second time. The Second & Third Act leverages on the unhappiness of Mrs. Loving staying away from her family, but it's not thickset enough for the remaining running course. There are some incidents that happen, like the kid's car accident, to fortify her stand, but it's only that about it. This is why when the case is won at the end, our spirits are damp & meh. Great epilogue texts though.
There are many scenes which do not lead up to anything, be it the peeking boy at staircase or the co-worker suspect who has left a brick in Richard's car. Performances wise, Joel Edgerton, the ever underrated actor is fine as A as the shy-away character! Ruth Negga as Mrs. Loving is also good. Marton Csokas as Sheriff Brooks is particularly fantastic! Nick Kroll & Jon Bass as the pair advocators have comical facial expressions! Michael Shannon appears in a blink-and-miss role, but the diversity of personas this guy brings onto screen is astounding. Any hairstyle fits him!