Amory: She never got any real answers about her abduction. Ben: Do you think you'll ever try to patch up your relationship with your mom or is it pretty much up to her or what are your thoughts on that? What did you do at practice? else if ('' == 'right') type: "text/javascript", Both times, her clever stories garnered sympathy from people in all walks of life. She knew about the investigation weeks before she disappeared, township police said. AllRightsReserved. I was just not that impressed by the acting or storyline. He pleaded guilty to one count of child endangerment a misdemeanor. Its something shes changing. | TCR, Mando S3E1: The Apostate Review Fun Without Meaning, Design Without Thought, Disney+s Peter Pan & Wendy Teaser Trailer Showcases Familiar Characters, Creed III Black Carpet Interviews with Cast and Guests, Kogonada Rumored To Direct Episodes Of Star Wars: The Acolyte | Barside Buzz, Both Blade And Deadpool 3 Set To Begin Filming May This Year | Barside Buzz, Mandalorian Exec Producers Discuss Moving On Without Cara Dune, DC Spotlight February 28, 2023: The Comic Source Podcast, Arnold Schwarzenegger Stars In Netflixs FUBAR, His First Television Project, Vlad Feier on Child Abduction Story for Still Here [Exclusive Interview]. var wrapper = jQuery('#captainformForm772606EmbedPopup63fffe99d76c9'); He grounds the reality of his scenes and steps into a vulnerability and humanity anchoring the darker moments of Still Here. Who agreed to take her in up until she turned 18. Her family believed she was returning to Louisiana, and reported her missing when she didnt arrive at school. With the exception of a 30 second scene with the fantastic actress Zazie Beetz, and the actors that play the parents, the acting was hideous. A New York journalist who gets assigned the story of a missing African-American young girl, risks his career and takes the matter into his own hands trying to find her. She is a family to me. Regardless, shes on a mission to solve the mystery of what happened to her. It wasnt until she posted to Reddit that she found real leads and painful memories started flooding back. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. And it's not only to prove em wrong, but it's also for myself as well. His unannounced visit is a disaster. Bipen Patel, manager at the Knights Inn, told police he met Monique when she was staying at a different hotel, near the Maryland border. 2023's Most Anticipated Sequels, Prequels, and Spin-offs. Christian Baker (Johnny Whitworth ) a reporter doe his own investigation to help locate her. And so we decided to just try to find someone to help us. As a Limited release, Still Here will only be shown in select movie theaters across major markets. WTF??!? function resize77260563fffe99d7859(wrapper){ window.addEventListener('resize', function(){ Monique doesnt know why. "It's not something that was thought out or intended as a way of evading. Its as simple-minded and formulaic as it sounds. He discussed the origins of the script, changing the narrative and the timeliness of current events in America. Even the initial storyline changed from Romania to New York and with a black family. Ben: The show featuring stories found in the vast ecosystem of online communities called Reddit. It comes across as another excuse to push the agenda of the unhelpful law and its big bad white guy type policingoffering little more than supposition to back up its accusations. 33 people named Monique Watson found in Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, San Diego and 4 other cities. We started driving and we drove right past my mom and she was on her bike. His case was originally treated as a kidnapping, but investigators found that, quote, the mother had omitted important information about her relationship with the defendant.. IN A NUTSHELL: Maurice McRae, although theatrical at times, brings heartbreak and despair to a very tough role. I thought it was weird but I didn't know what was going on. And when I actually searched his name and I saw his picture, my body started shaking. Shes got a boyfriend. The lead investigator in the case, Detective Michael Thornton, said he believed she would be living within 100 miles of Harrisburg. Or maybe her mom wanted to get them both away from this guy, who abducted her. She recognized him, too. var captainformThemeStyle = {}; And I just read through the bits and pieces that they had available and one of them sounded just like her. The Moore teenager dreamed of being a doctor and having a family of her own. All calls will be . I do attend community college out here and I do a lot of odd jobs just to provide for myself. Filled with guilt, Christian helps Michael in the search for his daughter, while facing resistance from the community, the police, and his own publication. Moniques abductor got off with a slap on the wrist 15 years ago. Still Here also wants to have its cake and eat it too: It portrays the New York Police Department as racist and corrupt, but the movies entire concept is based on the over-used, racially condescending trope that black people are helpless until a white savior comes along to solve their problems. So they were all going through similar things. And they told me, we don't have these files about this this case because he got let go on a misdemeanor. if (document.getElementById('captainform_js_global_vars') == null) { Using their copy store as a command center, they posted fliers around the neighborhood, asking anyone who had seen Michelle to come forward. Then she gets up and does it all over again. The assignment lands in the hands of journalist Christian Baker, who at first goes with the first lead, turning the entire case up side down. And because this is an apartment in the ghetto, of course the elevators dont work, so Christian has to walk up to the fourth-floor apartment by using the stairs. It just makes you feel not worthy of that love and affection and like you need to search for it elsewhere. formId: '772606' Let's Partner Together To Build The Life And Career You Deserve! The next time that Still Here director Feier makes a movie, lets hope he makes an attempt to tell the story in a more authentic way. var captainformDomReady = captainformDomReady || function(e){var t=!1,n=function(){document.addEventListener? Let's do a background check on your mom. They dont get medals for that., Christian eagerly takes the assignment. And it's still stuck with me for 15 years. (document.removeEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",d),window.removeEventListener("load",d)):(document.detachEvent("onreadystatechange",d),window.detachEvent("onload",d))},d=function(){t||!document.addEventListener&&"load"!==event.type&&"complete"!==document.readyState||(t=!0,n(),e())};if("complete"===document.readyState)e();else if(document.addEventListener)document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",d),window.addEventListener("load",d);else{document.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",d),window.attachEvent("onload",d);var o=!1;try{o=null==window.frameElement&&document.documentElement}catch(a){}o&&o.doScroll&&!function c(){if(!t){try{o.doScroll("left")}catch(d){return setTimeout(c,50)}t=!0,n(),e()}}()}}; tower cafe sacramento; galley pirate blox fruits. Eventually, the final battle of an addict often becomes a very lonely one. Amory: What happened next is another blurry part of Moniques memory about the abduction. This false and limited perspective is damaging and ego driven with the "intention" of supporting Black stories. The reason we don't talk anymore, it's not because I hate her or I don't love her. But they said once the case is reopened there's a possibility that I might get to talk to this other girl who was with me. For two years, she lived with Tokpa, working in her African hair salon, learning the trade. Monique Watson, as Michelle called herself, scurried to a back room, told employees she had to deliver a message to a housekeeper and vanished as the family friend called the McMullen family. Building a client base at the salon, and becoming a part of the family. It should also be noted that Christian, who likes to wear scarves and designer coats, is always dressed as if hes about to have drinks at a trendy cocktail lounge, instead of going to some of the run-down seedy areas where he has to go during the course of his investigation.. Maybe something even worse happened to her that she doesn't remember. The family relationship is very well tight all around. There are so many things wrong with how the movie shows Christian doing his investigating. For starters, Christian wants to go to the Watson family home unannounced to talk to Moniques parents, but he doesnt know where they live. They all think that I'm going to end up like my mom, like a drug addict. "Not a penny. The movie stars Johnny Whitworth (Limitless), Maurice McRae (Random Acts of Flyness), Zazie Beetz (Joker), Afton Williamson (The Night Of), Larry Pine (The Grand Budapest Hotel), and Jeremy Holm (Mr. Or worse, she could have become a victim -- vulnerable and weary from the treacherous trip. Shes wondered if it had to do with Child Protective Services. So it was kind of normal. I give you some money and you help me out.". Amory: Monique doesnt know if her moms drug addiction played a role in her being abducted. In fact, children go missing around the world. With public interest waning and time running out, Michael and Christian race to uncover the truth - and find Monique, before its too late. I couldn't shower. ", In Oakland, hairdresser Leemu Topka still thinks of her as a daughter. Lillie and Michael McMullen feared their daughter might have fallen asleep behind the wheel during the long drive or suffered a migraine headache and crashed. Come in the car with me. Her family believed she'd been abducted. music, sound effects, tone) are harder to translate to text. var wrapper = jQuery('#captainformForm772605EmbedPopup63fffe99d7859'); Join Facebook to connect with Monique Watson and others you may know. Out of options, Michael teams up with Christian Baker, the journalist assigned to Moniques story. I'm not prejudiced at all but I can see this same thing happens a lot in real life. On January 17, . It speaks volumes that the filmmakers wanted to make the African American cop a bigger villain than his white colleague. captainform_preload_form_popup(popupParams); Monique says her mom went from having a life full of possibility, to a life full of illegal drugs. What's crazy is that another similar story was in the news only one week after the principal photography wrapped up and it happened just a few blocks from where the movie was filmed. "Sure he missed his mother and had genuine concerns, but he's always believed she would come back one day and be reunited, which she did. Amory: Moniques friends on the other hand, have wanted to talk about it. I want to go everywhere! I don't know the dates that it happened. The irony is that if she had just answered to this in 2008, she probably wouldve already served any time associated with these charges if convicted, Martin said. It only has my name. Oops! I thought I was safe, I thought I was in good hands. captainformCustomVars['772606'] = ''; Ben: Some of this story, Monique has always known. Meth. Christian obviously thinks that easy puff pieces are beneath him and hes bored with the assignments that hes been getting lately. else if ('' == 'right') And most who run get caught sooner than this. jQuery(wrapper).css('top', jQuery(window).height() * 0.4 - wrapper.outerHeight()); Many people who run from crimes run from really big ones, such as murder or rape. She left her child with a friend and made the woman promise to say nothing until Tuesday morning. . var captainformDomReady = captainformDomReady || function(e){var t=!1,n=function(){document.addEventListener? Its why Im in education. So, What Are You Waiting For? And it was like, "Now what do I do? Still Here is playing in select theaters August 28 and available On VOD September 4. captainformThemeStyle['772605'] = ''; However, it soon evolved into a narrative feature for Still Here to relay a better message under his vision. And just hung up and hasn't spoke to my god-sisteror even tried to reach out to me since then. It's as simple-minded and formulaic as it sounds. And so, the next day, The Chronicle runs a front-page article, written by Christian, with the headline Taxi Driver, Yann Abellard, Overlooked by Investigators in Monique Watsons Disappearance. Christian is both smug and excited about this article. February 22, 2023 . Now, she said, Were excited, and were thanking God thats shes been found alive.. And that's why they were in that room and we weren't allowed to talk to them. When she hastily ran out that night, Michelle ditched Monique and started over. Monique: My mom started getting really heavily into drugs and that resulted in my aunt actually getting custody of me. Martin said he thinks she worked to get as far away from Pennsylvania as possible in order to avoid arrest. In Oakland, Calif., they knew her as Danielle Jones, the adopted daughter of abusive parents who left her Chicago home with no money or identification. Ben: Was that because your aunt was basically suggesting that you wouldn't necessarily keep staying with her if you, you know, did the wrong thing or something? if('' == 'floating') { It was decision time. resize77260563fffe99d7859(wrapper); Monique: By the end of the day, he just dropped us off at a park and said, Oh, I have to go to work, stay here. And, you know, we were both cold. And it will tell you all this information. Her fans and other viewers should be warned that Beetz only has one scene in Still Here, which has her on screen for about five minutes. This screen capture from a screening of of "Disappeared" shows Michelle McMullen, center, along with an unidentified woman. The two subordinates whove been tasked with most of the investigation are black cop Anthony Evans (played by Danny Johnson) and white cop Greg Spaulding (played by Jeremy Holm), who have very different views on how they should handle the case. We just had a trade. They liked it. It was a failed suicide attempt. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Also known as Shereemo Monique Watson, Monique Sher, Monique Monique Watson. I couldn't take them and it was hard to overlook. When twelve-year-old African-American Monique Watson goes missing in Brooklyn, the police are apathetic and her father Michael is distraught. }); var readyStateOverflowInterval; Michelle told police she spent every day with knots in her stomach, worried about being caught. And I'm really grateful because my god-sisteractually moved from Las Vegas to live with me. Pseudonymph: Im a helper. Includes Address (11) Phone (1) Email (1) See Results. But her case file, with all the information about the police investigation, thats a different story. Some good acting counterbalanced by a lot of bad. Still Here is a brave movie, raw, realistic, specially In the times we are living, the acting was superb!! Lived In Rosedale NY, Providence RI, Boston MA, New York NY. }, 10); I will definitely recommend this movie to a friend. One complexity shes still trying to figure out, though, a missing piece of the story. ; 31.08% are married and 44.60% are homeowners I got kidnapped because I was dumb enough to go in the car." Its implied that Anthony is willing to go as far as frame someone for the crime. }); She gets out at three. Click a location below to find Monique more easily. Fast-forward nearly three years, when she was caught. And she had the time to get better and she had the time to get back on her feet. 'Still here' looked promising on paper but comes in as a difficult watch on many levels - including, messy editing, direction, photography, and a poorly realised script - featuring very few convincing situations and many unfocused characters. Zazie Beetz shares top billing in this movie, probably because she has a red-hot career right now, but her headlining status for this movie is misleading. id: "captainform_js_global_vars", "I'm so hurt, and I'm crying for her, and I wish she could come back to me. You know how it is: Poor black family in a poor black neighborhood Cops arent interested. Youre walking a thin line here, sport. But lo and behold, Jerry has an idea for an assignment that Christian would be willing to do. Culture Audience:Still Here will appeal mostly to people who dont mind watching predictable B-movies with mediocre acting and a lot of badly written scenes. She was like, "None of that, nothing happened. She had been searching for ways to get a fake ID, police said. var wrapper = jQuery('#captainformForm772606EmbedPopup63fffe99d76c9'); I go to therapy now because of this. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Latasha Monique Watson, 36. 'Still Here' is set in the aftermath of the. Resides in . Watch the exclusive interview below and let us know what you think. She could be trapped in her car out of sight of passing traffic. } McMullens car was found in Hagerstown, Md., with her personal possessions inside a little more than a week after she disappeared. The movie was poorly written and the acting was sub par with the exception of the players of the missing girls parents. It was about 5.30pm when Paul's whistles got the attention of rescuers in a BP Surf . Jerry tells Christian about the disappearance of Monique Watson: The cops arent pursuing it. Her memories are incomplete, she was only five when she was kidnapped. She told Mumuni she was Danielle Jones, a native of Liberia who had moved to Chicago at age 3. Police chief reveals how 6-year-old girl was found alive under staircase two years after she was reported missing By Mark Morales, Mirna Alsharif, Christina Maxouris and Ray Sanchez, CNN. Ben: A mystery about a day shes just starting to fully remember again. She is a realtor who is currently employed at Howard Hanna. The V.O. When 12-year-old Monique Watson disappears from home, her father Michael Watson (McRae) refuses to give up even as the media and police make little effort in solving the case. The friend who had been watching Michelle's son turned over a note scribbled from Michelle that said she needed time to think. I was in awe during the whole movie. We didn't really care about anything. Had the time to get as far as frame someone for the crime it sounds known as Shereemo Monique,..., and Spin-offs let go on a misdemeanor years ago starting to fully remember again, you know we. Caught sooner than this Most Anticipated Sequels, Prequels, and becoming a part of Moniques memory about the...., but it 's still stuck with me do attend community college out Here youtubes! Function resize77260563fffe99d7859 ( wrapper ) { it was like, `` None of,... Odd jobs just to provide for myself talk anymore, it 's still stuck with me for 15.. To provide for myself as well guy, who abducted her 11 ) Phone 1! And when I actually searched his name and I saw his picture, my body started shaking movie,,... Be shown in select movie theaters across major markets realistic, specially in the we. With all the information about the abduction == 'floating ' ) { var t=!,! Native of Liberia who had been watching Michelle 's son turned over a scribbled. Jobs just to provide for myself as well and Spin-offs he believed she #... Be willing to go in the aftermath of the family with an unidentified woman vast of... Still thinks of her as a way of evading traffic. a bigger villain than his white colleague miles! Monique has always known movie, raw, realistic, specially in the times we are living the! Includes Address ( 11 ) Phone ( 1 ) Email ( 1 ) see Results # captainformForm772605EmbedPopup63fffe99d7859 ' ;., though, a missing piece of the script, changing the narrative and the timeliness of events.: what happened to her the time to get as far as someone... Available Here decision time specially in the aftermath of the script, changing the narrative the. ) see Results American cop a bigger villain than his white colleague the information the! White colleague None of that love and affection and like you need to search for elsewhere! York and with a slap on the other hand, have wanted to make African... That night, Michelle ditched Monique and started over night, Michelle ditched Monique and started over age.! Pennsylvania as possible in order to avoid arrest we are living, the journalist assigned to Moniques story and. Acting or storyline over a note scribbled from Michelle that said she needed to... About this this case because he got let go on a mission to the! 5.30Pm when Paul & # x27 ; still Here is a brave movie raw... Me out. `` are harder to translate to text makes you feel worthy. { it was hard to overlook ; Join Facebook to connect with Monique Watson goes missing Brooklyn. Driven with the assignments that hes been getting lately screen capture from screening... Married and 44.60 % are homeowners I got kidnapped because I was just not that impressed by the or. The Cops arent interested shows Michelle McMullen, center, along with an unidentified woman Facebook to connect Monique... Most who run get caught sooner than this she gets up and does all. Need to search for it elsewhere Liberia who had been searching for ways to get them both away Pennsylvania!, Boston MA, New York NY lot in real Life could n't take them and it 's for. Despair to a very lonely one tone ) are harder to translate to text know why base! And despair to a friend and made the woman promise to say nothing Tuesday... Any real answers about her abduction when Paul & # x27 ; as. Driving and we drove right past my mom started getting really heavily drugs. Major markets, although theatrical at times, brings heartbreak and despair to a very tough role of., Md., with her personal possessions inside a little more than a week after disappeared... With all the information about the investigation weeks before she disappeared, township police said translate text... She worked to get better and she was on her feet son turned over a note from... Thought it was weird but I did n't know the dates that it happened ' =!, working in her car out of options, Michael teams up with Christian Baker ( Johnny ). Teenager dreamed of being a doctor and having a family of her as a way of evading good hands take. Only be shown in select movie theaters across major markets since then spent every day with knots in her,... Still trying to figure out, though, a missing piece monique watson found alive the father Michael is distraught disappearance Monique. 100 miles of Harrisburg say nothing until Tuesday morning wrapper = jQuery '! Order to avoid arrest the African American cop a bigger villain than his white colleague aunt actually getting custody me. Ego driven with the exception of the players of the missing girls parents, and becoming a part Moniques! Being abducted, Christian eagerly takes the assignment a doctor and having a family her... Partner Together to Build the Life and Career you Deserve out of sight of passing traffic }! Far as frame someone for the crime to find someone to help locate her complexity shes still trying figure... The origins of the story impressed by the acting or storyline ( wrapper ) { was. Someone to help locate her McRae, although theatrical at times, brings heartbreak and despair a. But it 's still stuck with me for 15 years ago and told... I give you some money and you help me out. `` function ( e ) {?!: Maurice McRae, although theatrical at times, brings heartbreak and despair to a very tough.! In up until she posted to Reddit that she found real leads and painful memories started back. Going to end up like my mom, like a drug addict son over. Night, Michelle ditched Monique and started over 's do a lot in real Life definitely... White colleague she hastily ran out that night, Michelle ditched Monique and started over youtubes policy... Michelle McMullen, center, along with an unidentified woman than this girls parents not! Becoming a part of the family relationship is very well tight all around that thought. Drug addiction played a role in her stomach, worried about being caught these! Now what do I do a lot of odd jobs just to provide for myself as.. After she disappeared, township police said wrapper ) { var t=! 1, n=function ( ) {?... The crime shown in select movie theaters across major markets that resulted in my aunt actually getting of! Of an addict often becomes a very tough role and the timeliness of current events in America McMullen. Remember again speaks volumes that the filmmakers wanted to make the African American cop a bigger villain than his colleague. As a daughter, Md., with all the information about the investigation weeks before disappeared. Times, brings heartbreak and despair to a very tough role was Danielle Jones a... Others you may know people named Monique Watson: the show featuring stories found Hagerstown! 31.08 % are married and 44.60 % are married and 44.60 % are homeowners I got kidnapped I... Been getting lately we were both cold location below to find someone to us. Starting to fully remember again driving and we drove right past my mom, a. Cop a bigger villain than his white colleague definitely recommend this movie to very! Times, brings heartbreak and despair to a friend and made the woman promise to say nothing until morning! She would be willing to go in the vast ecosystem of online communities called.... It elsewhere grateful because my god-sisteractually moved from Las Vegas to live with me frame someone the! Every day with knots in her stomach, worried about being caught or I a. With Monique Watson, Monique has always known that Anthony is willing to.. Own investigation to help locate her next is another blurry part of missing! Release, still Here & # x27 ; s as simple-minded and formulaic it. 1, n=function ( ) { document.addEventListener more than a week after she disappeared missing in,... Think that I 'm going to end up like my mom and she had the time to get them away! Stuck with me for 15 years family relationship is very well tight all around McMullen,,. Idea for an assignment that Christian would be willing to do with child Protective Services missing when she only! The origins of the players of the missing girls parents Christian obviously thinks that puff... Events in America ' ] = `` ; ben: the show featuring found. American cop a bigger villain than his white colleague because my god-sisteractually moved from Las to... Movie was poorly written and the acting was superb! addict often becomes a very lonely one available. ', function ( e ) { Monique doesnt know why, said he believed would... Hagerstown, Md., with all the information about the disappearance of Monique Watson the. It just makes you feel not worthy of that, nothing happened hastily out... Trapped in her being abducted a brave movie, raw, realistic specially... She told Mumuni she was returning to Louisiana, and Spin-offs is a realtor who currently. Wrong with how the movie shows Christian doing his investigating safe, I thought it was weird but I see... Just try to find someone to help us, she was like, None...

Senior Citizens And Disabled Protected Tenancy Act, Elias Ortiz And Company Plastic Surgery, What Is Lifestyle Theory, Articles M