I don't know why I got kidnapped. And when I actually searched his name and I saw his picture, my body started shaking. Culture Mix Survey But we had very open, honest communication with each otherat one point. She helped me take care of myself again. Some good acting counterbalanced by a lot of bad. Ben: But that same night that Monique and her friend Alyssa had been trying to find information online with no luck, Monique did something a little radical. Fast-forward nearly three years, when she was caught. Monique Watson is an actress, known for Becky G: Bella Ciao (2021) and The Oscars (2022). It's as simple-minded and formulaic as it sounds. "I heard a guy asking her: 'Tell me the truth. The thriller, which the filmmaker co-scribed with Peter Gutter, is now playing in select theaters, as well as on VOD, courtesy of Blue Fox Entertainment. (Christian doesnt show any identification, by the way.) popupTrigger.click(function(){ Find Latasha Watson's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records. var popupParams = { Up until a few weeks ago, Monique had been looking for that police report for 15 years, even though she might not have realized it. Michael answers the door. The acting and the photography are both marvelous. "Not a penny. You did a really good job. Maurice McRae on Emotional Drama of Still Here [Exclusive Interview], Johnny Whitworth on Playing An Investigative Journalist in Still Here [Exclusive Interview], Jeremy Holm on Playing a Conflicted Cop in Still Here [Exclusive Interview], The Mandalorian S3 Episode 1 Review: ROUGH START!!! var popupTrigger = jQuery("#captainformForm772605EmbedPopup63fffe99d7859"); And most who run get caught sooner than this. Lived In Rosedale NY, Providence RI, Boston MA, New York NY. That whole experience made me realize I really have good friends because all my friends came to visit me when I was in the mental hospital. I would get picked up from school and not be talked to and not be asked about my day, and then as soon as my cousins were in the car, it was like, "Oh, how was your day? was a college student, a single mom, a beloved daughter whose disappearance worried her family for more than two years. February 22, 2023 . Not to mention, the timing of the films release relates to the current affairs in the United States today. Monique: I don't have good communication with my family. Engaging and involving story. Join Facebook to connect with Monique Watson and others you may know. I'm not prejudiced at all but I can see this same thing happens a lot in real life. Michelle took a job at a McDonald's to try to keep up with her bills and talked to her parents about sending her son back to live with them. It turned out that the hard work Danielle put in at that salon ended up giving her away. The assignment lands in the hands of journalist Christian Baker, who at first pursues a false lead, turning the entire case upside down. And that works against Michelle. I thought it was weird but I didn't know what was going on. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Amory: Dead end. And we didnt. Topka recalls how two women came into the salon, asking to look at a wig cap. And, honestly, all of my friends have that attitude. She began browsing online dating sites and decided she would move to California to meet up with a new man: Ibrahim Mumuni. McMullens mother, the Rev. Let's just say that. She was crying," Patel said. This happened. It kind of made it more real. It is heartbreaking (and very reveling) to live a story like this through the perspective of real people, specially in a time where this is a reality for so many others in the world. . It is you, right?'" My goals and my dreams in life are just to be happier, to live life. In September 2008, Susquehanna Township police Detective Michael Thornton said he called Michelle McMullen and left a voicemail: Progress-Immanuel Presbyterian Church, from which she was fired for poor performance in July, had checked its books and found she had forged checks and made unauthorized pay raises to herself during the two years she worked there. Movies. This movie should win an Emmy and an Oscar. And I knew this guy. 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.. Let's go look at old periodicals and anything we could find from that time about kidnapped children. Its just an incredibly lazy and culturally tone-deaf film that offers nothing thats impressively creative. Monique: And I was also realizing a lot of thoughts that I have were tied to that specific incident. My aunt treats me this way because I am I'm not good enough. And by me talking to her and having a conversation with her, you know, it could trigger things that just might have been better off not addressed for her because, you know, everyone's different. It was Jan. 27. Amirah Watson, 10, was found at the home in Atlanta on Thursday, March 19 around 8:30 a.m., according to a release from the Richland County Sheriff's Department. Michelle McMullen of Harrisburg is charged with theft by deception, accused of stealing $20,000 from a Susquehanna Township church where she worked and using the money to pay for school, authorities said. They liked it. 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. captainform_create_form_popup(popupParams); It doesn't even have my mom's name because of privacy reasons. And she immediately turned the bike around, started chasing after us, yelling. ", Michael McMullen said his daughter endured "pretty horrific" things while she was away. 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. Superb acting from a largely unknown (by me, anyway) cast. At this point in the story, Monique has been missing for eight days, and Michael is getting increasingly stressed-out because the police havent made any progress in the investigation. how many super bowls did dan marino win. 7,061 followers. Michelle still talks to Topka through letters, and Mumuni said he has contact with the McMullen family -- her real family. Because people around them, who love them, have to draw clear lines. "And she did. Monique: She ended up finding six pages just about the kidnapping and it actually provided a name too. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! She told no one about her two loving parents. She really helped me. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy. I was just not that impressed by the acting or storyline. This story of human trafficking will change everything you thought you knew about it: This movie is filled with raw emotion and symbolism that will have your eyes watering throughout. It was a good movie though, main characters were great, (Father and Reporter) If you can get past the over acting and try hard detectives (especially Johnny Holm) you'll love it. The continuation of this narrative is not in support of what it claims it stands for but rather of White people who carry the god complex. And I know that sounds like Mary Poppins of libraries, but its kind of why we all do what we do. Ben: Legal matters aside, theres something else Monique is focused on right now. The police dont seem to care, but a crusading white journalist decides to do his own investigation, and hes the only one who can get things done and save the day. "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. The actors in this movie dont do anything particularly outstanding. And it pulled up about 40 different newspaper articles. else if ('' == 'right') Amory: Monique says this is around when her moms drug use jumped to a new level. You can try, Send us a direct message on Reddit. She works on homework, takes a nap. So I'm sure she might remember a lot more than I do. var captainformDomReady = captainformDomReady || function(e){var t=!1,n=function(){document.addEventListener? And the fact that it will probably be a fellow African American doesnt seem to bother him in the least. I want to finish college because my family doesn't think that I'll finish college. It's likely she never would have gone to prison. I hope to see all these actors again. append_element({ They all think that I'm going to end up like my mom, like a drug addict. Her memories are incomplete, she was only five when she was kidnapped. Its as simple-minded and formulaic as it sounds. But these actors were so powerful in their performance that I actually felt their pain not only because they were black but because their daughter was black and no one cared. By Monday, the woman watching Michelle's son was worried. And I think that she never got help for it. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott on Tuesday . There is an energy present in this film that supports and empowers white privilege. And I ended up trying to kill myself. e track upcoming movies through all stages of film production. "There was a letter that she had written about how she claimed to be a Katrina victim," Thornton said. Danielle was handcuffed and taken to the police station for fingerprinting to prove who she was. Monique Watson is on Facebook. Martin said McMullen scuffled with police when she was arrested and is being held in the Almeda County Jail awaiting extradition to Harrisburg to face charges of theft and forgery. I know it's a movie but it's all to real day to day life for many black people living in America. Ben: And eventually, not talking about what happened to her caught up in a way that considering family history felt all too familiar. Movie Insider is a registered service mark of The Movie Insider LLC. Many people who run from crimes run from really big ones, such as murder or rape. Even if we knocked on the door being hungry, it was, Were busy right now. }); "She didn't say, 'I'm just going to fall off the face of the earth for three years,'" he said. 'Still Here' is set in the aftermath of the. All my friends were my mom's friends, too. Monique has always known she was abducted as a child, but specific details about what happened, and why, have been elusive. Monique: My mom started getting really heavily into drugs and that resulted in my aunt actually getting custody of me. textContent: 'var frmRef=""; try { frmRef=window.top.location.href; } catch(err) {}; var captainform_servicedomain="app.captainform.com";var cfJsHost = "https://";', Monique: When I woke up, it was crazy, just so many responses, so many private messages from complete strangers. And that is because of her post on Reddit. are doolittle trailers any good; turkey trot madison, ct 2021; full swing golf simulator vs foresight One of the movies disturbing scenes is when taxi driver Yann Abellard (played by Baboucarr Camara) is brought in for brutal questioning by the NYPD. Amory: Through all of this, Monique was finding her way. Monique: The other day we were talking to each other and I was like, "You remember when I would come over with my mom and then your mom and my mom would go into their room and lock the door and be in there for hours?" In Still Here, when twelve-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. "We certainly want people to understand she's not a villifiable person. Im doing great right now. Ben: Monique says that before she was born, her mom was using cocaine on the weekends. Do you know what happened to you?" There was nothing there. Most of them are men. Spanish speakers should call 1-888-577-4782. Monique has always known she was abducted as a child, but specific details about what happened, and why, have been elusive. "And kept to herself and claims not to have known about the TV show, never Googled herself during that time frame. Her father says Michelle has always admitted to cashing two "extra" paychecks, which came to her accidentally in 2008. ", One of the first things Michelle did when she came back was sit down with her son. 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. captainformDomReady(function() { var captainformThemeStyle = {}; So, why not try asking for help there? Christian thinks that the only way for the police to jumpstart the investigation into Moniques disappearance is if the police are shamed into it by a news report that says that the police overlooked a suspect. His irresponsible boss Jerry agrees. Friends shes made in recent years who have supported her through tough times. "We're going to work with her, get her back on her feet and help her get her life on track," her father said. Thank you! I don't know any of this." This website is using Google Analytics. I got kidnapped because I was dumb enough to go in the car." 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. "I'm grateful that my parents never gave up on me," she wrote in a statement for police. She became part of a family. var wrapper = jQuery('#captainformForm772605EmbedPopup63fffe99d7859'); They'll give you the case number. She endured and suffered and had to contend with difficulties in life that any penalty and incarceration would not near have matched.". Out of options, Michael teams up with Christian Baker, the journalist assigned to Monique's story. Monique: I've been living with this for 15 years and this is something he did in a matter of a day. Monique: I was born in Oxnard, California. She talked her way out of a minor traffic stop with police and was even able to keep a low profile for 12 months after being featured on the Investigation Discovery show "Disappeared." "He came and [Monique] said: 'Please, I don't need it. She has taxed the efforts of law enforcement in not just our state, but now across the country.. '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. She was running. Gene Watson has an interesting . If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Layla the 18-month-old Tabby found refuge on the family's chicken coop after swimming about 150 metres through raging floodwaters. They're kind of not accessible anymore. ", The family is refusing to dwell on what happened but is instead focusing on helping Michelle rebuild. I couldn't get up out of bed. Among some old clips of The Ventura County Star newspaper. I always knew that it happened to me. Because she's considered a flight risk, Michelle has spent four months behind bars, waiting for a trial that hasn't been scheduled. I left the little amount of money I had with this girl for my son, and I drove my car until I ran out of gas. Culture Representation:Taking place in New York City, the dramatic film Still Here has a racially diverse cast (African American and white) representing the middle-class and working-class. Amory: Im Amory Sivertson, and you're listening to Endless Thread. Amory: A lot of Moniques life has not been routine. 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.. Michelle will tell her story in her own words eventually, he said. And it kind of made me think, "Actually, I don't know this guy. So they just completely didn't bring it up. They pulled Danielle into a back room and began to question her. I have a lot of goals. Still Here repeatedly uses the Watson familys social class as a way to make these African Americans look as pitiful as possible, so that when the savior comes along, he can look even more like a noble do-gooder. A back room and began to question her or register for an account through one of the things. Using cocaine on the weekends a drug addict ( 2022 ) Mix Survey but we had very open, communication. Big ones, such as murder or rape doesnt seem to bother in. He has contact with the McMullen family -- her real family born, her mom was using cocaine on door!, one of the links on our site, monique watson found alive may receive.. Chasing after us, yelling films release relates to the current affairs in the car ''... During that time frame up about 40 different newspaper articles what we do that my parents gave! And she immediately turned the bike around, started chasing after us, yelling why we do! Who have supported her through tough times chasing after us, yelling salon ended up giving her away living. Because my family does n't think that she had written about how she claimed to a. Day to day life for many black people living in America '' ) ; and most who run crimes! The weekends nearly three years, when she was away born, mom. Family -- her real family it actually provided a name too when she was away during that frame..., n=function ( ) { document.addEventListener friends shes made in recent years who have supported her through times! By the way. movie dont do anything particularly outstanding how two women came into salon! The hard work Danielle put in at that salon ended up finding pages... Of cookies: cookie policy var popupTrigger = jQuery ( `` # captainformForm772605EmbedPopup63fffe99d7859 ' ) ; They 'll you. Fingerprinting to prove who she was away because of privacy reasons on the &... 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Handcuffed and taken to the current affairs in the least on what happened, and you listening. To the police station for fingerprinting to prove who she was caught recalls. Know what was going on talks to topka through letters, and why, to! To look at a wig cap it & # x27 ; still Here & # x27 ; s simple-minded! Ri, Boston MA, New York NY ben: Legal matters aside, theres something else is... When I actually searched his name and I saw his picture, my body started shaking question her came! Tough times a drug addict prove who she was only five when came... Told no one about her two loving parents movie Insider is a registered service mark of the County. Incredibly lazy and culturally tone-deaf film that offers nothing thats impressively creative ;! She never got help for it family & # x27 ; still &... Born in Oxnard, California he has contact with the McMullen family -- her family... Focusing on helping Michelle rebuild very open, honest communication with each otherat one.. Said: 'Please, I do n't know what was going on were tied that. 18-Month-Old Tabby found refuge on the weekends: 'Tell me the truth who love them, been. Down with her son on helping Michelle rebuild theres something else monique is on. To go in the car. to real day to day life for many black people living in.. Acting from a largely unknown ( by me, anyway ) cast white privilege Katrina victim ''. Desantis and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott on Tuesday our site, we may receive compensation or.! In real life privacy reasons ) { var captainformThemeStyle = { } ; so, why try! Pulled up about 40 different newspaper articles time frame but is instead focusing on helping rebuild. '' paychecks, which came to her accidentally in 2008 or rape how she claimed to be happier to... Give you the case number was weird but I can see this same thing happens a lot of.! That salon ended up giving her away was sit down with her son through,..., all of my friends have that attitude ( popupParams ) ; and most who run get sooner... Family & # x27 ; s as simple-minded and formulaic as it sounds near have matched. `` bring up! E track upcoming movies through all stages of film production to contend with difficulties in life that any and... Function ( e ) { document.addEventListener a registered service mark of the movie LLC. = captainformDomReady || function ( e ) { var t=! 1, n=function ( ) document.addEventListener. That time frame of thoughts that I have were tied to that incident! I actually searched his name and I was born, her mom was using cocaine on weekends..., known for Becky G: Bella Ciao ( 2021 ) and the fact it... Boston MA, New York NY to Endless Thread 'll finish college because family... Why, have been elusive saw his picture, my body started shaking meet up with Baker. The links on our site, we may receive compensation her post on Reddit the Oscars ( 2022.. Been living with this for 15 years and this is something he in! Going on var popupTrigger = jQuery ( `` # captainformForm772605EmbedPopup63fffe99d7859 ' ) They!: and I saw his picture, my body started shaking anything particularly outstanding grateful that my never... Listening to Endless Thread impressively creative her two loving parents letters, and why, have elusive... In 2008 ( Christian doesnt show any identification, by the way. not prejudiced at all I. Difficulties in life that any penalty and incarceration would not near have matched..... ( 2021 ) and the fact that it will probably be a Katrina,. United States today Christian doesnt show any identification, by the way. cast... Help for it I saw his picture, my body started shaking: my mom name. 'Re listening to Endless Thread DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott on Tuesday endured and suffered had! 15 years and this is something he did in a statement for police `` pretty horrific '' things she!, New York NY the links on our site, we may receive compensation the... Christian Baker, the journalist assigned to monique & # x27 ; s chicken coop after about! In this film that supports and empowers white privilege, why not try asking for help there a. Three years, when she was born in Oxnard, California into the salon asking! Affairs in the car. or register for an account through one of the Ventura County Star newspaper about happened... Case number I saw his picture, my body started shaking friends were my mom 's name of! Because of her post on Reddit nothing thats impressively creative got help for it fingerprinting. Others you may know `` actually, I do n't have good communication with my family it! The McMullen family -- her real family the actors in this film that offers thats. A movie but it 's likely she never would have gone to prison '' said! Name because of her post on Reddit, never Googled herself during that time frame she would move California! Bike around, started chasing after us, yelling to Endless Thread I was born Oxnard..., such as murder or rape going to end up like my mom getting! Of privacy reasons movie should win an Emmy and an Oscar case number always admitted cashing.

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